About Us

• The first Torch Club was organized in 1924 for members of the learned professions, and has become an international association of approximately 75 clubs in the United States and Canada for the cultural interchange of knowledge. 

• The Central Pennsylvania chapter of the Torch Club was founded in 1955 to unite professional men and women to promote free interchange of opinion among its members of civic, religious, philosophic, scientific, economic, artistic, and other intellectual and cultural subjects.   

• At the club's monthly dinner meetings a member presented a paper, followed by an open discussion. Outstanding papers are submitted to the international association for possible publication.

• Kevin Alloway
• Bill Arden
• Bob Carline
• Gordon DeJong
• Frank Deutsch
• John Dillon
• Walt Ebaugh
• Terry Engelder
• Scott Flipse
• Bob Foster
• Roger Geiger
• John Golbeck
• Art Goldschmidt         
• Louise Goldschmidt
• Roy Hammerstedt
• Dick Held
• Bob Hendrickson
• Tim Henward
• Bob Igo
• Dick Jones
• Peter Jurs
• Ed Klevans
• Scott Kretchmar
• Jean Lee
• Charles Maxin
• Art McGarity
• Dave Mudgett
• Wayne Osgood
• Gary Petersen
• Larry Ragan
• Ford Risley
• Jim Serene
• Connie Sherman
• Bob Sills
• Julianne Sills
• Michelle Smith
• Ron Smith
• Steve Smith
• Dean Snow
• Lew Steinberg
• Kim Steiner
• Dee Stout
• Lee Stout
• Marylee Taylor
• Ming Tien
• Floyd Todd
• Steve Turns
• Jim Ultman
• John Vandenbergh 
• Carolyn Wilhelm
• Roger Williams

1955 Ralph W. McComb    

1956  Kenneth R. Erfft    

1957  William L. Welch    

1958  Richard V. Barrickman    

1959  Maurice S. Gjesdahl    

1960  Robert T. Oliver    

1961  John E. Miller    

1962  Leslie P. Greenhill   

1963  Abram W. Vandermeer 

1964  Jo Hays  

1965  Paul D. Holtzman    

1966  David C. Whitmarsh  

1967  Palmer C. Weaver    

1968  Robert P. Hunter   

1969  Robert R. Higashida    

1970  John A. Brutzman   

1971  Joseph O. P. Hummel    

1972  John D. McAulay   

1973  Joseph H. Britton    

1974  Allen D. Patterson  

1975  Roger F. Snyder    

1976  Paul M. Kendig   

1977  Charles Taylor    

1978  Paul R. Bingaman  

1979  Deno G. Thevaos    

1980  Benjamin Novak  

1981  Arthur K. Anderson    

1982  Walter J. DeLacy   

1983  Tom I. Gill    

1984  Roger F. Snyder  

1985  Roger F. Snyder    

1986  Donald M. Crider  

1987  Peter B. Everett    

1988  Paul W. Bixby  

1989  Stanley R. Townsend    

1990  William M. Smith, Jr.  

1991  Richard Porter    

1992  John Hargleroad II  

1993  Arthur Goldschmidt   

1994  Benjamin W. Niebel  

1995  Robert Ewing   

1996  Eugene S. Lindstrom   

1997  Edward G. Buss    

1998  Russell P. Brooks   

1999-00  Eugene McDonald  

2000-01  Leroy Simpson  

2001-02  Joseph French   

2002-03  Timothy E. Kohler 

2003-04  Bill Welch    

2004-05  Tom Fox  

2005-06  Rex Warland    

2006-07  Pamela Czapla  

2007-08  David Phillips       

2008-09  Mark Meckstroth  

2009-10  David Blandford    

2010-11  Lee Stout  

2011-12  Gary Miller    

2012-13  Dean Snow  

2013-14  John Vincenti    

2014-15  Stephen Smith  

2015-16  Gordon DeJong    

2016-17  James Serene  

2017-18  Roy Hammerstedt  

2018-19  Mick McKay

2019-20  Dick Held  

2020-21  Ming Tien

2021-22  John Golbeck

2022-23  Larry Ragan

2023-24  John Dillon