EVERYONE of us has a certain "something" that sets him apart from everybody else. Our new Present has two such essential traits, which define and ape his personality: great simplicity and deep conscientiousness.

If there is a man who is far from everything that artificial or affected, alien from everything that is theatrical, who is moderate in his way of thinking, ,in his words, ideas, and gestures, that is Gian Paolo Lang.

If there is a man who is an enemy of what is superficial or approximate, who takes things to heart ‑his duties as a man, as a citizen, and as a worker – that again, is Gian Paolo Lang.

This explains why he has found in the simple enunciation of Rotary principles not only an ethical and social guide, but also something wholly akin to his soul and to his mentality.

It also explains why, after having been convinced of their goodness and genuineness, he has felt that it was not enough to limit himself to believing and operating in the wake of those same principles, but, different in this from the many who are satisfied with fine words and appearances, he found it necessary to expand, serve, and defend them: in other words, he devoted himself to them heart and soul.

Does this mean that he is an ascetic or an apostle and for this very reason a man outside the reality of things? Nothing of the kind. Gian Paolo is quite a practical man; he is at the head of a firm requiring a practical mind and not mysticism. He is a happy husband, father, and grandfather; he is a hospitable and affectionate friend. He belongs to that small number of people who, once they have accepted an obligation, fulfill it to the end. Being used to thinking and acting seriously, he does not understand any other way.

I shall add that Gian Paolo has been favored by nature with an appearance which is in itself an excellent introduction. He is tall and upright with snow‑white hair, blue eyes, a friendly smile, and an easy, youthful bearing.

For all these reasons he is well liked, and everyone of us, even when meeting him for the first time, feels that he is a friend.

Born in Leghorn from a Trieste family, his youth was no different from that of most young people of that time. The Lang family was rather well known in Italy, because one of its members, Gian Paolo's uncle, Commander of the King's Guards, saved King Victor Emmanuel III's life and was seriously wounded when shielding. him with his own person, when an attempt was made on his Sovereign's life.

When still very young, Gian Paolo was sent by his father to Kenya, where his two married sisters lived. He spent about ten years there, working with a commercial firm and he also acted as honorary secretary at the Italian Consulate in Mombasa.

He came back to his native town to work in partnership in his father's firm, of which he is manager today. He married Valentina in 1923 and they had three children - two boys and a girl‑and the family lived a happy, normal life until the beginning of World War II. Compelled to leave their home because of the forced evacuation of their town, they went through some very hard times. Not only had they to leave their house and all their belongings, but Gian Paolo's work stopped, of course, as his firm exported Italian produce to different parts of the world. 

They lived for a few years in Northern Italy‑all but the eldest son, Marcello, who, having been called to the colors, was taken prisoner by the Germans with all the cadets of his course. Luckily for him, after two years' captivity in South Tyrol, he was invited‑owing to his knowledge of German and English‑by Austrian partisans whom he had meanwhile joined, to go and meet the advancing American Army, in order to surrender to them the Valley of Zillertal. So it was that near Jenbach he presented himself to Colonel Fellenz of the 42d Division (Fightin' First Battalion, 222d Infantry, Rainbow Division), joined the Battalion, and served for several months as interpreter.

At the end of the war, Gian Paolo and family returned to Leghorn and were lucky enough to find their house, though completely looted, still existing, notwithstanding the terrible state of the town.

Gian Paolo was able, after a while and amongst the greatest difficulties, to build up his business again, in which his two sons have now joined him.

Meanwhile in several parts of Italy former Rotarians were trying to reopen the Rotary Clubs that had been closed since 1938, and Gian Paolo was charged by Governor Achille Bossi to reestablish the Leghorn Club, of which his father had been cofounder in 1925. He was made President of the Club and was able to obtain from General Lee (then Commander of the Allied Base of Leghorn) the use of the rooms for the members to meet: no easy matter then considering the very special conditions of the town. It was General Lee who gave the Leghorn Rotary Club, also on behalf of English and American officers, a beautiful bell which is still being used at every meeting.

In 1949 Gian Paolo was elected Governor of the 87th District and in following years he was a member of the Aims and Objects Committee, a member of the Board of Directors, a member of the Nominating Committee for President, Vice‑President and President of ENAEMAC, First Vice‑President of Rotary International. He has often represented the President at District Conferences in several European countries.

This is more or less the life story of our President: a simple life, without exceptional happenings or spectacular moments. A life of perfect honesty, of intelligent and arduous work, of constant dedication to his family and to his social duties, of ever‑growing attachment to the cause and to the ideals of Rotary.

In these times when most men try not "to be" but "to seem," here is one man who only wishes "to be"; a man who, strong in this enviable and invincible strength, is preparing himself with dignity and humility to be the leader of our world fellowship for next year, wishing above everything else to be its most devoted, passionate, and disinterested servant.

This is the reason why we rejoice , in and wholeheartedly approve the unanimous designation with which Rotary International has honored him, by selecting him for our President for 1956‑57.

Written for The Rotarian by Giacomo Zanussi, RC of Leghorn, Italy, July 1956.

Researched for Rotary Global History by Wolfgang Ziegler 7 September 2003