I think I could eat Chili every day and never get tired of it. In the last year or so, my daughters, who have suffered from a lifelong fear of beans, have also begun to enjoy a bowl of chili from time to time.

If you like Chili, or kids, you can mark your calendar for October 24th. For the last 20 years, the Rotary Club of Claremore has hosted an annual Chili Supper, with the proceeds going to the Claremore Public Schools Foundation. In twenty years this event has generated $44,000 for the foundation.

The 21st Chili Supper is expected to push the running total to over $50,000. That’s a lot of Chili. Tickets are $5. You can get your tickets from any Rotarian, including myself. Charitable events that support the public schools are incredibly valuable to the community. After all, any money they generate is money taxpayers won’t be asked to fork over. The Rotary Club of Claremore does this Chili Supper the right way. Jack Roberts Jr., AG Murray, Bill Higgins, and a host of other Rotary cooks will make this batch of Chili one to remember. Be on the look-out for more information about the Chili Supper in The Daily Progress.

In another notable item related to Claremore Schools, Claremore alumnus C. Darnell Jones II was recently confirmed by the United States Senate for a federal judgeship in Pennsylvania. Jones, who had been a Common Pleas Court Judge for a number of years in Philadelphia, was nominated by Democratic Senator Bob Casey and Republican Senator Arlen Specter for the judgeship which required President Bush to submit his name to the United States Senate.

Jones, whose mother was a legendary elementary school teacher first in the Claremore segregated school system and then in the integrated system, was one of the students who integrated Claremore Public Schools. Jones, who remembers a time when he couldn’t swim in the Claremore City Pool because of segregation, now is a member of our nation’s court system which interprets the Constitution. In addition to being a member of the Claremore Public Schools’ Hall of Fame, he earned his law degree from the American University Washington College of Law and prior to becoming a judge, was a public defender in the Philadelphia system.

Jones’ story is one that should make every Claremore citizen proud. He endured the indignity of a segregated system, helped integrate our public schools making us all beneficiaries of his courage, and now represents our community as a federal judge. Congratulations to Judge Jones and all his family members from all his friends in Claremore.