Junior Chamber Movement

Junior Chamber International began as the Junior Chamber of Commerce on Jan 21st, 1920. It was founded by Henry Giessenbier in St. Louis Missouri, and quickly spread to other states. On July 26, 1939, the Allegan Jaycees were chartered, with Weldon Rumery as our first President.

As of today, we are one of the oldest continually-running chapters in JCI Michigan. Originally, the organization was exclusively for men, until a Supreme Court ruling in 1984 allowed women to join. Prior to 1984, the Jaycees Auxiliary (reserved for wives of Jaycees) and the Jaycettes (opened to any women of Jaycee age) existed. Allegan used to have an Auxiliary chapter.

Past Presidents

1939-1950

1939-1940 Weldon Rumery

1940-1941 Charles Robson

1941-1942 Clark Muma

1942-1943 Irving Rucker

1943-1944 George Gatton

1944-1945 Spence Cook

1945-1946 Earl Hartman

1946-1947 Kenneth Wadsworth

1947-1948 Robert Hilaski

1948-1949 Maurice Roberts

1949-1950 Keith Moored

1950-1960

1950-1951 Eldon Philley

1951-1952 Kenneth Grinnell

1952-1953 Russell Baker

1953-1954 James Snow

1954-1955 John David

1955-1956 John Young

1956-1957 William Dalman

1957-1958 Fred McDonald and Maurice Ruth

1958-1959 Joseph Vanderveen

1959-1960 William Burmeister

1960-1970

1960-1961 Doran Wedge

1961-1962 Gerald Chappell

1962-1963 Lloyd Worthington

1963-1964 Marvin Brower

1964-1965 John Dillingham

1965-1966 Dale Pearson

1966-1967 William Jones

1967-1968 Richard Crandall and Harry Tibbitts

1968-1969 Leroy Austin, Jr.

1969-1970 Eldon Philley, Jr.

1970-1980

1970-1971 Lester Tooman

1971-1972 Larry Funk

1972-1973 Robert Thomas

1973-1974 Chuck Ball

1974-1975 Tom Bishop

1975-1976 Rod Rambadt

1976-1977 Walt Smiles

1977-1978 Jerry Francisco

1978-1979 William Conkhite

1979-1980 Ronald Prentice

1980-1990

1980-1981 Mike Richardson

1981-1982 Ray Berkin

1982-1983 Tom Davis

1983-1984 Jim Horwath

1984-1985 Craig VanMelle

1985-1986 Eric Schweikert

1986-1987 Ward Granger

1987-1988 Bruce Maurer

1988-1989 Bruce Maurer

1989-1990 Greg Wilson

1990-1999

1990-1991 Paul Hodge, O.D.

1991-1992 Vicki Hodge

1992-1993 Paul Hodge, O.D.

1993-1994 Russell Gebhardt

1994-1995 Joseph Farnsworth

1995-1996 Russell Gebhardt

1996-1997 Lawrence Furjanich

1997-1998 Darrell Oakley

1998*, 1999 Daniel Gratz

*indicates eight month fiscal year due to US Jaycees fiscal year change

2000-2009

2000 C. Sean Gum

2001 Lisa Wott

2002 Brian Wott

2003 Cheryl Gratz

2004 Tanya Goodenough

2005 Heather Bowman

2006 Jason Watts

2007 Delora Andrus

2008 Delora Andrus

2009 Delora Andrus

2010-2019

2010 Delora Andrus

2011 Stacie Stotmeister

2012 Wendy Raymond

2013 Carrie Penny

2014 Delora Andrus

2015 Delora Andrus

2016 Stacie Stotmeister

2017 Cara Dickerson

2018 Cara Dickerson

2019 Jeri Leigh Levering

2020-present

2020 Kayleigh Gratz

2021 Kayleigh Gratz

2022 Samantha Krotz

2023 Samantha Krotz

2024 Bentley Stotemeister

2025 William Darling

Senators

Leroy Austin, Jr. #15782

Dr. Paul Hodge, O.D. #60935
Life Member #280

Daniel Gratz #64238
Life Member #419

Donna Chenard #68940

Stacie Stotmeister #74144

Delora Andrus #78325

Carrie Penny #80752

A senatorship is the highest honor a chapter can bestow upon a member. It is somewhat viewed as a lifelong membership. The JCI Senate is an active organization that largely supports and continues on the mission of the Jaycees.

Jaycee of the Year

1966-1980

1966-67 Eldon Philley

1967-68 Jeff Lundeberg

1968-69 Bob Tomilson

1970-71 Ted Stough

1971-72 Rod Rambadt

1972-73 George Babcock

1974-75 Dave Benson

1975-76 Tom Bishop

1976-77 Michael Gooding

1977-78 Jerry Francisco

1978-79 Dave Smith

1979-80 Mike Richardson

1980-1990

1980-81 Ray Berkin

1981-82 Tom Davis

1982-83 Mike Richardson

1983-84 Craig VanMelle

1984-85 Bruce Maurer

1985-86 Sandra Horwath

1986-87 Bruce Maurer

1987-88 Kathy Wilson

1988-90 Cheryl Rawson

1989-90 Paul Hodge

1990-2000

1990-91 Vicki Hodge

1991-92 Paul Hodge

1992-93 Russell Gebhardt

1993-94 Paul Hodge

1994-95 Russell Gebhardt

1995-96 Paul Hodge

1996-97 Darrell Oakley

1997-98 Dan Gratz

1998 Cheryl Gratz

1999 Sean Gum

2000 Dan Gratz

2011-current

2011 Lindsay Bannatyne

2022 Kayleigh Gratz

2023 Tyler Roberts

2024 William Darling

Memorial Award Winners

Weldon Rumery Outstanding First Year Member

2011 Kari Pinnell

1998 Cheryl Gratz

2021 Tyler Roberts

1999 Kim Falcon

2022 Jacklyn Pérez and Bentley Stotmeister

2000 Sean Gum

2023 Ben Jalbert

2001 Mike Cole

2024 Xavier Paris

Carrie M. Penny Outstanding Project Chairperson

2023 Bentley Stotmeister

Why Join the Allegan Jaycees?

As a member, you will:

Gain leadership and professional skills.

Connect with a network of young professionals.

Make a real impact in Allegan through service projects.

Be part of a global movement with opportunities across JCI USA and JCI International.

Get Involved