Rotarian of the Week 04-13-11

Our Rotarian of the Week grew up in Warsaw, Indiana, attending Warsaw Community High School, home of the Tigers.  Our special Rotarian enjoys Rotary for its international connections, cultural exchange and the opportunity to build bridges across continents. His first job was washing cars at a Warsaw dealership that sold Datsun, Renault, AMC and Jeep, for 85 cents an hour.  He moved to Casper, Wyoming in 1993 when he and a partner purchased Tripney Motors, the local Lincoln, Mercury, Nissan, and Hyundai dealership.   Today, Bob Womack is the Vice-President and Owner of Spradley Barr Motors.  Bob and his wife, Karen, have been married for more than 32 years and have two kids.  Bob enjoys the outdoors whether it’s snowmobiling or ATVing, photography, and cars.  When asked what his all time favorite car was, without hesitation Bob said an Indy car.  Bob’s biggest dream is to one day drive an open-wheeled car on the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  He would love to take a car for a spin a couple times around the brickyard at 200 mph.  His favorite meal is a filet, medium well, with a baked potato.  Bob has so many memorable Rotary moments that he cannot narrow it down to just one.  He fondly remembers Rotary trips to Nicaragua to visit the Children of the Dump, to Guatemala with Sherry and Matt Potter, to Paraguay with the Millins for an eye surgery project, to Russia with Roger Schreiner, George McIlvaine and Doc Gondalia.  Bob has been a member of Rotary since 1994 and joined our Club in 1999 when he was sponsored by Tom Stuckey.  Bob has chaired or supported countless Club projects and programs.  He and Karen have hosted 7 youth exchange students.  Bob’s proudest accomplishment has been overcoming the challenges of life.  He was one of six kids raised by a single mother and was told by many that he would never succeed.  Bob proved them wrong and keeps proving them wrong.  Perhaps it was those “naysayers” that has driven Bob to be such a great philanthropist demonstrating “service above self” like no one else.  Bob has served on our Board of Directors and was Club President in 2007-08 and currently serves as the Chair of our Local Foundation.  Bob has been a strong supporter of the Cranium Cup, the Moonlight Bike Ride, the Peaches sale, and the Local Foundation.  He was also instrumental in the purchase of the culinary trailer for Triumph High School.  If there is a program or project that needs support, Bob is always there to help.  In recognition of his service to our Club, the Sergeant at Arms presented Bob with a gift certificate and a special lapel pin.