Governor Holcomb, Rotary honor 99-year-old WWII Combat Veteran
MEK was privileged to conduct pro bono media relations in honor of the WWII combat veteran George Dingledy. The below media brief helped generation coverage on WTTV CBS4 and FOX 59.
INDIANAPOLIS – From WWII Pacific theater combat veteran to mayor of Wabash to oldest active Rotarian in Indiana, George Dingledy has led – and continues to lead — a remarkable life. With a formal presentation of the Sagamore of the Wabash from Governor Eric Holcomb (presented on behalf of the Governor by Rotarian Elaine Bedel, Secretary and CEO of the Indiana Destination Development Corporation) and additional recognition by the current mayor of Wabash, the Rotary Club of Indianapolis will celebrate the life and accomplishments of 64-year Rotarian and club member, George Dingledy, Tuesday, August 9 at their weekly mid-day meeting in the Tunisian Room at the Murat Shrine, 510 New Jersey Street, Indianapolis.
Dingledy, one of the oldest World War II combat veterans in Indiana, will be honored for his 33 months of active duty in the Pacific Theater (1943-1945), 64 years of Rotary involvement (1958-present), as well as his distinguished business career and civic involvement in the cities of Wabash and Indianapolis.
The program, organized by the Rotary Club of Indianapolis’ history committee, will include highlights of Dingledy’s service in the United States Army and his service to the world through his 60 plus years of membership in Rotary International as a club president and Rotary District Governor in 1987-1988.
Special presentations will be made by fellow Rotarians, the Honorable Scott Long, the mayor of Wabash, IN, and
The Rotary Club of Indianapolis meets each Tuesday. All are welcome at Rotary programs.
To join our meeting via Zoom starting at 12:15 p.m. go to https://zoom.us/j/710170874?pwd=bFE4ejJTc29IMlNzVmx1Wlg4MTA1UT09.
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ADDITIONAL DETAILS
George Dingledy became a Rotarian in 1958 in the State of Indiana and has served for 64 years. Dingledy joined the Rotary Club of Indianapolis on 31 October, 1999. He has served as Presidents of both the Wabash Indiana Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Indianapolis. After serving as president, Dingledy went on to serve as Rotary District Governor 1987-1988 in Rotary Zone 30 and is a member of the Rotary Council of Past District Governors. Dingledy remains an active member by attending most of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis Tuesday meetings.
George Dingledy was drafted into service on March 1, 1943, at age nineteen. Dingledy was assigned Infantry and sent to Ft. Leonard Wood, MO for training. Dingledy was one of 800 men selected to go to the Pacific and replace men killed or wounded at Guadalcanal. Dingledy received jungle training at the Fiji Islands where he joined the 164th Infantry (American Division.)
George Dingledy landed with his regiment on Bougainville, Salomon Islands on Christmas Day 1943. Dingledy spent the next 13 months as a rifleman sharing the island with the Japanese. The regiment moved on January 1945 to Leyte, Philippine Islands (where MacArthur landed) and on again to Cebu Island. Both places were Japanese strongholds. World War II ended on September, 1945 and Dingledy, was sent to occupy Japan. Dingledy was home at last in December 1945. Gone thirty-three months, traveled 24,000 miles and only scar was from ringworm. “No alcohol, no candy, and regular hours were the best way to stay out of trouble during your late teen years,” said Dingledy, a discharged S/Sgt. Dingledy was among those who went to college using the GI Bill of Rights.
George Dingledy arrived in Wabash, Indiana in 1958. For the next 30 years he touched about every facet of life in the city of Wabash and beyond. He co-owned Fedewa Appliance Store serving Wabash and the surrounding area. Dingledy served as President of the Chamber of Commerce, Retail Division and served as president of the Wabash County United Fund. Dingledy was honored with Wabash’s greatest tribute in 1974, naming him the Chamber’s Distinguished Citizen for his “cultural and social betterment of the community.”
Dingledy served eight years on the Wabash City Schools board of trustees and six years on the board of managers of the Upper Wabash Vocational School. Dingledy served on the board of directors and as an officer of the Wabash Valley Dance Theater, was a two-term president of the Honeywell Swim Team Booster Club, was the president of the Wabash Toastmasters Club and a served as commander of Post 286, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
George Dingledy served as the Oral History Project Director. Dingledy began compiling oral histories of local citizens in Wabash for the public library. Probably his greatest contribution to Wabash, when Dingledy moved away in 1989, were more than 100 oral accounts on file to document the city’s history. During 1979 Dingledy served as president of the Indiana Oral History Roundtable. Dingledy served four years on the library board of director, including one as president. Dingledy loves history and as a result served many, many years as a board of director member of the historical society.
Dingledy was elected Mayor of Wabash, Indiana in 1979; he was born on 26 November 1923, and grew up in Ohio.
Contact: Jamie Hanan, Rotary Club of Indianapolis
Michael Snyder, MEK