District Governor Installed

District 5790 Installs Larry Petrash as

District Governor for 2014-2015

On June 13, 2014, District 5790 inducted it's new District Governor and it's 2014-2015 District Officers, Assistant Governors and District Support Team Members. 

Induction ceremonies took place during the District Governor Installation Banquet held at the Wichita Falls Country Club in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Those wishing to congratulate Larry for his achievement may do so by e-mailing him at lpetrash@aol.com

Larry Petrash

District Governor 2014 – 2015

 Larry was born in Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey, to Texas parents, and raised in a military family, moving to various places around the world that included Ansbach, Germany and Tokyo, Japan.  He completed his high school education in Houston, Texas.  He graduated from Texas A&M University with a BBA in Management and a Masters of Education Degree in Educational Administration with a minor in Business.

He served twenty-seven years in the U.S. Army Reserve, earning the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, in the Medical Service Corps.  His expertise was in Hospital Administration.  His service rendered sixteen medals including four awards of the Army Commendation Medal; one Army Achievement Medal; two awards of the National Defense Service Medal for Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm; four awards of the Reserve Components Achievement Medal; and two awards of the Army Reserve Medal among others. 

He is a retired Insurance Company Executive - turned Risk Management Consultant, who assisted companies with captive management, self-insurance programs, and commercial insurance portfolios.  He also provided Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety consulting.  He received his Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter designation, the highest designation in the insurance industry, in 1994; he received his Associate in Risk Management in 1989.  Additionally, Larry teaches part-time as an Adjunct Professor of Business at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Larry has served his community on numerous boards, president of almost all of them, over the last thirty years.  Currently, in addition to Rotary, he is President of the Wichita Falls Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America and serves at the state level as Secretary and Regional Vice President, Texas Council of Chapters.  Larry served 20 years on the board of Southside Youth Senter in Wichita Falls and is Past President.   He is also Past Vice President of Risk Management for the Northwest Texas Council of the Boy Scouts of America.  In 2003, he was awarded the prestigious Silver Beaver Award which recognizes his many years of outstanding leadership to youth.

Larry served Hospice of Wichita Falls for six years (2002 -2008) serving as President in 2007.  He also served the Senior Citizens of North Texas Board for six years and as President in 1989.

Larry has been married to Paula since 1968.  They met their first day in college, both receiving degrees from Texas A&M University.  Paula is a Nursing Home Administrator and Social Worker.  They have three children:  Physician Assistant Laura Diane Petrash, Yukon, OK; Air Force Tech Sergeant Jason William Petrash, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO; and Air Force Captain Dustin Edward Petrash, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.  Larry and Paula have six grandchildren.

Larry joined Rotary in San Antonio, Texas in 1978.  He is Past President of the Rotary Club of Wichita Falls (2005-2006), Past Assistant Governor (2011-2012), and will conclude three years service as his Club’s Secretary on July 1.  He also served as Audit Committee Chair on the 2013 District Foundation Committee .  Larry is a Texas Representative of Shelterbox USA, a Rotary partner.  He served as the District’s Matching Grant Committee Chairman for two years.  In 2011 he was part of a group of Rotarians, dubbed the “Rotarian 5”, led by PDG Tom Sheriff,  that went to Haiti seeking a way our district could help an earthquake ravaged land and people.  This trip ultimately resulted in approximately $65,000 being raised in private donations, led by Benay Ayers, to help fund the completion of a hospital for the Mission of Hope. Project “Vision Up”, organized and led by PDG Tom Sheriff, has provided glasses to hundreds of Haitians who had none.

Larry was selected to serve as District Governor in 2012, served as 2012-2013 District Governor Nominee and 2013-2014 District Governor-Elect.  Paula is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Iowa Park and, currently serves as Club Secretary.  In 2012, Larry and Paula each received the “Rotary Builder Award” from their respective clubs.  Larry and Paula are both Rotary International Major Donors. Larry will assume the office of District Governor on July 1, 2014.  

Congratulations Larry!