Rotarian of the Week, 11-30-11

 Our Rotarian of the Week grew up in the great Sand Hills of Nebraska, Valentine, Nebraska to be more specific. His first job outside the family business was delivering the Omaha World Herald. It paid so poorly he quickly went to work in the hay fields to make some real money. He says … “pay was not much in those days… I didn’t even get a side of beef as did the married guys working on the ranch.”

Our special Rotarian graduated from Valentine High school home of the Badgers. He earned his undergraduate degree from university of Nebraska at Kearney [ or Kearney State College for non-Nebraskans], and attended graduate school at the University  of  Nebraska at Lincoln.

Brent Lathrop has been married to his lovely wife Denise for 39 years. They have two children… daughter Sara living in Sioux Falls with 2 perfect grandsons and son Eric, living in Clarksville, TN with one perfect granddaughter. Son Eric is member of the 101^st Airborne and has served four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Other than his family Brent is most proud of having participated in the Desert Storm Campaign in 1990 and 1991.

Brent Lathrop was sponsored in to the Rotary by Kelly Ann Terry. He has served on the World Community Service Committee hear in Cheyenne. As a Rotarian in Nebraska he chaired a multi-district State Student Exchange Committee where he was in charge of incoming student’s placement and management. When Brent made the move to Cheyenne he was Club president Elect in Nebraska… he says” …they are still … SORE … at him over that move…..”

What Brent likes most about Rotary is Rotary Youth Exchange and service to others. Our Cheyenne Club is Brent’s fourth Rotary Club. He first came to know Rotary in the late 70’s when the local Club called in desperate need of a young family to take over hosting a girl from Finland who was having issues with her host family. Brent and his wife decided to take a chance and that was that. Brent joined Rotary as soon as he could.  The Lathrop’s have hosted six Rotary Exchange students over the years.

Brent’s most memorable Rotary experiences include his family’s 1998 trip  to Louvain – La- Neuve, Belgium to visit a Rotary exchange daughter. The family was invited to a club meeting at a fancy hotel. They were offered drinks and more dinks of delicious Belgium beer. The only problem was their 8th grade son; Eric had never been exposed to such fine treatment and European ideas of no real age discrimination when passing out alcohol. Eric [son] needed a nap before lunch was over. The story of course is a family favorite.

Brent other memorable experience the 2006 Cub Veterans recognition day organized by Dan Metzke. He says .. “it was very touching and I thank you Dana”.

Our Rotarian of the week’s favorite meal is about anything bar- be- que, Texas style over mesquite.. He enjoys wood working, blues music, history and travel.

In recognition of his service to our Club, Rotary as a whole and his service to our Country; The Sargent at Arms will present Brent with a gift certificate from the Club.