Celebrating the Life of Patsy Derr
Past District Governor and beloved Killeen-Heights Rotarian Patsy Derr passed away October 17. She has been a pioneer in Rotary and embodied every facet of the Four Way Test and Service Above Self in her life. Patsy was among the first women admitted to Rotary in 1988. In 1994, Patsy became the 10th President of our club, the first woman to hold this position. In 2000, Patsy became the 86th Governor of District 5870.
Patsy's community contributions extend far beyond Rotary and will not be forgotten. We will honor her memory by our thoughts and actions, including continued support to the good works of the Rotary Foundation.
A little over a year after the Supreme Court ruled on May 4, 1987 that Rotary International’s exclusion of women violated the U.S. Constitution, Patsy was among the first women admitted to Rotary. Sponsored by Jim Mobley, she was inducted on September 1, 1988.
From the start, Patsy was an extremely active member of our club’s leadership team. Between July 1990 and June 1994, she served in successive years as Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President, and President-Elect. On July 1, 1994, Patsy became the 10th President of our club, the first women to hold this position. Patsy was named our Rotarian of the Year for 1996 and, in 1997, was named to the District 5870 Roll of Fame.
Following her retirement in 1996 as a Certified Public Accountant and Vice President of Wilson Derr Thompson, PC in Harker Heights, Rotary became Patsy’s passion.
From July 1996 through June 2000, Patsy served as our club’s Foundation Committee chair and was instrumental in developing many of the programs that have resulted in our club being consistently among the top three clubs in District 5870 in both total and per capita giving. This past June, these efforts culminated in Killeen Heights becoming the all-time top giving club in Zone 21b.
At the district level, Patsy served as Assistant Governor, Annual Programs Fund chair, Grants Subcommittee char, and District Rotary Foundation Committee chair. She was a member of the district’s World Community Service Committee, the Group Study Exchange Subcommittee, the Ambassadorial Scholarship Subcommittee, and numerous District Conference Committees. In September 1997, she led the Group Study Exchange team that travelled to District 1070 in England.
On July 1, 2000 Patsy became the 86th Governor of District 5870, the first women to ever hold this position.
Above district level, Patsy has served as Treasurer for Zones 25 and 26, and as Family Task Force chair, Poverty Alleviation Task Force chair, and Annual Programs Fund Strategic Advisor for Zone 26. In 2004, she served as a member of the RI Water Resources Presidential Task Force. From 2002 through 2007, Patsy served as a member of the Lone Star P.E.T.S. board of directors including terms as Operating Chair (2004) and Chairman of the Board (2007).
From July 2009 until this past June, Patsy served as Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator (RRFC) for Zones 21b and part of Zones 27 and 31. In this position she presented represented The Rotary Foundation in nine Districts. While serving RRFC, Patsy was a Foundation discussion leader at three Zone 21b Multi-District Training Institutes, and a Future Vision discussion leader at two Zones 21b/27 Institutes.
Patsy is a Paul Harris Fellow plus 8 and a Major Donor Level 2. She is a member of The Rotary Foundation’s Bequest Society, District 5870’s Paul Harris Society and PolioPlus Society, and the White Hat Society.
Patsy is the holder of The Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service and Rotary International’s Service Above Self Award. She is one of only nine Rotarians in the history of District 5870 to hold both awards. Prior to becoming ill, Patsy was nominated for The Rotary Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award. If selected by the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation, she will become only the second Rotarian in the history of District 5870 to hold all three recognitions.
Pat is past president of the Exchange Club of Killeen, and was a charter member and sustaining member of the Junior Service League of Killeen. She is a member of the Harker Heights Chamber of Commerce, the Modern Study Club, and the Institute of Humanities in Salado.