Page 7 - February 2017 Voices

Don Holtzheimer says “Stick to It!”

by Phyllis Harmon, DTM

Last Friday, I met with Don Holtzheimer, of speeches we weren’t
who has been an active Toastmaster in District used to hearing—
7 for for over a half century. For 45 minutes we bringing up the kids,
reminiced about life, Gresham, and Toastmasters. relatives who died, their problems. So it has
Don began practicing veternary medicine changed some. But the basic thing is, learning to
in Gresham in December, 1950 as a veteranary speak in public, having an influence on some of
resident. He received his license to practice as the newer members to stick around and finish
a full-fledged veteranarian in 1953. He built the a book or two. One speech is not enough.”
animal hospital, Town & Country Animal Clinic I asked Don if he would comment on how
on 125th and SE Division, which he owned and the Toastmasters organization had changed
operated for 35 years. Today, the practice is since he joined.
under different ownership, and continues to be “They’ve developed new books. You finish
a thriving business. one and you shift to another one, and you
continue on with the type of speech you want
to talk about. The books and the education you
get from Toastmasters is much more than a
public-speaking course in college. When you
get through with it you feel like you’ve done
something.”
I asked if he was looking forward to the
new Pathways program. He chuckled and gave
me a resounding “no.” He said, “I’m getting to
that age where my hearing is a little less than
it should be, and my speaking doesn’t come
out fluently like it used to. I don’t think I am
going to go much further. I’m going on 93, and
there’s no point in pushing it!”
In the 1950’s, Gresham was the hub of the Don rose through the district hierarchy
East Multnomah County farming community, to become District Governor. He shared
and boasted a population of around 3,000. As a that he hadn’t wanted to go any further. His
veterinarian in a small community, Don knew veterinarian practice and other commitments
and became friends with most of the community kept him focused at the local level. He says that
leaders. He joined Gresham Toastmasters in 1953, nowadays, he defers to his fellow club members
and has remained an active member for 63 years. to fill open roles. He wants those who need the
“The Toastmasters in Gresham started credit to get the experience and practice.
around 1951,” Don shared, “and all the important When I asked him why he’d stayed with
individuals in Gresham were Toastmasters— Gresham Toastmasters for 63 years, his answer
including the mayor, the doctors, and some was very pragmatic—“it’s close, it’s only a few
senators. So I thought it would be nice to join. I minutes away.”
was asked to join, so I did.” He expanded on his answer after a dramatic
Don has been president of the club three pause, “A lot of the friends I’ve had were
times. He says that the club has changed Toastmasters. My golfing buddies, we played
over the years. One of the major changes was poker together, we went on vacation together.
when Toastmasters International relaxed the We picniced together. So all of our friends were
membership rules in the 1970’s and allowed pretty much right here in town.
women to join the club. Today nearly half the “As I said before, everyone came to
members are women. Toastmasters—the mayor, the doctors,
“The women, of course, changed it a lot,” everyone came to Toastmasters to start with.
Holtzheimer shared, “they bring in a variety Even the state senators joined our club. We

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