The following was submitted  by R. David Warner (Doc).  I have converted the original text verbatim, to html for posting here. The content  reflects an assembled history of the Xenia Rotary Pancake Day from 1957 through 1978, as was originally prepared by.

HISTORY OF the XENIA ROTARY PANCAKE DAY

The first 21 Years

First of all, I want to acknowledge the providers of the material used in preparing this history.

Birch Bell, who saved the newspaper ads, tickets from each year, duty rosters and manuals,

letters, etc. (These I have now put in a note book).

Erv Nutter. who took over 300 slides (1958-1970).

Glenn Noggle, who before his death, gave me some hand written notes of his memories.

Felix Garfunkle, who took some fine photographs.

The Xenia Gazette, which has a small file of Rotary information.

And lastly - all of the Rotarians, who have contributed to the memories that I have.

There are many ways in which this history could be presented:

1. Rotary Historical approach: listing chairmen, locations, number served, amount of material used, profits, etc.
2. The history of Xenia approach: the development of a new Y.M.C.A., new high school on Edison Blvd., flood, Mental Health Programs, Xenia's radio station, the directors of the Y.M.C.A., the City managers, to the tornado etc.
3. This could also be approached as the Outstanding Men of Xenia story. Many of these have either passed away or moved away over the last 24 years - but their names could tell a good story.
4. A talk could be given on the types of entertainment we have provided and the problems that ensued from these efforts, or
5. the history could be presented as a study of sociology and economics: inflation, understanding of racial problems, charities in vogue at different years, Eavey Co. becoming Eavey-Super Valu and then Super Valu. Citizen's Bank becoming Citizen's First National (this institution has sponsored our tickets each year) etc.

I have elected to combine all of these approaches and to tell the story chronologically.

In 1956 Fred Lang came home from a trip to the East – filled with enthusiasm about a Rotary Club pancake supper that he had attended. Our club had been looking for a good project and he sold us on the idea of having a Pancake Day..

READ PART OF BIRCH BELL’S LETTER - Page I (notebook) (Badge)

Our first Pancake Day was held April 10, 1957 in the old Y.M.C.A.  Fred Lang and Birch Bell were co-chairmen. That year most of the material we used was given to us in exchange for advertising. Quaker Oats not only furnished the pancake mix, but also brought big bottle gas grills; 2 or 3 men, who worked all day, Aunt Jemima, and the knowledge that they had accumulated in other places.

PAGE 3 LETTER FROM QUAKER OATS

PAGE 4 PICTURE

We used bulk sausage - made patties by hand - and tried to cook them to order. By the end of the breakfast rush, it was obvious that we should have a roaster full cooked ahead for the noon rush. The community turned out far beyond our expectations. When we were at the peak of the evening hours people were lined up past the old County Jail and some waited for as long as 2 hours.

The first project for which we used money the new Y.M.C.A. Tickets were $1.00.

1958 - We moved to the cafeteria at the new high school.

PAGE 6 – ( notebook) See Aunt Jemima in Person (Lang's ad)

Tickets were $1.00 adults; .75¢ - students. (-PAGE 7.) Things were still being furnished for the most part (Snow Crop Orange Juice, Maxwell House coffee, paper goods, Jack Frost sugar, Log Cabin syrup, etc.) The sausage, of course, we had to buy - always a "good price" through Bob-Evans (Herman Martin). Our milk and butter we got from Alpha Dairy (Guy Coy).

We were a little spoiled by this high profit transaction

READ LETTER - PAGE 8.

1959 - New Y.M.C.A. multipurpose room. Howard Johnston was chairman. Money was used for 'Y.M.C.A. Building Fund, to pay off debt on Girl Scout Camp, Greene County Red Cross Flood Relief, and B.S.A.

Entertainment was included - tours of the new Y and a gymnastics demonstration - synchronized swim show.

1960 - At Y.M.C.A. Herman Martin and Howard Johnston co-chairmen. Proceeds were used to bring a foreign student to Xenia, Child Guidance center and Y.M.C.A. Building Fund.

