The Pamplin Ruritan Club was originally chartered on Dec. 11, 1948. On Tuesday, Nov. 28, the club celebrated its 75th Anniversary at MiPa’s Table restaurant on Main Street in Pamplin, with 38 people in attendance who joined together to sing “Happy Birthday” to the club to end the evening’s ceremony.

None of the original members survive but several of their relatives were in attendance, including current member Laura McClenny, wife of the late Robert McClenny.

Pamplin Ruritan Club President Karen Baker led the anniversary celebration and put the current times in perspective with the era in which the club was founded.

“Seventy-five years ago a lot of us weren’t even born yet — there might be one or two of us,” she said. “In 1948, the President of the United States was Harry S. Truman, and there were only 48 states. Gas was 26 cents a gallon, and a brand new car cost between $1,200 and $1,500. Bread was 14 cents for a sliced loaf. A first-class postage stamp was three cents.”

The club currently consists of 14 members, with Bill Caldwell holding the longest tenure at 46 years and Dave Sexton, Jr. the newest member.

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