BIOGRAPHY

A little background on Stan Smalley's life and passions. I was born and raised on a Southern Iowa farm. College found me at Iowa State University where I received a Bachelor and Masters Degree in Civil Engineering. It was there that I also received my commission as a Navy Civil Engineering Corp Officer through the ROTC program. More importantly, it was at Iowa State that I met the love of my life, Marsha.

Having to serve in the US Navy, I was lucky to be stationed my entire tour of duty in Sasebo, Japan. There Marsha and I had our first daughter who was born only one month after arriving. Those three years were very special living in another culture and appreciating the beauty of another country and its people.

In 1968 upon returning from Japan to our country of the USA, we were a little uncomfortable with all the changes in the US after being isolated on the island of Kyushu in Japan. Robert Kennedy was assassinated on our way back home to Iowa, and we had a hard time understanding how this could happen.

I found employment with a large International Consulting firm. After working and living in Utah and Michigan where I helped charter a new Lions Club (no daggers, please), I decided I wanted to do something less stressful (I thought) and moved to Wyoming to become a home builder and land developer. It was in Wyoming that I had the opportunity to develop two of my unknown passions. The first being politics. I became a school board member, a City Planning Commission Chairman, head of our Church Administrative Board, and a Wyoming State Senator. I think the strongest passion was when several of us in our local Lions Club chartered the first Rotary Club in Riverton, Wyoming, in 1979; and I became involved in an International philanthropic club. Marsha supported all the Rotary activities while being involved in the arts as well as having her own ballet studio and a small art gallery which supported Wyoming artists. She also worked as the Executive Secretary for the Wyoming Arts Alliance which was an advocacy group for the State and brought artists into Wyoming to perform. Another important happening was the birth of our third daughter.

The Smalleys moved to San Ramon in 1987 and there joined the Rotary Club of San Ramon. Being active in the San Ramon Rotary Club, we attended our first International Convention in Mexico City where I experienced an awesome moment. During the posting of the flags from all the countries, the flag of the USSR was posted next to our US flag. It sent chills up my spine remembering my time in the Navy during the cold war. It was 1991 that the USSR started its first Rotary clubs. The irony of that event was that was the only time in Rotary's history that those two flags would be next to each other as by 1992, the Soviet Union no longer existed.

Marsha and my experience at the 1991 International Convention sparked a passion for International experience and programs. Since joining Rotary, we have hosted five youth exchange students, nine inbound Ambassadorial scholars, one of the original Berkeley Peace Fellows, a Group Study Exchange member and six Russian CIC delegates. We now have a huge International family in addition to our own three daughters, Kimberly, Kristen and Ashley, their husbands and six grandchildren. My wife, Marsha, is very supportive of all the Rotary functions and programs and my participation which I very much appreciate. The picture of us was taken at our lake home in Lake Almanor which has given us many peaceful and enjoyable moments which we hope to continue to enjoy throughout the years with our family and friends.

I am grateful for all the Club Presidents, Assistant Governors, District Leadership team, Committee Chairs, Directors and especially my right-hand person. Lt. Governor Laura Day, for all the efforts to make 2007-2008 a memorable Rotary year for our District.

With all of your help, I am sure District 5160 will have a great year in 2007-2008.

Stan Smalley
District Governor

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