History

History of the club

The Jonesboro Kiwanis Club was chartered June 11, 1935, during the Great Depression, and its charter was presented on Aug. 1, 1935. Julian James, a prominent Jonesboro civic leader, promoted and organized the club with 38 members. Powell Stamper was the first president but could not complete his term due to business. S.K. Doty replaced him, completing the balance of his term and then serving an additional year.

Hotel Noble, which was on Jackson Street between Main and Union streets, was the original meeting location for many years. Today it is the site of the Federal Building.

The club started Pancake Day as its first fund-raiser in 1940, and that annual event has been the club’s major source of funds for civic activities and contributions since then. In the early years all supplies were donated, and tickets were 50 cents apiece. Several years after the Pancake Day started, Aunt Jemima appeared in person, and everyone attending was given a complimentary box of pancake mix.

Over the years Pancake Day has been held in various locations, including the present main Post Office, Catholic Hall, the old Masonic Building, Wyatt’s Cafeteria in Indian Mall, the old Craighead County Fairgrounds, the Forest Home Church of the Nazarene and now the First Presbyterian Church.

Funds generated from Pancake Day have been used for many civic projects. One of the earliest was to purchase sows and donate them to the 4-H boy’s club to raise a litter of pigs. In 1955 the club established a scholarship program in honor of charter member B.H. “Pop” Parrish, and that program continues today, funded by Pancake Day proceeds. The scholarships are awarded to deserving area high school students to attend Arkansas State University.

The club sponsored the charter of the Jonesboro Key Club in March 1947 and the Nettleton Key Club in 1971. In 1987 club members assisted in the reactivation of the Circle K Club at ASU.

In 1987 Kiwanis International, by an overwhelming vote, admitted women members. The first woman to join the Jonesboro club was Becky Boxx (now Thompson) in 1989

The first woman to serve as woman president was Cindy Thyer in 2001-02.

Charter members