District 5 History

1930
The oldest club in San Diego is chartered by International President J Clark—predating District 5.

1937
District 5 is formed. The First District Governor is Robert Switzler.

1966
First International Speech World Champion from District 5 is Michael Yaconelli.

District Recognition

Each program year, Toastmasters International recognizes Districts, Divisions, Areas, and clubs in the achievement of Distinguished program goals. The Distinguished District Program focuses on club quality and member satisfaction, and recognizes districts that meet goals in growth and educational achievement through the support of their clubs.

President’s Distinguished District

1969-1970 Durwood English

1974-1975 Norman Hartwell

1987-1988 Larry Mulvey

Select Distinguished District

1979-1980 Thomas Esquivel

2015-2016 May-chen Martin-Kuo

Distinguished District

1970-1971 Hal Story

1975-1976 Melverne Hansen

1976-1977 Helen Blanchard

1977-1978 N.S. (Barney) Bernard

1978-1979 Eugene Kenyon

1980-1981 Les Stubbs

1981-1982 Vicki Wood

1982-1983 Frank Zdy

1983-1984 Renée Sciacca

1985-1986 John Stark

1986-1987 Earl Chinn

1988-1989 Bob Traber

1990-1991 José Garza

1991-1992 Frank Parzych

1992-1993 Doug Thompson

1999-2000 Ken Garber

2001-2002 Ruth Soklow

2002-2003 Joyce Persichilli

2005-2006 Eileen Hope

2006-2007 Cindy Scott

2007-2008 Gail Lover

2008-2009 Emily Corcoran

2009-2010 Charley Patton

2011-2012 Rhonda Walthall

Past Toastmasters International and Regional Leaders

Past International Presidents

1977-1978 Durwood English, DTM

1985-1986 Helen Blanchard, DTM

Past International Directors

1988-1990 C. Earl Chinn, DTM, PID

2004-2006 Kenneth Garber, DTM, PID

Past Region Advisors

2010-2012 Joyce Persichilli, DTM, PRA

2017-2018 Charley Patton, PRA

District Directors

1937-1976

1937-1938 Robert Switzler

1938-1939 Richmond Jackson

1939-1940 Francis Ide

1940-1941 Harold Requa

1941-1942 Malcolm Macurda

1942-1943 Ashleigh Chamberlain

1943-1944 Chester Irving

1944-1945 James Noel

1945-1946 Hilding Weisgerber

1946-1947 Dr. S.S. Saund

1947-1948 Robert Fuller

1948-1949 Harold La Dou

1949-1950 Robert Sharp

1950-1951 Howard Dudley

1951-1952 Edwin Johnson

1952-1953 Victor Brown

1953-1954 Lloyd Plummer

1954-1955 Dr. C. Gordon Watson

1955-1956 John Williamson

1956-1957 John Williamson

1957-1958 Leonard Lundmark

1958-1959 Grant Christensen

1959-1960 Harold Gray

1960-1961 William Loerke Jr.

1961-1962 Donald Contois

1962-1963 Cy Campbell

1963-1964 Fred L. Schwartz

1964-1965 James Bury

1965-1966 John Dower

1966-1967 Joe Sawaya

1967-1968 Bob Bolam

1968-1969 Bob Thomas

1969-1970 President’s Distinguished Durwood English

1970-1971 Distinguished Hal Story

1971-1972 G.D. Owens

1972-1973 Guy Shackley

1973-1974 Richard Freedman

1974-1975 President’s Distinguished Norman Hartwell

1975-1976 Distinguished Melverne Hansen

1976-2015

1976-1977 Distinguished Helen Blanchard

1977-1978 Distinguished N.S. (Barney) Bernard

1978-1979 Distinguished Eugene Kenyon

1979-1980 Select Distinguished Thomas Esquivel

1980-1981 Distinguished Les Stubbs

1981-1982 Distinguished Vicki Wood

1982-1983 Distinguished Frank Zdy

1983-1984 Distinguished Renée Sciacca

1984-1985 Joe Colton

1985-1986 Distinguished John Stark

1986-1987 Distinguished Earl Chinn

1987-1988 President’s Distinguished Larry Mulvey

1988-1989 Distinguished Bob Traber

1989-1990 Ned Drew

1990-1991 Distinguished José Garza

1991-1992 Distinguished Frank Parzych

1992-1993 Distinguished Doug Thompson

1993-1994 Sheryl Roush

1994-1995 Janice Robinson

1995-1996 Terry Hewins

1996-1997 Linda Jackson

1997-1998 Pure Swimington

1998-1999 Martin Olmeda

1999-2000 Distinguished Ken Garber

2000-2001 Richard Cortopassi

2001-2002 Distinguished Ruth Soklow

2002-2003 Distinguished Joyce Persichilli

2003-2004 Gordon Pettus

2004-2005 Kristin Halvin

2005-2006 Distinguished Eileen Hope

2006-2007 Distinguished Cindy Scott

2007-2008 Distinguished Gail Lover

2008-2009 Distinguished Emily Corcoran

2009-2010 Distinguished Charley Patton

2010-2011 David Carroll

2011-2012 Distinguished Rhonda Walthall

2012-2013 Woodrow Wilson

2013-2014 Ed Gain

2014-2015 Mark Rauschenbach

2015-current

2015-2016 Select Distinguished May-chen Martin-Kuo

2016-2017 Joyce Persichilli

2017-2018 Mark Rauschenbach

2018-2019 Michelle Neisler

2019-2020 Lucille Shaw

2020-2021 Jonathan Deane

2021-2022 CJ Frey