About The Bonifay Kiwanis Club

2006-2007 Bonifay Kiwanis Club Information Kiwanis International Information

A Brief History of the Bonifay Kiwanis Club

In 1946, Frank Wright, the Florida Governor of Kiwanis, contacted the local newspaper editor, DeVane Williams, about starting a Kiwanis Club in Bonifay. The DeFuniak Spring Kiwanis Club agreed to be the sponsor of the new club. On July 31, 1946, the Bonifay Kiwanis Club held their charter ceremony. The club had 36 Charter Member. The officers of the club were: President- N. DeVane Williams, Vice President-Leslie D. Padgett and Secretary/Treasurer-Paul C. Bowyer. Randall Yates, W.G. Hughes,

2005-2006 Lt. Governor of Division 2, Martin Coates, handing over the "Home Club Lt. Governor" banner to the 2006-2007 Lt. Governor of Divison 2, Mat Dryden from the Marianna Kiwanis Club.

J.B. Miller, W.C. Alford, Elton L. Bowen, John M. Bush and W.F. Bullington were the Board of Directors. The only charter member still active in the Bonifay Kiwanis Club at this time is P. Lloyd Paul. Today there are 76 members in the Bonifay Kiwanis Club including 19 female members. Kiwanis International ruled in 1990 that women could be Kiwanis Club members. Maxine Bell and Cathy Ivey became the first female members when they joined in 1992. During the 2004-2005 Kiwanis year, Anita Foxworth held the office of President, making her the first female President of the Bonifay Kiwanis Club.

Although the club officially opened on June 17, 1946, the first regular meeting was not held until Wednesday, June 26th at 12:10 p.m. at McGriff’s Café, later known as L&K Café. After several years the club relocated to the Bonifay Woman’s Club building. In 1976, the club moved to Simbo’s Restaurant until 1991 when they relocated to Blitch’s Family Restaurant. In January 2009, Blitch's Restaurant closed and the club relocated back to Simbo's Restaurant where they still meet every Wednesday at noon. Presently the club meets each Wednesday at Simbo’s at 12:00 noon.

Join Us for Lunch

The Bonifay Kiwanis Club Weekly Meetings are held every Wednesday at 12:00
Noon (central time) at Simbo’s Restaurant in Bonifay, Florida. Simbo’s is located on Highway 79 and is north of Interstate 10. Meetings include an atmosphere of fun, learning, and fellowship.

Membership

To receive information about the Bonifay Kiwanis Club contacts our Club
Secretary Beverly Farley at (850) 547-5363 or email kiwanis@bonifaykiwanis.org.

Membership Application
Click HERE

Community Service

Through the years the Bonifay Kiwanis Club has invested the money it has earned from the Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo and the Bonifay Kiwanis Club Gospel Sing in the community as follows:”

Thanks-a-million to all our wonderful volunteers

Championship Rodeo and the Bonifay Kiwanis Club Gospel Sing in the community as follows:

• In 1978, the club spent $60,000 to install metal bleachers at Memorial Field on the “home” side.
• In 1982-83 metal bleachers were installed on the “visitors” side at a cost of $90,000.
• In 1987, the club donated 15 acres of land to Holmes County for a recreational facility.
• In 1993-94, the club upgraded the metal bleachers at Memorial Field by installing “back plates” and other items at a cost of $60,000.
• In 1998 the club replaced wooden light poles at Memorial Field with concrete poles. The cost was $47,000 with the City of Bonifay and the Holmes County School Board sharing the cost.
• Since 2000, the club has donated over $71,000 to other organizations in the area. This includes the donation of $25,000 to assist in building a new Holmes County Public Library in 2000
• Each year the club provides a scholarship to Chipola College for a student from each of the county’s four high schools.