Exeter History Tellers: Exeter Kiwanis Club-Over a Century of Service

Kiwanis International began in 1915 when a small group of businessmen in Detroit, Michigan, formed the organization. It quickly expanded into other states. The name “Kiwanis” was derived from a Native American phrase believed to mean “We Build.” By 1923, Kiwanis clubs had spread across the nation. The organization’s purpose has always centered on serving the youth of local communities. Its defining statement reads: “Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time.” The current motto is “Serving the Children of the World.” Today, Kiwanis International operates throughout Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia, with more than 15,000 clubs and approximately 438,000 members worldwide.

In 1920s Exeter, the consummate networker Frank Mixter was the driving force behind

establishing the local club. He had visited many other Kiwanis clubs throughout the region and across California. Mixter understood that a new club needed approval from Kiwanis district headquarters and that he first needed a strong core group of local men willing to join. By 1923, both requirements had been met, and the Exeter Kiwanis Club received its charter. The charter members represented a “who’s who” of Exeter at the time: members of the City Council, school boards, and church boards, along with prominent farmers and business leaders. Membership in Kiwanis was restricted to men nationwide until 1987, and the Exeter club did not admit women until 1995.

Exeter’s Kiwanis meetings have long featured patriotic group singing and engaging community programs. Over the years, several notable speakers have appeared before the club, including famous Air Force officers and pilots. Among them was Chuck Yeager, the first man to break the sound barrier and one of the inspirations for the movie The Right Stuff. Another high-profile guest was Pappy Boyington, whose exploits loosely inspired the television series Baa Baa Black Sheep.

In addition to its ongoing support of local youth programs, the club has taken on several major community projects. The most recent was the large metal “Welcome to Exeter” arch on East Pine Street in front of CACHE. Planning for that project began two years before its 2024 installation, which commemorated the club’s 100th anniversary. Other major projects undertaken by the Exeter Kiwanis Club include the aluminum bleachers installed at the old city swimming pool during the 1990s and the electronic marquee on Kaweah Avenue south of Palm Avenue. Another significant Kiwanis effort was the construction of the barbecue area on the south side of the football stadium. Kiwanis also served as the early sponsor of Boy Scout Troop 309, a highly active troop that shaped generations of Exeter boys.

Kiwanis Dedication of Kiddies Wading Pool, Exeter, Ca, June 7, 1926

The first major project completed by the new club was the construction of the Kiddie Pool in City Park in 1926. For nearly 85 years, the pool was a cherished part of childhood in Exeter. During the summer, city crews filled the pool each morning, and children flocked there to splash and play in the shallow water. In its early years, the pool featured a gazebo on the island in the center and a bridge spanning the deeper section. By the time of my childhood, the gazebo and bridge were gone, but the pool remained a favorite gathering place for local children. At the end of each day, the city drained the water to irrigate the surrounding lawn. By 2011, however, two significant challenges emerged: officials could no longer justify using large amounts of water for irrigation during drought conditions, and health regulations increasingly required chlorinated water systems.

The Exeter Kiwanis Club undertook yet another special project: refurbishing that same Kiddie Pool. Local ironsmith Tom Clar crafted a new gazebo and bridge designed to replicate the original 1926 structures, and both were installed for the June 7, 2026 dedication ceremony. June 7 marked the exact date of the original dedication ceremony held 100 years earlier. The rededication became part of Exeter’s E250 celebration, the community-wide effort commemorating America’s 250th anniversary through patriotic and historical events. The public warmly responded, filling the venue in appreciation of all their efforts for this historic renovation and dedication.