Vol. MMXIV
TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015
TODAY’S PROGRAM
No. 34
"TAMPA BAY RAYS"
Dick Crippen has been a staple of Tampa Bay Area broadcasting for better than
four decades. For more than 35 years he served as Sports Director at both the NBC
affiliate (19 years - WFLA-TV) and before that at the then ABC affiliate (16 years WTSP-TV). He has also worked extensively in radio and was best known as part of
the Q Morning Zoo on Q105 Radio and Mason in the Mornings on Mix 96.
His sports broadcasting also included several years with NASCAR’s Motor Racing
Network and 17 years doing the radio broadcasts for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He also served as
stadium announcer and television broadcaster for the original Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Crippen’s work has taken him around the country as he broadcast the Unlimited
Hydroplane Circuit on ESPN for ten years and has also been a voice for Offshore Powerboat
Racing. He has also broadcast a drag boat series, the 12 hours of Sebring, the Ft. Lauderdale Air &
Sea Show, motorcycle racing and has hosted several syndicated shows.
He has been a member of and/or reported on the Super Bowl Task Forces that landed
Super Bowls for Tampa Bay and has also been present for the birth of NFL Football, NASL
Soccer, NHL Hockey and Major League Baseball in the Tampa Bay Area. His job in sports took
him to ten Super Bowls as well as Final Fours; Sugar, Orange and Fiesta Bowls; years of Florida/
Florida State match-ups and several World Series. He was named Florida Sportscaster of the Year
four times in the 1990’s by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.
In the year 2001, Dick had the distinct honor of flying with the USAF Thunderbirds and
also attended the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference put on by the Department of Defense.
During that trip he landed on the U.S. Theodore Roosevelt Aircraft Carrier (and catapulted off);
was rescued from a pretend embassy and flown out at tree top level aboard a Chinook helicopter.
He's also witnessed a live ammunition nighttime assault and toured the War Room at the Pentagon
as well as NORAD and Space Command at Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs.
Dick is currently Senior Advisor with the Tampa Bay Rays. He serves on eleven boards
of directors including the St. Petersburg YMCA; PARC, United Way of Tampa Bay Advisory
Board; One Blood (formerly Florida Blood Services); Blossom Montessori School for the Deaf,
"LIGHT UP ROTARY"
(Continued on Page 2)
DAVID LEWIS
MARCH 3
EDDIE WALL
MARCH 7
Calling for Items!!!
Do you have a product, service, fancy car,
beautiful boat, beach condo, cabin in the
woods, or somethng else of value for the silent
auction at this year's Solstice Bash which is
scheduled for June 27th? If so, please see a
member of the Solstice Committee (Jonathan
Moore, Tabitha Etlinger, Hanisha Patel, Richard Kenney, Tim Euler, Tori Boswell, Chris
Ingram, Christus Finley or Rotary Teachey).
Contributions may be tax-deductible - see
your financial advisor or tax preparer.
Continued from Page 1
CASA (Trustee); Pinellas Education Foundation; P.A.L. Advisory Board, the Salvation Army
Advisory Board and Charity Works Advisory Board. He is also a lifetime member of the board
for the Suncoast MacDonald Houses. He served on the President's Associates at Eckerd College.
He was appointed as an Honorary Vice Commander of the 6th Air Mobility Wing at MacDill Air
Force Base 2011-2013.
Dick and his wife Penny reside in St. Petersburg.
Please give Dick Crippen a very warm Tampa Rotary welcome!
IN MEMORIAM
John Alexander “Johnny” Diaz, Jr.
1928-2015
John Alexander “Johnny” Diaz, Jr, a great friend, a loving husband,
a wonderful father, grandfather, great-grandfather and an active Rotarian,
passed away on February 15, 2015 in Tampa, Florida at the age of 87.
Johnny was born and raised in Tampa, and was a graduate of the
University of Tampa. He was a successful business owner of Florida Roofing
and Metal Works and Florida Builders Supply in Ybor City for more than 40
years. He loved the challenge of his profession, and he was liked and
respected by his clients and colleagues who relied on his expertise and
advice.
Along with his passion for his professional career, Johnny was
committed to making Tampa a better place in which to live. Johnny was an
active Rotarian in our club, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow and
maintained a long record of perfect attendance. He was originally proposed
for Rotary membership by his father J.A. Diaz, Sr.
Johnny embodied the ideals of Rotary. He was a gentleman and a
man of integrity who always made those around him feel loved and
respected. Johnny’s infectious smile and positive outlook will be missed by
all who knew him, but not forgotten.
Our deepest sympathies go out to Johnny’s family; daughters Carolyn
Diaz Morris (Bill), Tina Diaz May (Douglas), and Gina Diaz Graviss (Bob);
grandchildren Robert Graviss III (Ashley), Sarah Monte Gaugler (Andrew),
Adam Graviss (Jennifer), Megan Chaires Brumbles (Paul), Alexander “Alex”
May IV (Samantha), William “Trey” Morris III (Andrea), Katherine “Katie”
May, seven great-grandchildren, and his sister Louise D. Jackson.
(President Jimmy, I move that the Rotary Club of Tampa accept this resolution with
sadness, that it be made a permanent record of this meeting, and that a suitable copy be
furnished to Johnny’s family.)
A resolution adopted at the March 3, 2015 meeting of the Rotary Club of Tampa
PROGRAM PREVIEWS
TODAY
Pictured with Dean Hamric, chairman of
the Speech Contest Committee are contestants
in the Group 3 Speech Contest held on
February 17, 2015, (LtoR) Natalie Smith,
David Enriguez, Sophie Perez and President
JimmyClark.
The Four-Way Test
of the things we think, say or do
First
"TAMPA BAY RAYS"
Speaker: Dick Crippen
Chairman of the Day:
Chris Ingram
***
MARCH 10
"USF HEALTH TEAM"
Speaker: Dr. Charles Lockwood
Chairman of the Day:
Steve Blair
***
MARCH 17
"GET TO KNOW YOUR
ROTARIANS"
Speakers to be announced
Is it the Truth?
Second
Is it Fair to all concerned?
Third
Will it Build Goodwill and
Better Friendships?
Fourth
Will it be Beneficial
to all concerned?
THE
HUB
Published Weekly by the
ROTARY CLUB OF TAMPA, FLORIDA
OFFICERS
JIMMY CLARK
JONATHAN MOORE
BROOKE MELENDI
BRAD KELLY
SUSAN CASPER
WAYNE CRITCHER
President
Vice President/President-Elect
Secretary
Treasurer
Sergeant-at-Arms
Immediate Past President
DIRECTORS
TERM ENDING 2015
TERM ENDING 2015
Andy Bowen
Larry Brown
Robert Chunn
Chris Ingram
Robert Teachey
David Lewis
Mercedes Hale
Jeff Locker
Jonathan Moore
Doug Reller
Bubba Turner - Senior Director
Gary C.K. Huang - Rotary International President
Gary Gunter - District 6890 Governor
District Web Site: http://www.district6890rotary.com
Linda Thomas, Club Administrator
Office: 806 E.. Jackson Street, Tampa, FL 33602
Meets Tuesday, 12:10 PM
Ferguson Law Center
1610 N. Tampa Street
Phone 223-3394 - FAX 221-9153
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: www.rotarycluboftampa.org
THE HUB STAFF
Bob Atkins & Robert Teachey - Editors