Kyle Hartmann Installed As New Rotary President

Coppinger Caps Stellar Year as Leader

La Grange Rotarians last week installed Kyle Hartmann as club president for 2023-24.

Mike Coppinger has been president this past year, during which the club has contributed more than $35,000 to various charitable efforts, including $12,000 in scholarships to La Grange High School graduates.

In addition, the club has provided hands-on service to numerous local projects ranging from Movie Nights on the Square to installing Christmas lights at Kreische Brewery-Monument Hill State Historic Sites.

This past year saw the greatest monetary donations the club has ever made with the exception of the year of Hurricane Harvey.

Formed in 1954, the La Grange Rotary Club has held an annual pancake supper since 1957, which is thought to be the longest running fundraising project in the Rotary district.

The club’s three major fundraisers each year are the pancake supper, the hamburger booth at the Fayette County Fair and Oktoberfest on the Square.

During Coppinger’s year, the club also has qualified for two major recognitions from The Rotary Foundation, including the Every Rotarian Every Year banner award, meaning every member of the club has personally contributed to the Foundation this year. In all, club members donated $9,325 to the Rotary Foundation, whose best known project is eliminating polio from the entire world.

Hartmann, the incoming president, has been Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, since being elected to the post in 2018. A fourth generation resident of Fayette County, he graduated from La Grange High School, earned an associate of science degree from Blinn College and holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University.

In addition to his work with Rotary, Hartmann is active in the Fayette County Community Theatre, Habitat for Humanity and St. John Lutheran Church in Rutersville.