08/05/2007: "San Juan Lion's Club Historical Report #3"

The President of the San Juan Lions Club for the year 1964 / 1965 was Thomas R. Strange....

The President of the San Juan Lions Club for the year 1964 / 1965 was Thomas R. Strange.

Thomas Strange was the Superintendent of the San Juan Island School District from 1960 to 1969.

When Tom and his wife who was a former teacher moved to the Island from Walla Walla they had two sons, Bill and Dan. During their time on the Island they added a daughter Raylene to their family. They lived in a farmhouse on the Roche Harbor road.

Tom was slight in build and was, what is known today, as follicle-challenged. He was very energetic. At the time that he was President of the San Juan Lions Club he was 60 years old. He was known as a regular at church and neither smoked nor drank.

Tom’s title was Superintendent of Schools however during those days the Superintendent also acted as Principal as well as taught classes. Tom taught math. Tom coached basketball. At times he acted as janitor.

Teachers that worked for him say that he truly led by example. I was told by one former teacher, that he had worked for seven different superintendents and that Tom was head and shoulders above the rest.

Tom was truly instrumental in the early success or our club, without his coordination and efforts the Charter Banquet held at the Hall Gymnasium on December 8th 1962 would not have been the tremendous success that it was.

The dedication and hard work of the early officers created the foundation on which this club was built and Tom Strange was a big part of that foundation.

Tom Strange and his family left the island in 1969, they returned to eastern Washington where Tom continued his career in education.