A Carthage businessman was selected as a district governor in the Rotary International, and will start his new post on Tuesday.
Ron Petersen Sr., owner of KDMO-AM and KMXL-FM radio stations, was elected to be the head of District 6110, which is composed of 79 clubs, 5,200 Rotarians, and is the largest district in membership in the U.S.
It encompasses the four corners of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Petersen is also planning the annual District conference, which will be held Sept. 25-28 at the John Q. Hammons Convention Center in Joplin.
Petersen joined Rotary in 1977 and has served the Carthage Club as a member of the board of directors, sergeant at arms, president elect and president.
In 1998, the Carthage Club awarded him the Four Avenues of Service Citation and the Rotarian of the Year award. He, his wife Louise and oldest son Ron Jr. are all Paul Harris Fellows.
In a written release, Petersen said the last time a district governor came from Missouri was 1994-1995 when Edison Kaderly, Lamar, was governor, "so I feel quite honored."
He said the last tine the district conference was held in Joplin was 1991 when Ira Perkins, Carl Junction, was governor.
Petersen also serves on the board of trustees at McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital and on the Public Relations Committee of the Ronald McDonald House of the Four-States.
