Gavel passed at Rotary to new president Debbie Petree

Brandon Johnson honored as Paul Harris Fellow

TOP PHOTO: Outgoing Campbell County Rotary Club President Brandon Johnson, left, passed the gavel to new Rotary President, TCAT’s Debbie Petree at Tuesday’s Rotary meeting.

By Charlotte Underwood

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – The gavel was passed from Brandon Johnson to new Campbell County Rotary Club President Debbie Petree at Tuesday’s Rotary Club luncheon. Rotarian Logan Hickman administered the oath to Petree and Johnson symbolically handed over the “trusty gavel” at the meeting’s close.

Petree said she had to first thank her “husband Joe.”

“He always supported my endeavors, goals, adventures and misadventures; without him, I don’t think I could be involved in any of the things that touch my heart,” Petree said.

She also thanked fellow Rotarians for “the trust” they have placed in her for the upcoming year to serve as president.

Rotarian Logan Hickman administers the oath to new Campbell County Rotary Club President Debbie Petree, right.

“I know that I follow some truly great leaders of this club, and I pledge to serve the Campbell County Rotary Club to the best of my ability,” Petree said.

Outgoing Rotary President Brandon Johnson was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow after an “extremely successful year as president.” Hickman presented Johnson with a plaque and went over some of the club’s accomplishments and events over the past year. These included achieving Star Club status, which means the club averaged at least $100 per Rotarian towards the Rotary Foundation. The club also received the Polio Eradicator Award, and received Globe Club recognition, among others. Johnson also “maintained membership and added to it, growing the club, as well as continued the club’s commitment to the Campbell County Children’s Center,” according to Hickman.

Outgoing Campbell County Rotary Club President Brandon Johnson was honored with a Paul Harris Fellow award at Tuesday’s Rotary Club Luncheon. Pictured left to right is Rotarian Logan Hickman, Brandon Johnson and Kaylee Queener.

“Brandon has made quite an impact on our community with the Caryville Cares Inclusive Playground, which Rotary made a contribution towards with its district grant this year, and the revival of the Special Olympics in the county, therefore it gives me great pleasure to present you with your certificate and pin, please accept our congratulations,” Hickman said. 

Johnson’s “better half” Kaylee Queener pinned the Paul Harris Fellow pin on Johnson.

Johnson thanked Rotarians for their support over the past year and for honoring him.

Johnson said Rotary was important to him, and that he had attended meetings 10 years ago when he was in college.

“When I moved back to Campbell County in 2017, one of the first things I did was join Rotary. And I wanted to join this club not just for the great food, but so many people I look up to in this community have been and are members of this club, so many folks in this room and the folks that came before us. If you want to be a leader in Campbell County there’s all kinds of things you can do, but I think the most important thing you can do is join the Rotary Club and meet and network with people who want to give back and make a difference… We have a big opportunity to carry this club forward for the next 50 years and I can’t think of anyone else better to do it than my good friend Debbie. Thank you all for believing in me this past year, I really appreciate it,” Johnson said. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 06/26/2024-6AM)