In Memory of Roger Harris

(January 15, 1949 – January 15, 2024)

Dr. Roger A. Harris
Dedicated Rotarian

Dr. Roger A. Harris was a well-known and respected orthodontist who served the Indio community for 42 years. His dental practice was located directly across the street from where the Indio City Hall stands today. More than just a healthcare professional, Roger was a deeply involved community member. He participated in many local organizations and gave generously of his time and talents.

He was especially committed to supporting local youth. Roger coached Little League baseball for many years and provided free dental exams to elementary school students in the Desert Sands Unified School District. His early contributions to the community were recognized when he was named “Young Man of the Year” by the Junior Chamber of Commerce.

Roger became a member of the Rotary Club of Indio on January 15, 1961. Over his remarkable 62 years of service, he served as Club President during the 1967–1968 term and was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. He was known for his enthusiasm at the Rotary Club's annual fireworks booth and for helping organize the Math Field Day for local students.

One of Roger’s most impactful contributions came in the 1970s, when he helped administer the oral polio vaccine to thousands of children at the Riverside County Fairgrounds in Indio. Families drove through in their cars, and each child received two drops of vaccine on their tongue — a vital step in fighting the spread of polio.

Outside of his professional and civic life, Roger loved traveling the world with his wife of 65 years, Sandra. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and deep-sea fishing with his sons, reeling in marlin, albacore, and sailfish. In later years, he found joy in freshwater fishing near Mammoth Lakes, California — a tradition he passed on to his grandchildren.

A devoted USC Trojan fan, Roger never missed a home football game and proudly held season tickets for many years. He was also a passionate supporter of his children and grandchildren, cheering them on at their academic and athletic events.

In honor of Dr. Roger A. Harris and his life of "Service Above Self," the Rotary Club of Indio has donated a new USA flagpole for the new Indio City Hall in 2024. The flagpole stands just across Towne Street from Roger’s former dental office and commemorates both his legacy and the Rotary Club of Indio’s 75th anniversary (January 15, 1949 – January 15, 2024).

 

   
  Est. January 15, 1949  
     
  Past Presidents  
  Name Tenure
  George Madden 1948-49
  Ben Cowan 1949-50
  Drexel Cooper 1950-51
  G.T. Brubaker 1951-52
  T.W. Walker 1952-53
  Arthur L. Cooper 1953-54
  Olaf Nordland 1954-55
  Walter Wright Sr. 1955-56
  Ira Johnson 1956-57
  Harvey W. Harper 1957-58
  Ken Eckert 1958-59
  Norman Wycoff 1959-60
  Al McCandless 1960-61
  Wayne Miles 1961-62
  Byron Phillips 1961-62
  Gene Roberts 1962-63
  James Wright 1963-64
  Robert Simpson 1964-65
  Lloyd Watson 1965-66
  Paul Ames 1966-67
  Roger A. Harris 1967-68
  George Hokey 1968-69
  E. Van Gortel 1969-70
  Mack Lewis 1970-71
  Ewing Robertson 1971-72
  David Blackman 1972-73
  Sid Branson 1973-74
  Morgan U. Ward 1974-75
  Robert Williams 1975-76
  Allan MacAllister 1976-77
  A. Sydney Handy 1977-78
  Russell Marshall 1978-79
  Andrew J. Sfingi 1979-80
  Thomas Hunt 1980-81
  Sidney X. Hartman 1981-82
  Richard Jandt 1982-83
  Allan Willard Jr. 1983-84
  James Mulleneaux 1984-85
  Ron Walker 1985-86
  John McDonald 1986-87
  Gene Heimark 1987-88
  Carl Kennedy 1988-89
  John (Jim) Steffen 1989-90
  Jack Pina 1990-91
  Thomas Sweat 1991-92
  John Burrow Jr. 1992-93
  Terry Resler 1993-94
  John Benoit 1994-95
  Ken Hammond 1995-96
  Sue Steding 1996-97
  Mike Savage 1997-98
  Steve Horvits 1998-99
  Dave Skinner 1999-00
  Wayne Cernie 2000-01
  Bruce Latta 2001-02
  Bruce Latta 2002-03
  Jim Sharpe 2003-04
  Sandy Gilbert 2004-05
  Glenn Miller 2005-06
  Martha Mendez 2006-07
  Cary Lee 2007-08
  Marie Santana 2008-09
  Benjamin Guitron IV 2009-10
  John P. Dolan 2010-11
  Joanna Daniels 2011-12
  Joan Dzuro 2012-13
  Bruce Latta 2013-14
  Steve Morgan 2014-15
  John P. Dolan 2015-16
  Stacy Fifield 2016-17
  Don Casper 2017-18
  Elizabeth Tucker 2018-19
  Steve Morgan 2019-20
  Barbara Dreis 2020-21
  Sue Steding 2021-22
  Chris Shultz 2022-23
  Benjamin Guitron IV 2023-24
  Dennis Sheehan 2024-25

  

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Meeting Information
Tuesday - 12:10 PM

Fantasy Springs Resort Special Events Center
84-245 Indio Springs Parkway
Indio, CA 92203

Mail:
Rotary Club of Indio
P.O. Box 412
INDIO, CA 92202

Email:
IndioRotary@gmail.com

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