Past
RI President Bill Huntley,
of Sutton-on-Sea, England, died
on 20 February. In addition to
serving Rotary International as
president in 1994-95, he served
the organization as district
governor, International Assembly
discussion leader, committee
member and chair, Rotary
information counselor,
Foundation trustee and trustee
chair, director, and vice
president.
Huntley was a member of the
Rotary Club of Alford &
Mablethorpe and an honorary
member of the Rotary clubs of
London, Stapleford & Sandiacre,
and St. Louis. He also served as
vice president and president of
Rotary International in Great
Britain and Ireland (RIBI).
The past RI president was a
recipient of The Rotary
Foundation's Citation for
Meritorious Service and
Distinguished Service Award. He
also received the PolioPlus
Pioneer Award and the PolioPlus
International Service Award for
his extraordinary service to
PolioPlus.
Having lost their father in
early childhood, Huntley and his
younger brother grew up in a
single-parent household during
the Great Depression.
Hard-working and intelligent, he
won scholarships to grammar
school and university. Huntley
held a degree in religious
education from Leeds University
and in education from Lancaster
College. Later in life, he was
awarded honorary doctorates from
Hull College, in the town of his
birth, and Hanyang University in
Korea.
Although he first embarked on
a teaching career specializing
in religious education, Huntley
was soon drawn to youth
rehabilitation and training
after encounters with juvenile
delinquents.
During his presidential year,
Huntley encouraged Rotarians to
Be a Friend (the
1994-95 RI theme) and emphasized
community service at the local
and international levels. His
lifelong commitment to community
service included Rotary
volunteer missions to India,
Mexico, Sri Lanka, and Thailand
and serving as a member of the
World of Children International
Advisory Council.
Huntley's outstanding
volunteer leadership was
recognized at home and abroad:
He was a Member of the Most
Excellent Order of the British
Empire and was invested by the
president of Venezuela with the
Order of Simón Bolívar.
Huntley is survived by his
wife Audrey, and daughters Anne,
Deborah, Jill, and Sue.
