Our own A.J. Luckett was today’s program and presented a Member Moment. He took a new job here in Adrian on January 2 of this year with Clift Buick, GMC. A.J. said that he still has a home in Chicago and still commutes back and forth. He is a Catholic and belongs to a 14.000 member church and he shared a hilarious story about his experience this past Easter Sunday!
He was born in Twentynine Palms, California and spent 2 years there. His father was a captain in the Marine Corp. They then moved to Nashville where his father joined a family-owned printing business that, at that time, was responsible for printing about every major magazine throughout the country. When he was in the sixth grade his family moved to Effingham, Illinois. He was a 3-sport Division I athlete and played baseball, football and track in high school there he said.
A.J. attended Xavier University and played baseball his freshman year. He returned home to go to Eastern Illinois University his second year as he had a girlfriend there. The football coach at EIU recognized his ability and asked him if he would be interested in playing football for them. Once he was able to bench press 300 pounds, the coach said, A.J. should look him up and then they could talk seriously about him joining the team. A.J. said he could actually lift over 325 pounds! He played tight end for EIU. Mike Shanahan was a fellow player who later went on to coach pro ball at Denver and with Dick Childress who later became head coach for the Minnesota Vikings. His team’s quarterback went on to play for the New Orleans Saints. The university produced many great athletes, A.J. said including Tony Romo.
His best sport, however, was track and field where he was a javelin thrower. He was eventually ranked 23rd in the world! He threw in the actual event where the world record was broken in 1984 at the Coliseum in Los Angeles. There were 170 throwers at this event, he said, and some athletes were even from Germany as well as Russia. The best throw he ever had prior to this event was 253 feet. His first throw during the competition went 286 feet! He was leading at the end of the first round. ESPN then interviews A.J. he said. While this is happening, other athletes are throwing – at distance over 300 feet, he said. An athlete from the US did break the world record shattering the previous record of 311 by 16 feet (327)!
A.J. said he met his wife in high school who also attended Eastern Illinois University. They dated for 10 years! They were both 28 at the time. Her father owned a car dealership, he said, and that is the reason he now works in this industry. He proposed to her on a Christmas Eve. They have four children. Their daughter Emily is 26 and a graduate of the University of Illinois, who then went on to a nursing degree at a different university and is currently a nurse but now not only wants to get her masters in nursing, she wants to go on to a law degree. Their other daughter, Rachel, is a college student in Florida with a double major and a super athlete and particularly a softball all-star. Their son, Austin IV, is a junior in high school and extremely smart, he said, and loves to read. His youngest daughter, Madison, is 9 years old and in the fourth grade “going on 22-23and runs the house", he said! The family plans to move to Adrian once their son graduates, he said.
Thanks for a wonderful presentation, A.J. and welcome once again to the club!!
Rotarian of the Year – Please be thinking of a deserving member who you would like to nominate for this honor. Winner will be announced at the Annual Changeover Dinner on June 29th. Forms will be out shortly.
DATES TO REMEMBER
June 16 - Siena Heights Summer Spectacular – This event is scheduled for June 16th. Golf outing, dinner and auction. The cost is $65 per person. Social hour starts at 5pm. Please visit sienaheights.edu/spectacular for more info and to register by June 1. Proceeds go to fund student scholarships. Please contact Robin Hinman for more information.
June 16 - Siena Heights Golf Ball Drop – Yet another fundraising event is scheduled for June 16th. Only 200 balls will be sold for $20@ and the grand prize is $1,000 for the person whose ball is closest to the flagged hole. Balls are being sold in advance at the Advancement Office, Sacred Heart Hall room 101. The ball drop will be from 5pm-5:30pm in Trinity Gardens.
June 16 – Goodwill Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting – Nathan invited all members to this event at their newest facility at 1400 US 223 in Adrian. Please RSVP ASAP to Kristine at kdewey@goodwillsemi.org or call 263-2135.
June 17 – Devil's Lake Festival of the Arts – Chair Brent updated members as a sign-up sheet was again passed around with specific shift times. Any and all help that day, he said, would be appreciated especially at the end of the program for tear down and clean up duties. The event starts promptly at 10am that morning and runs until 6pm.
June 29 – Annual Change Over Dinner – Coney Island hot dogs and pulled pork will be on the menu along with salads and an array of appetizers and desserts, Rhonda said. The meal will be free for any member who pre-pays for their regular meeting meals with their dues and $10 for their guests and members who do not pre-pay. The gig starts at 5pm. Hope to have an awesome turnout.
July 29 – Toledo Mudhens Game – Adrian Morning Rotarian Jeane Pfister invited our club to attend this game with them. A dinner at the Spaghetti Warehouse is planned before the game. Please contact Jean f you would like to go at 517-918-2019 or e-mail her at jap0928@live.com.
September 16 & 17 - Bike Tour – Chip announced that he is still working on sponsorships and has a commitment from members Mark & Mary Murray and Max Sielsky. A meeting of the committee is scheduled for July 20th at Chip's house and again at the Changeover Dinner on the 28th and another on August 17th at Chip's house.
Upcoming Club Program Presentations
June 15 – Kathye Herrera - MADD
June 22 – Fluency Friends Update - Kathy Sielsky
June 29 - CHANGEOVER DINNER (NO NOON MEETING THAT DAY)
GUESTS: Visiting Morning Rotarians Dave Maxwell; Kathryn Suechuck, guest of Nate Smith.
Frank’s and A.J.’s tickets were drawn but neither won the still small jackpot! However, Steve May donated a mug and a T-shirt and the winners were Chip and A.J.!
Our own A.J. Luckett was today’s program and presented a Member Moment. 
Rotarian of the Year – Please be thinking of a deserving member who you would like to nominate for this honor. Winner will be announced at the Annual Changeover Dinner on June 29th. Forms will be out shortly.
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ike Tour – Chip announced that he is still working on sponsorships and has a commitment from members Mark & Mary Murray and Max Sielsky. A meeting of the committee is scheduled for July 20th at Chip's house and again at the Changeover Dinner on the 28th and another on August 17th at Chip's house.
