In his nearly 90 years, Earl Tilly has been a tractor salesman, a mayor, a state representative, a federal official appointed by a US president, a Rotarian, and most importantly – a husband and a father.
On Wednesday at the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center in Wenatchee, he gave away more than 50 Paul Harris Fellowships. The fellowship is named after Rotary’s founder and the program was designed to show appreciation for substantial contributions given to Rotary International’s Foundation. A Rotarian earns a new PHF certificate and medallion for every $1000 he or she donates to the Foundation.
That means Earl and his late wife Barbara have given more than $250,000 to Rotary’s Foundation over the years, and are members of the Arch Klumph Society because of that. When it comes to these fellowships, Earl could have accepted those honors himself and become a Paul Harris Fellow times 50+.
Instead, he decided to honor his friends.
Rotary’s mission is to “advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty,” and it’s an organization that is near and dear to Earl’s heart.
I sat down with him the week before the Paul Harris Fellowship ceremony and asked him about why he and Barbara gave so much time, talent and money to Rotary over the years and what advice he has for folks on aging well. His 90th birthday is next month and he still keeps up an active, healthy lifestyle – biking and playing pickleball three times a week with friends.
That video interview was screened at the event yesterday and you can watch that above.
Bonus Interview – A Sit Down with Earl in 2020
I also sat down with Earl for an interview in 2020, and we talked about his background in politics, where he would place 2020 on his “weirdest years ever” list and why he as a lifelong Republican cannot support Donald Trump for president.
And while some things have changed in four years, Earl’s feelings about Trump haven’t. Why? How Trump treats women.
You can watch that interview here:
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