What can you say about a man who was the epitome of friendship in the world of Rotary?
When Arthur W. Agnew served his Rotary Club and District 513 as Governor in 1977-1978, his theme was “Attend and Participate”. In his own words, Art said “This is not an original theme and since I could not think of a better one, I used it all year long…I feel that there was a greater attendance and participation, not only at the District level but also at the club level.” His dedication to the Object of Rotary was readily apparent from his leadership as President of the Rotary Club of Petaluma in 1966-1967.
Perhaps no one else in the annals of Rotary history was so consumed with the history of Rotary International.
Art himself wrote a series of Rotary trivia, which he called “Little known and seemingly unimportant facts about Rotary”. The weekly readings of his research and opinions soon became a favorite at his home club meetings. Art also served as a mentor to all his home club presidents—whether they wanted his advice or not!
But the Art Agnew that we knew was also jovial and witty. When women became eligible for membership in Rotary, Art registered a protest that Rotary was never intended to be gender neutral. However, he displayed his good nature and playfulness when he appeared in drag at a meeting (whether in support or protest—only Art knew). He encouraged fellowship by mingling with new members and old ones at each weekly meeting.
The final edition of “AGNEWSLETTER”, his monthly governor’s letter, concludes with the following lines:
| “What a tremendous honor had been given to me to lead this District…(this) indeed has been an experience that few are privileged to have. There is no doubt that my life has become fuller.” |
Indeed, all our lives have become fuller by knowing this unique man and sharing our friendship with him.
Art loved his fellow Rotarians and was loved by them in return.
May God bless you, Art. We shall always remember you.
Rotary Club of Petaluma -- Photo by Ed Fullerton and text by Paul Lounibos
Obituary published - Dec 14, 2005
If something was a priority for businessman Arthur William Agnew, he was in it for the long haul.
The longtime president of Petaluma's Sunset Line & Twine Co. remained active in the family-owned manufacturing company into his 90s. He and wife Evelyn Agnew of Santa Rosa were on the verge of celebrating 66 years of marriage. And as a Rotarian in Petaluma, he maintained a perfect attendance record in club activities for over half a century, his family said.
"He's a devoted person," said daughter Carol Ann Smith of Antelope. "And he was dedicated to the things he loved."
The 93-year-old Santa Rosa man, a former president of the Petaluma Chamber of Commerce and the American Fishing Tackle Manufacturers Association, died Sunday of heart failure in a Santa Rosa hospital.
Agnew was born July 15, 1912, in San Francisco to Robert and Hope Agnew, the third of their four boys. Growing up in Alameda, he played baseball and basketball at Alameda High and attended the University of San Francisco on a baseball scholarship.
The homerun-slugging first baseman received contract offers from the Cincinnati Reds and other teams in the Pacific Coast and Texas leagues, but with a degree in accounting he opted instead for the financial security of the business world.
Professional baseball in the mid-1930s "wasn't like today, where you sign up for $6 million," said Evelyn Erickson Agnew, who met her husband in 1937.
A year earlier, Agnew had become assistant bookkeeper with Sunset Line & Twine, a San Francisco fishing line maker started during the Depression when striped bass were abundant in San Francisco Bay and cash was tight.
What began as a two-man operation outgrew its San Francisco manufacturing facilities and moved in 1940 to the historic Carlson-Currier silk mill building in Petaluma. In 1950, Sunset's executive offices moved there, too, leading Agnew and his family to Santa Rosa.
Throughout the years, Sunset Line & Twine expanded its products to include cordage for a variety of applications, from high-tech to the airline industry. When World War II broke out, Sunset started making parachute cord for the government and became a key supplier for the military.
NASA also used Sunset's parachute cord for its Gemini and Apollo space missions, sending Petaluma products to the moon. Sons Art Jr. and John Agnew followed their dad into the business, which was sold in 2003. Sunset is now a subsidiary of Kansas-based Kraft Tool Co.
"We've always felt ... we should do everything we can to make dealings with customers fair and beneficial to all parties," John Agnew of Santa Rosa recalled. "That's what we learned from our father."
Agnew was beloved, too, as a joke-teller who was never ashamed to toss out a bad pun.
"He had a great sense of humor, and always a twinkle in his eye," Smith said of her dad.
The elder Agnew presided over the Petaluma Rotary Club in 1966-67 and served as district governor in 1977-78. He visited 15 countries on Rotary visits including Sweden, England, New Zealand, Canada, and several countries in South America.
"We've been to almost every continent but Australia," Agnew's wife said. "So I feel very fortunate."
Agnew and his family joined the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation in 1950 and he was Sunday school superintendent during the 1950s and served on the vestry for many years.
In addition to his wife, daughter and son John, he is survived by son Arthur W. Agnew Jr. of Redding, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He also leaves a brother, E. Russell Agnew of Salinas.
Funeral services and interment will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Church of the Incarnation in Santa Rosa. The family suggests contributions to the Rotary Club of Petaluma Foundation, P.O. Box 5655, Petaluma 94955 or Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa Foundation, 3325 Chanate Road, Santa Rosa 95404.
- Katy Hillenmeyer
© The Press Democrat.
Arthur Agnew
Article published - Dec 14, 2005
A longtime Petaluma Rotary Club member and president of Sunset Line & Twine Co., Arthur "Art" Agnew died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005 at Sutter Hospital in Santa Rosa. He was 93.
Born in San Francisco, Agnew grew up in Alameda and was an athlete in high school and college, playing baseball and basketball.
In 1936, he went to work as a bookkeeper for Sunset Line & Twine Co. in the firm's San Francisco office. Sunset, which made fishing lines, bought the historic silk mill at Lakeville and Jefferson streets in Petaluma in 1940, and moved its operation there 10 years later.
Agnew was promoted to general manager and upon moving to the North Bay, quickly discovered community activities. He became a member of the Petaluma Rotary Club in 1951 and attended every Rotary meeting for more than 52 years.
It was a streak that only ended after more than 2,500 consecutive meetings, said his . son, John.
"He ended up with 2,500 meetings without a miss," John Agnew said. "I think he finally decided he'd better miss one."
"I like the camaraderie," Agnew told the Argus-Courier when interviewed about his attendance record in 2003. "We're all good friends. Everyone's interested in sharing their experiences and being helpful."
In Rotary, Agnew quickly took an active role. He served as club president in 1966-67 and as district governor in 1977-78, responsible for clubs from Palo Alto to the Oregon border. He was also president of the Petaluma Chamber of Commerce in 1960.
Current club president Lee Bean recalled that Agnew once crafted a series of Rotary trivia publications.
"He called it ‘Little-known and Seemingly Unimportant Facts about Rotary,’' Bean said.
"He was very interested in Rotary history," said fellow Rotarian Paul Lounibos. "He wrote a series of comments and opinions that were read at our weekly meetings by members, and the members appreciated that."
Agnew married his wife Evelyn in January 1940. They had three children: Arthur Jr., John and Carol Ann. In 2003, he attributed his longevity to "staying active," noting that his mother lived to be 96. Agnew ran Sunset Line & Twine Co. for more than five decades. In addition to fishing line, the company produced parachute cord for World War II soldiers and NASA's Apollo and Gemini space missions.
Agnew is survived by his wife and three children, his brother E. Russell Agnew, grandchildren Michael and Jill and great-grandchildren Alexis and Ryan. He was preceded in death by two older brothers
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Church of the Incarnation in Santa Rosa, 550 Mendocino Ave.
Arrangements were made by Eggen & Lance Mortuary.
© Petaluma Argus Courier.
Longtime Petaluma Rotarian Art Agnew dies