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
2022-2023 Joyce Persichilli
2023-2024 Sujata Yellaepeddi
2024-2025 Alex Shadpour