1961 - At Y.M.C.A. Co-chairmen Herman Martin & Floyd Hartpence. Proceeds used for Y.M.C.A., Crippled Children, Foreign student scholarship and U.V.S.

1962 - Moved to Geyer's Restaurant. Co-chairmen Rube Holcomb and Don McCarty. Proceeds used for Greene County Council, Crippled Children, Y.M.C.A. and Retarded children.

READ LETTER TO BIRCH BELL PAGE 23.

1963 - Moved to Field House and have been there since. Verdin Moll and Don McCarty were co-chairmen.

FULL PAGE AD - COMMUNITY PROJECTS

MAYOR PICTURE - PAGE 26

LETTER TO ED - PAGE 27 (Remove badge)

In 1963 we enlisted the full support of the Rotary Anns. Their names were put on the official roster then. A Home talent show was carefully planned. Schemingly we figured that if some kid was going to sing, play his guitars or whatever, then certainly all of the members of his family would be there to see him. What we did not anticipate was that his family was going to stay seated until after his performance. People would go through the line, eat, and sit and wait we couldn't find empty seats.

READ LETTER PAGE 31

READ ELEVATOR - PAGE 32 (2)

1964 - Co-chairmen Verdin Moll and Conrad Diehm.

FIRST APPEARANCE OF MANUAL (PAGE 35)

This was the year we had 3 tickets ($1.00 adult, .75¢ student, and $3.00 for family). Since then we have not had a family ticket - there are just too many families in Xenia with l0 - 15 children.

Proceeds from this year and since have been used for local charities and Club Projects.

Special features of this year were a poster contest with prizes for the artists, The posters were displayed to advertise. Also, we solicited gifts from the business men to be used as door prizes.

1965 - Pete Stephen - chairman; Verdin Moll and Bob McColaugh co-chairmen. Door prizes were given again.

Entertainment was provided by The Sheraton School of Dancing under the direction of Betty Shidaker.

1966 - Co-chairmen Bud Luttrell and Jack Taylor.

1967 - Co-chairmen Everett Smith and Paul McVay.

There was continuous W.G.I.C. broadcast from the Field House all day - with many interviews of our customers,

AD - PAGE 47 - PAGE 51

1968 - Chairman Paul McVay, Bill Schmidt & Harold Miller co-chairmen.

PICTURE OF LANG - PAGE 54

EDITORIAL - PAGE 55

Featured this year was "New automatic pancake machine".

1969 - Co-chairmen Bud Geyer and Doc Coy.

PICTURE IN GAZETTE – PAGE 59 ADS - PAGE 60 (X-rays)

HERMAN WEBER - PAGE 61

1970 - 1971. Not sure who was chairman. (Will be glad to fill in names if anyone remembers)

In 1970 advertised as 15th - actually was 14th.

PICTURE OF BUS HILL AND BERT FATH - PAGE 65

High School Swing Band provided entertainment.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLES ABOUT CONRAD DIEHM and LOGAN, OHIO

ROTARY CLUB - PAGES 67 - 68

1972 - Co-chairmen Dave Scott and Phil Burke. Tickets went up to $1.25.

1973 - Co-chairmen Phil Burke and Bill Bender.

AD - PAGE 72 (Aunt Jemima pancakes).

April 10, 1974 - Week after tornado - PAGE 73

1976 - Co-chairmen John McCullough and Phil Burke.

"Living End" Barber Shop Quartet provided evening's entertainment. Tickets $1.50.

NEWSPAPER PICTURE - PAGE 76. Bob Miller, Jacig Harworth & Rev. Hart.

AD PAGE 74 – Pancakes

1977 Co-chairmen Howard Coy and Bud Geyer.

$50.00 prize given morning, noon and nite.

PICTURE - DON ANDERSON - PAGE 79.

AD - PAGE 78 - ONLY BOB EVANS BY NAME

1978 - Co-chairmen Doug Kidd and Pete Stephan.

Tickets went up to $1.75.

PAGE 82.