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Port LavacaPort Lavaca Rotary Club
Welcome to an issue of our weekly bulletin! Find out who our upcoming speakers are, what we covered during the last weekly meeting, and learn more about our Member of the Week.
Guest Speaker- Master Chief Navy Counselor Juan P. Rodriguez, U.S. Navy Retired
 
Master Chief Navy Counselor Juan P. Rodriguez, U.S. Navy Retired
Education Services Specialist
Navy Recruiting District San Antonio
 
Master Chief Rodriguez is a graduate of Hanna High School, in Brownsville, Texas. Wayland Baptist University, BS in Business Administration and Webster University (MBA) He enlisted in the United States Navy on September 22, 1985.
    He completed Recruit Training at Recruit Training Command (RTC) Great Lakes, Ill, after completing the Apprentice Training, he reported to his first assignment, which was deck department onboard the USS Juneau (LPD 10) from January 1986 to August 1989. During this tour, he qualified as Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist, and was advanced to Petty Officer Second Class.
    In September of 1989, Master Chief Rodriguez reported to Navy Recruiting Orientation Unit in transition to Navy Recruiting District (NRD) San Antonio, where he served as Recruiter, Recruiter in Charge and Zone Supervisor from 1989 to 1994. He was advanced to First Class petty Officer and selected for the Career Recruiting Force.
In March 1994, he reported to NRD Seattle where he served as Zone Supervisor for the largest geographical Zone in the United States (Northern Washington and Alaska) and earned recognition as Region West Zone Supervisor of the year and advanced to Chief Petty Officer.
    In October 1997 to 2000, Master Chief Rodriguez was selected for instructor duty at Navy Recruiting Orientation Unit Pensacola, FL, where he became the first Navy Counselor (Recruiter) to earn the Master Training Specialist designation (curriculum writing) and was chosen to be part of the National Inspection Team where he served as a field inspector.
    In July 2000 to 2003, Master Chief Rodriguez returned to NRD San Antonio where he served as Zone Supervisor for Zone 1, Command Trainer and Assistant Chief Recruiter, during this tour he received recognition as Region West Zone Supervisor of the year and advance to Senior Chief Petty Officer.
    In July of 2003 to 2005, Master Chief was selected to lead Navy Recruiting Command’s National Inspection Team in Millington Tenn. He served as Senior Inspector and Chief Recruiter.
    In October 2005 to 2009 Master Chief returned to NRD San Antonio as the Chief Recruiter where he retired from in May 31, 2009.
After Retirement Master Chief Rodriguez was hired as NRD San Antonio’s Education Services Specialist where he was recognized as Fiscal Year 2010 Civilian of the Year, and continues to serve.
    In addition to various unit awards, Master Chief Rodriguez personal awards include the following: (1) Meritorious Service Medal (1), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (6), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (5), and National Defense Service Medal (2).

 
Rotarian of the Week - Chad Dowell

Walter “Chad” Dowell

 

Along with his brother Clint Dowell, Chad is the owner of Dowell Pest Control.   Their Grandfather, Walter V. Dowell, originally founded Dowell Pest Control as Calhoun County Pest Control.  

After graduating from Columbus high school in 1995, Chad enlisted in the United States Navy.   During his time in the Navy he made numerous deployments in support of combat operations around the world.  In October of 2015, Chad retired as a Lieutenant from the United States Navy and after 20 years of service he and his family returned to their family’s home of Port Lavaca.

Chad is married to Katy Dowell and they have two children, an eighteen-year old son Leo and a nine-year old daughter Delilah.   Leo is currently enrolled at Blinn Jr College in College Station and Delilah is in the fith grade at HJM Elementary School and loves to catch redfish.   Chad and his family are members of Port Lavaca First Baptist Church.    

 
 
Last week's speaker - Coach Richard Whitaker
 
Richard Whitaker
    
Wife – Kellie of 34 years
Son – Rusty Whitaker – married to Bethany
Son – Rance Whitaker – married to Christie
Daughter – Rilea – married to Brandon Sanders
Grandson – Rhett
Granddaughter – Taylor Lynn
  • Going into his 32nd year of coaching.
  • 21st year as Head Coach
  • 15h year as Head Coach of the Sandcrabs
  • 113 wins at Calhoun High School and 145 over all wins
Coach Whitaker is very proud of many things his teams have accomplished here at Calhoun.  Here are a few:
  1. 2006 – 1st Calhoun team to make the playoffs in 45 years
  2. 2006 – Broke the University of Nebraska’s single game point total in the Alamo         Dome which still stands today when the Sandcrabs scored 76 points in their Bi-District game vs. Uvalde.
  3. 2011 – Became the first High School Football Team in Texas to have 4 1000 yard rushers in the same backfield in one year.
  4. 2013 – Upsetting the defending State Champions, Cedar Park, and advancing on to the State Semi-Finals.
  5. 2013 – Lead the Nation in rushing with 6,440 yards rushing that season.
  6. 10 consecutive state playoff teams at Calhoun from 2006-2015.
  7. 2018 - #5 rushing team in the nation. 
Read More
Area Make-up Opportunities
Mon.         - Victoria Downtown – Huvars Artsian Market - 7:oo AM    (1st & 3rd only)
Tues.         - Victoria – Victoria Country Club – 12:15 PM
                   - Portland – North Shore Country Club – 12:00 PM
Wed.         - Goliad – Blue Quail Delicatessen – 12:00 PM
                  - Edna – Chamber of Commerce – 12:00 PM
                  - Palacios – Palacios Mexican Restaurant – 12:00 PM
                  - Ganado – Rear Window Listening Room– 5:30 PM (monthly)
Thur.        - Victoria North Side – Victoria Country Club – 12:00 PM
                  - Rockport Country Club – 12:00 PM
                  - Victoria North Side Satellite – The Club at Colony Creek– 6:00 PM
Fri.            - Corpus Christi – West Holiday Inn – 12:00 PM
 
Turn in Make-up information to Sec. Mike Rivet. Make up meetings at another club must be within 14 days before or after the missed meeting.
Russell Hampton
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