CLIFFORD – To be a Rotarian one must be passionate about supporting their community.
And that’s exactly what Larry Grummett was for 55 years as a member of the Clifford Rotary Club.
Over the decades, he was recognized with many awards, including gold and diamond Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medals and three Paul Harris Fellow Awards, one of the highest honours Rotary Clubs can bestow upon members.
Grummett, 91, says one of the greatest projects he was involved with was the creation of the Clifford Rotary John Hobelman Memorial Park.
“I suggested that Rotary buy 10 acres of it (the park) and we clean it up,” he told the Advertiser.
He noted the park site had been a dumping ground for local trash, until the Clifford Rotary Club saved it.
The park was named in honour of John Hobelman, a Rotary member who had cancer but still pushed himself to help with the build.
“Sometimes he’d have to get off the equipment and sit on the ground because of the pain,” Grummett explained.
“He did some work in there when he wasn’t able to … [and] that’s how committed most Rotarians are.”
In addition to the park, Grummett had a hand in building the Clifford Arena in 1977, the covered bridge at Old Rotary Park, the walkway at Clifford Cenotaph Park and the Rotary clock and gazebo at Clifford Rotary Celebration Square.
“I spent quite a bit of my life doing volunteer work, so Rotary looked to me like the kind of volunteerism I was suited for,” he said.
In 1969 Grummett moved to Clifford, where he opened a garage and later in life owned Larry Grummett Insurance.
He joined the Rotary club when he was 36, in the spring of 1970, with the help of sponsor Rotarian Ray Wightman.
“I think it’s good for a business person to be involved in the runnings of the town,” Grummett said.
Larry Grummett, left, with his daughter Heather Grummett on Aug. 22. Photo by Georgia York
He noted he is proud of the medals and awards he has collected throughout his volunteer journey.
Asked what roles he has filled with the Clifford club, Grummett replied, “I have done everything.”
That includes serving as club president for four years and as assistant district governor for three, in addition to his involvement with Rotary International.
“When you do anything in our community, it’s rewarding,” he said.
Being a member has allowed Grummett to visit Scotland, England, Grenada and South America. Some trips were for labour-intensive projects and others for conferences.
“Mainly we were looking at dirty water and then we also discovered if we provided clean water, we had to provide inoculation,” he explained.
Grummett turned 91 this year and is no longer an active Rotary member, mostly because he now lives in Guelph.
He continues as an honorary member, which does not come with voting privileges – but he can still volunteer.
Grummett’s daughter Heather said her parents “have always been big volunteer people.
“If everyone volunteered and helped their community even a fraction of what my parents did, it would be a wonderful thing.”
Over the years Grummett has made “lifelong friends,” including Clifford Rotarian Bruce Kaufman, who has been with the organization for roughly 30 years.
“He’s a very generous person … and is a great advertisement for Rotary,” Kaufman said of Grummett.
“We have lots of fond memories of things we did together,” he added, reminiscing about travelling the world for conventions.
“Everybody misses him around here,” Kaufman said. “He’s a great guy.”
Though he no longer lives in Clifford, Grummett told the Advertiser he intends to continue volunteering wherever he can.
“You’re not just doing things for your community, you’re doing things for the world,” Grummett said.
Grummett’s three Paul Harris Fellow Awards alongside his pin for his time as assistant district governor. Photo by Georgia York
