Fay Jay & Norma Durrant

Even as a youngster, Fay J. Durrant was a well-seasoned traveler. Moving with his family, Fay J. attended 29 different schools by the age nine. His father was a pipe fitter during WWII and he moved his family to where the job was located. Fay J., his younger brother Bill, and his Mom and Dad call a 29' Aluminum Airstream trailer "home." Being the "new kid" so often offered an opportunity for Fay J. to develop his "no stranger" approach to meeting people. A skill that makes him a successful person.

From Texas to California, from Idaho to the foothills of Colorado, Fay J's family followed the jobs. Finally at age nine, his family made Houston, Texas home and Fay J. finished school. As a high school student, Fay J. found an interest in what made things happen. He participated in an organization that traveled to Austin and as a high school student introduced a bill into the state assembly.

After graduating from high school, Fay J. served four years in the Navy. (He says he "grew up in the Navy.") His assignment as a diesel engineman was cut short when his superiors recognized his enviable talent of typing. He moved onward to the cleaner "hands on" job of company clerk.

Fay J. traveled twice to Japan in a Navy LST. This vessel was designed for shallow water and beach landings. On the first trip, the open ocean proved the LST a seaworthy vessel when they encountered a typhoon. With engines at full power, the LST struggled to keep on course. After the storm passed they found that they lost 12 miles from where they hit the storm, but they were still afloat.

During his off duty hours, Fay J. pursued his high school love of baseball. After completing his duties maintaining the "tender" of his ship, Fay J. headed for the ball diamond. An extracurricular activity that lead to semi-pro status.

Out of the Navy and back to Houston, Fay J. began his civilian career at Lone Star Bag as a payroll clerk, but being the visionary he is, he quickly recognized that sales service was were the action was. His first territory was the Lubbock area, West Texas and part of New Mexico. His early sales career moved him from West Texas to Fort Worth and on to West Monroe, LA - all within the bag industry.

Through the years, Fay J. made changes and moves until 1982 when he started his own bag manufacturing facility in Memphis, TN. The 1985-year brought business hard times and 1986 brought better times. In 1987 and 88 Fay J. and Norma started looking for a new location for the bag plant. South was the chosen direction with Norma being from Louisiana and Fay J. from the Houston area. As he traveled the southern areas making sales calls, Fay J. collected information on about 20 different locations that he considered possibilities to relocate. The Texarkana Chamber of Commerce group was the only one that followed up consistently about relocating his business in their city. As a professional salesman, Fay J. realized that you have to ask for the order to get it.

Fay J. says that Joe Bruick introduced him to Rotary, but it didn't take the first time. Bob McMann invited him to visit again and join; Fay J. finally caught on. Fay J. was a Rotary member for about four years before the fever set in. By winning a membership drive contest, he and Norma attended the International Convention held in Indianapolis. At the convention, Fay J. saw the "global perspective" of Rotary and realized he was a part of a universal program that shared goals and visions. Thousands of attendees caught his attention to the mission of Rotary and how he could play a part. Fay J. started collecting tapes, books and articles learning the in-depth history to Rotary and its role.

There are numerous projects Fay J. has influenced in his Rotary career. As membership chairman, Fay J. had one of the largest increases in club membership and lowered the average age of the club. He also generated the Annual Golf tournament as one of the club's large fundraisers.

During his club presidency, Fay J. set several goals for himself and his board of directors. One of the first things on his agenda was to improve the overall average of club attendance. His year began at 58.3% and 10 months later it had risen to about 75% and is still going strong. One of his other goals was to increase club member's education of the aspect of being a Rotarian. Through special presentations and newsletter articles, Fay J. increased the awareness of the real purpose of Rotary, that it is a service organization, not a social club.

In the 1999/2000 year Fay J. supported the sponsorship of a new Rotary Club, the Sunrise Club, and the establishment of the first Interact Club, Texas High Interact Club. He also lead members in the sponsorship of a foreign exchange student, the Fairview School Best Pals Mentoring program and the commitment to serving dinner at the Randy Sams Shelter once a month.

As a salesperson, Fay J. is an opportunist and likewise as a Rotarian. He recruited a Rotary Team to participate in the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce membership drive and won the first place prize of $1,000.00 to go towards the scholarship fund. The top individual winner, also a Rotarian, donated his winnings of $500.00 to the fund. Fay J. donated a 1974 Rolls Royce to the District for a drawing and raised $17,000 to go to the Rotary Foundation. Working in conjunction with an agency in Little Rock, the Wilbur Smith Rotary helped sponsor a Dale Carnegie Training course in the Texarkana area that raised $1,500.00 for the club. A weekly raffle suggested by a club member was put into place that generated approximately $2,000.00 for club youth programs. With all the fund raising efforts throughout the year, the Wilbur Smith Rotary was able to donate more than $7,800.00 to a variety of community agencies and to the scholarship funds.

Two outstanding programs developed during his presidency are the 4-Way Test School Posters Program and the Community Flag Program. Fay J. believes in and lives by the Rotary 4-Way Test and encourages others in the community to do the same. Starting early is the best way to instill good character values. Fay J. proposed to the school district(s) superintendents that Rotary would donate a 4-Way Test poster for every classroom in the districts (Arkansas and Texas). That program came to fruition this school year. With the help of the Interact Club, posters are displayed in each classroom in the community.

Fay J. recognized that the Community Flag Project so successful in Gilmer, TX would be a tremendous addition to the Rotary clubs of Texarkana. As a co-club project, Rotarians sell a "Flag Service" for one year in which a base is installed in the ground at the location and six times a year on the federal holidays, Rotarians arrive early in the morning, drop in the flag pole in the base and then in the early evening come back, pick them up and store them. As of Veterans Day in November, the three Rotary Clubs will display more than 1,000 flags with the proceeds going to the Rotary Clubs and the Rotary Foundation.

Fay J. has taken several opportunities to personally sponsor Paul Harris Fellowships for individuals who have given to the club and to the community. His ability to recognize positive attitudes and motivate in a constructive manner makes members excited to participate with club projects.

From ringing bells for the Salvation Army to Donating Blood for United Blood Services, Fay J. says that a "NO' is just an opportunity to work on getting a "YES" and that's how he approaches club members to participate with club projects. He works hard encouraging others to take a leadership role, to do the right thing and is an exceptionally supportive sponsor. His friend and neighbor, fellow Rotarian Dale Works, writes, "Fay J. is always on the move and thinking ahead. I can also vouch for the fact that he drives a riding lawn mower like John Wayne rides a horse, anything in the way gets run over." And it's that forward momentum that has allowed Fay J. to help so many achieve so much. By enthusiastically sponsoring members, Fay J. has helped build a strong, active Rotary community in the Texarkana area.