Hall of Fame Gallery

2026-2027  District Chair:  Rudy Corn
                          email: bacorn2827@charter.net

The GATEway District Hall of Fame is established as a reward for good and effective leadership and to recognize those Gateway Optimists that have served the District with honor and distinction. All past and current Optimists of the GATEway, Georgia, or Tennessee Districts CAN qualify and meet the established requirements.

Hall of Fame Rules and Information

Hall of Fame Nomination Form

Hall of Fame Induction Governor Russ, Governor-Elect Tony, Past Governor Hal, International Vice President Deanna, Past International Vice President Lois, Fellow Hall of Fame Members, Fellow Optimist, Ladies, and Gentlemen. Tonight I have the distinct pleasure of presiding over the induction of a new member to the Georgia District Hall of Fame. Every individual who has been inducted into the Hall of Fame has served the great Georgia District with honor and distinction, have made personal sacrifices, and gone beyond the call of duty in their service to Optimism in Georgia. The individual we will be inducting tonight has done no less. A person who has lead us with the vision, passion, and will to do whatever it took to inspire and motivate those they were chosen to lead. A person who truly demonstrates the meaning of a servant leader by their willingness to help others be the best they can be. They are the consummate professional, outstanding community leader, devoted to their family, and a person who truly exemplifies the Optimist Creed in the way they live. This individual is a person who has always valued others contributions and has constantly sought out others opinions. For as long as I have know our inductee they have always worked to cultivate a culture of trust and good will in the Georgia District. I‘ve never known this individual not to live up to their word. It appears to me that our inductee’s mission in life has always been to help others. Something they demonstrate everyday. They are constantly working to ensure others realize their potential to be all they can be. Our inductee began their involvement in Optimism as a Charter Member of a new Optimist club that was formed in 1985. They were elected as its Charter President and they have served as their clubs president 6 additional times since then. Every time our inductee has served as president their club achieved Honor Club status. In the 1994-1995 Optimist year and again during the 2000-2001 year, our inductee served as a District Lieutenant Governor. During the 2000-2001 year the Zone under their leadership achieved distinguished status. In 2011-2012 our inductee was asked to serve as Georgia District’s Membership Chairman. Through their hard work, dedication, inspiration, and creativity the Georgia District ended the year plus in membership and was ranked fourth in all of Optimist International. In 2013-14 our inductee served as Governor of the Georgia District and under their leadership the Georgia District became a Distinguished District and ranked third in all of Optimist International. For the 2014-2015 Optimist year our inductee was appointed to the Optimist International Membership Committee. And I can tell you this is only the beginning of their service at the International level. Our inductee is a credit to our organization, a true leader who has always practiced the leadership credo of know the way, go the way, and show the way. So with out further ado I am privileged to announce that the 2014-2015 inductee into the Georgia District’s Hall of Fame is Past Governor Hal Sewell.