Lisa Stueve, President, Rotary Club of Sandy Springs

Please join me in honoring Ralph Thurmond, a Rotary Club of Sandy Springs' member, District 6900 Past District Governor (1991) and Past President of the Rotary Club of Sandy Springs (1987). Ralph has been a Rotarian since 1978 and a member of the Rotary Club of Sandy Springs since 1981. Ralph was elected to serve as Rotary Club of Sandy Springs president 1987 to 1988. During his presidency, Rotary International initiated the Polio Plus program and Ralph led this program for the first year of the three-year fundraising campaign. The Rotary of Sandy Springs at that time had around 55 members.

On the heels of the U.S. Supreme Court's 7-to-0 decision on May 5, 1987 to no longer allow the exclusion of women from Rotary Clubs, Mr. Thurmond reflected on the proudest moment during his presidency when he inducted the first woman member of Rotary Club of Sandy Springs, who also happened to be the first female Rotarian in District 6900. Mr. Thurmond’s leadership and sound counsel continue to support the civic, fiscal, and community service of the Rotary Club of Sandy Springs. Thank you, Ralph, for your exceptional and continued service to our club, Sandy Springs, and the Rotary International Global Community.

Ralph, pictured with his wife, Shirley.