Roots by Cholly Capps

A Little History of YOUR Rotary Club

Albert H. Friedman was 97 on February 4, 1997. He was President-for-a-Day of our Rotary Club on February 4, 1982. Younger members are not aware of Albert and the tremendous contribution he made to his community, his university, his temple, the chamber of commerce and to his beloved Rotary Club.

If you want to see what he looked like, take a look at the commemorative plaque on the fountain at the Southeast corner of Miracle Mile and LeJeune. He was officially honored by a host of officials and VIP’s from Rotary, the Chamber, Miracle Mile Merchants Association and the City as “Mr. Miracle Mile”.

I don’t have room in this column to enumerate more than a small fraction of the accomplishments of this world-class good citizen. He was the Chamber’s Robert B. Knight Outstanding Citizen in 1987. He was awarded the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award by the Citizens Board of the University of Miami. He was known as Albert, not Al, “Honorary Mayor of Miracle Mile,” the “Silver Fox”, and the man who kept the Northern Trust Bank supplied with new customers until he retired.

Ask any of our more senior members about Albert. They’ll tell you that Albert is one of the very best part of our ROOTS.