It is always with great sadness when we loose members of our District 7070 Rotary family. Everyone in District 7070 wants to expresses their deepest sympathies to our extended Rotary family. Please send your notices to Newsletter Editor Dave Andrews at dave.f.andrews99@gmail.com .....

 

Bhichai Rattakul - Rotary International President 2002-2003

The Bangkok Post has reported the passing of Past RI President Bhichai Rattakul today (28 Feb) at 1.20 pm. Bhichai died of lung cancer today (Monday) at Siriraj Hospital. He was 96. He is survived by his wife and three children, including former Bangkok Governor Bhichit. He was last admitted into the intensive care unit of Siriraj Hospital on February 14th and was discharged from the unit yesterday. In December, he was admitted to the same hospital because he needed to be fed intravenously. Mr. Bhichai was deputy prime minister of Thailand from 1983-1990 and from 1997 to 2000. He was also Speaker of the House of Representatives and president of the National Assembly.

Bhichai Rattakul  was educated in Bangkok and Hong Kong and received an Honorary Doctorate in Political Science from the University of Ramkhamhaeng in Bangkok and Kensington University in California. A member of Parliament for nine terms since 1969 and Leader of the Democrat Party, he has served his country as Foreign Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Parliament.  He has also led many Thai delegations to the United Nations. Bicha Rattakul is Honorary Vice President of the Thai Scout Council. He has also served as Chairman of the Anti Corruption Commission, Anti Drugs Commission, National  Audit Commission and the 13th Asian Games Organizing Committee.

He has been decorated with Special Class Honor from the King of Thailand and honors from  the Emperor of Japan, Presidents of the Philippines, Korea, Austria, and Nicaragua.  He was also awarded the highest International Olympic Award and the Asian Olympic Award by the International Olympics Committee.

Bhichai Rattakul joined the Rotary Club of Dhonburi in Bangkok as a charter member in 1958 has served Rotary International as District Governor, International Assembly Group Discussion Leader, committee member and chairman, trustee of the Rotary Foundation, director and chairman of the Executive Committee of Rotary International.  He is the recipient of the Rotary Foundation's Distinguished Service Award and Citation for Meritorious Service for his support of its international humanitarian and educational programs. 

Thank you to eFlashOnline , the facebook page that breaks Rotary stories from world-over. Thank you to page founder, PDG Sunil K Zachariah in 1999, from the Rotary Club of Kalamassery.