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District 7980

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Rick Benson, a third generation Rotarian, has been a member of the Westport (CT) Rotary Club since 1989, was their Rotarian of the year in 1993, and served as their President in 1994-5. He was a Governors Area Representative (95-97) and an Assistant Governor (02-06). He has served several District positions including GSE area rep, trainer at District Assemblies, AG trainer at PETS, and District Awards Chair. He hosted 2 GSE teams and 2 youth exchange students in his home. He is a Paul Harris Society Member and attended the Centennial Convention and the Salt Lake City Convention.

 Rick grew up in Buffalo, NY, where his father was a Rotarian. After receiving a BA in Economics from Denison U. and a BS in Industrial Engineering from Carnegie Mellon, Rick married and served as a Supply Officer aboard a US Navy Destroyer in Vietnam from 1971-73. He attended the U. of PA and received an MBA in Corporate Finance from the Wharton School in 1975. After several years at Scott Paper in Philadelphia, he moved to Westport, CT as co-owner and CFO of a small company in the marine industry. He started his own Real Estate Development firm in 1981. Since 1991 his work has focused on building large spec homes, primarily in Westporrt. He has served on the Westport Planning and Zoning Commission, the Conservation Commission, and the Board of Finance (total 13 years). He has been a Boy Scout Leader for 15 years and was awarded a Silver Beaver, a District award of Merit, and CT Yankee Council Distinguished Citizen Award.  He has been a United Way volunteer for 25 years and Board member for 10, a former trustee of his church, and has served on numerous other boards and commissions. He is presently a trustee of the YMCA. He was a 1996 “Community Hero” and Olympic Torch Bearer and has been recognized several times by his community for his dedicated ser vice. He collects antique American Pewter, enjoys sailing, backpacking, wilderness fly fishing, and serving others.

 His wife Totney also has an MBA from Wharton and co-owns a small greeting card company marketing holiday cards and scenes of historic buildings in Fairfield County, CT and on Cape Cod. She also has been honored by Westport for her numerous community activities and is a Paul Harris Fellow. Rick and Totney have been married for 36 years and have one son, RB, a 2006 graduate of Lehigh University and a black Labrador Retriever.

 Last Updated: Sunday, November 25, 2007