The Optimist Club of Solomons was chartered on March 29, 1974, with 62 members. Two members from the Calvert Optimist Club were sent to Solomons to bring the Optimist philosophy and start a club in the southern part of the county.  With many local leaders and civic-minded men living in the area, it wasn’t long before the club was up and running and meeting in the old Solomons Fire House.

Several  Optimist Clubs from the tri-county area were on hand at the Chesapeake Country Club, part of the Chesapeake Golf Course, to install the club’s first officers: 

Kenneth Hoofnagle, President  

Raymond Lankford Jr., 1st Vice President

Victor Garner Jr,. 2nd Vice President; 

Pete Siegert, Secretary  

Edward Waldron, Treasurer

Bob Marsh, past Optimist District Governor presents the ceremonial bell to new President Kenneth Hoofnagle during the charter ceremony. The bell is still used to start and end meetings today!