With “April Showers Brings May Flowers” I am not sure if as we age time passes by quicker? It’s already May! Where has time gone? April was another busy month at the Bonnycastle Club. With two Sunday Dinners, two Thirsty Thursdays, Fish Fry and Wing Night, no one will starve at the Club. “I do believe food brings people together on many levels. “Food is nourishment of the souls and body, it is truly love” as said by the Everyday Italian Giada De Laurentiis. Many people have asked what is the Bonnycastle Club. My simple answer is it is family. Food taste better when you eat with your family. It was very heartwarming to see the Duggins Family sharing a Sunday night meal together at the Club this past Chicken Sunday.
In our second edition of our 100th Year Anniversary Lifetime Members spotlight I chose to highlight John “Jack” Klausing. Jack was born and raised in Louisville. He attended grade school at St. Francis of Assisi and then attended St. Xavier High School Class of 1947. After graduating from St. X Jack enlisted in the Navy in 1948 and served our country until 1952. He played basketball for Naval Station Oceana in Virginia for the first two years. Year three, Jack played on the USS Coral Sea basketball team while the aircraft carrier was dry docked. Year four, Jack spoke with his coaches and decided to return to Naval Station Oceana to play basketball for his final year. During his final year at Naval Station Oceana Adolph Rupp invited Jack to work out with the UK Wildcats. Coach Rupp sent Jack two tickets to watch UK play St. John’s NY in the first round of the Tournament in Raleigh North Carolina. During the season the UK Wildcats won by 41 points. Before the game Jack met with Coach Rupp and Harry Lancaster. Coach Rupp invited Jack out for a steak dinner after the game. Besides Jack being nervous as hell meeting Coach Rupp, he had to decline the dinner invitation as he had to get back to the Naval Base. St. John’s went on to win the game 64-57. It was probably a good thing Jack declined the dinner invitation. Jack did work out with Coach Ned Wulk of Xavier University. He missed home and returned to Louisville. Jack played in a local league with the Louisville Scorpions. Shortly thereafter, Jack Started his own business buying and installing pay phones around the greater Louisville area. He owned over 200 pay phones. Jack has been a member of the Bonnycastle Club since 1957. He is married to Gwendolyn and has 5 children, and both are proud grandparents to 14 grandchildren. Some of Jack’s fondest memories are attending the Bonnycastle Lobster dinner which was a regularly scheduled event. Jack misses the coffee machine at the bottom of the ramp on Fish Fry’s and other club dinners. Keeping with the family tradition oldest son Jack Junior is also a member of the Bonnycastle Club ensuring Jack Sr. legacy will hopefully last for another 50 years!
As May is upon us we all know what that means, the most exciting two minutes in sports is upon us. Join us at the club and watch the “Run for the Roses”. There will be all day entertainment. The Kentucky Derby kicks of a full month of events from Casino Royal Night, two Thirsty Thursdays, a Special Mother’s Day Dinner, Bourbon Flight Night and Butch’s World Famous Chicken.
I hope to see everyone at the club enjoying one of our many great activities! If there is subject matter you wish to discuss personally with me please call me anytime. I will leave you with this thought: “April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.” William Shakespeare
Yours truly,
Larry Marko
Bonnycastle Club 2018 / 2019 President