McKenzie Rotary Club

05/27/2026

Coleson Cook Expresses Gratitude to McKenzie Rotary for Scholarship Support
Coleson recently attended the McKenzie Rotary meeting to express his sincere appreciation to the organization’s members for awarding him a scholarship. During his visit, he thanked the group for their generosity and for investing in his future through their support of his educational goals of becoming a Dentist. The scholarship will play an important role in helping him pursue the next chapter of his academic journey. McKenzie Rotary’s continued commitment to supporting local students is a meaningful contribution to the community and a lasting encouragement to young people as they work toward their future aspirations.

05/25/2026

McKenzie Rotary Visited by Jackson Airport ⬇️

McKENZIE (May 5) — The Jackson Regional Airport is no longer a "best-kept secret" — it is a booming regional hub.

Addressing the Rotary Club of McKenzie on Tuesday, Executive Director Kyle Barron detailed a period of unprecedented growth for the facility formerly known as McKellar-Sipes.

Under his leadership, the airport has officially ascended to "primary airport" status, a milestone reached after surpassing 10,000 annual passengers in its first year of jet service—shattering the original two-year projection.

Continue reading ⬇️
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McKenzie Rotary Club

05/24/2026

05/09/2026

McKenzie Rotary Awards Six Scholarships

McKENZIE (MAY 8) — The Rotary Club of McKenzie announces the recipients of six prestigious scholarships, totaling $8,000 in local educational support. The awards, funded through the club and the Fannie Baxter Moore Fund, were presented to five McKenzie High School seniors and one Bethel University student following a recent selection process.

Among the top honors, MHS senior Charli Weatherford and Bethel University student Hannah Dillingham each received a $2,000 scholarship to Bethel. These significant awards are made possible through a partnership between the Moore Fund and Bethel University.

Four additional MHS seniors—Gracie Aird, Carlton Townes, Coleson Cook, and Brody Berryhill—were each granted $1,000 scholarships. These awards are renewable annually and can provide up to $4,000 in support for each student throughout their college careers.

The program's expansion was led by club Vice-President Armand Hebert, who spearheaded the effort to establish an endowment in 2026 to sustain the scholarship funds. In years past, the scholarships have always been a one-year, non-renewable award of $1,000.

The funding is provided by a scholarship endowment supported by Rotary members and the Moore Fund, dedicated to assisting "worthy, needy people" within the McKenzie community.

The selection process was rigorous, involving an application focused on academic achievement, community service, and financial need. Following the teacher evaluations, candidates were interviewed in person on April 23 with a panel of Rotary Club members.

04/26/2026

Second Annual McKenzie Rotary Boston Butt Sale!
Make sure to purchase your tickets early, so you don't miss the opportunity to enjoy Boston Butt on Father's Day! This will keep dad from working his butt off. Pick up day is June 20th. For tickets, see a member of Rotary or use this link: https://givebutter.com/boston-butt-sale-pprdop Please remember there will be a processing fee applied using the link.

04/19/2026

Our founder's birthday today.

04/02/2026

This Week's Program Speaker
Andy Holt, Tennessee Agricultural Commissioner, was our speaker at McKenzie Rotary this week. Andy was a great addition to our meeting, informing us of his duties as Agricultural Commissioner, from local issues to marketing our local products to foreign markets. We truly appreciate his willingness to share his insights and time with us. Thank you, Andy, for taking time out of your busy schedule to spend time with us!

04/01/2026

A piece of McKenzie Rotary Club History
Several months ago, my son-in-law Jake gave me two plates he found after buying a storage unit at auction, which turned out to be important pieces of McKenzie Rotary history. I decided to show this to one of our club members and McKenzie resident Edd Perkins. He looked at the plate, and his face lit up while saying, “Do you know what this is? This was a prior McKenzie Rotary commemorative plate.” I hadn’t read the inscription on the back of the plate. The artwork was drawn and donated by Member Douglas F. Brigdale, a past member of our club. Then Edd pointed to a framed drawing on his wall and told me he was a local artist and that this was one of his pieces. Now, to bring this all together, the research was assisted by a Bethel College student, George F. Rieves. Then the inscription references the Moore Fund, which McKenzie Rotary has administered since its creation, with Ed leading its mission. Ed now has one of the plates to hang in his office, preserving a piece of our club's legacy. I thought everyone would enjoy a little Rotary history today!

04/01/2026

Newest Member of McKenzie Rotary Club
This week, we proudly welcomed our newest member to the McKenzie Rotary Club, Tami Winston. Tami is affiliated with L.I. Smith & Associates, working from their Paris office.
Pictured are “JR” William Milam on the left, Tami Winston in the center, and club president Ricky Price, who is welcoming her to Rotary by presenting her with a Rotary International pin. Welcome to the "Service Above Self" mindset!