Our History
Cosmopolitan International began its long and storied history in Kansas City, Missouri in 1918 where the club was formally chartered and incorporated as the International Federation of Cosmopolitan Clubs. Our founder, attorney Patrick J. Hodgins, had for several years experimented with and started service and civic clubs in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa area. An attorney by trade, Hodgins moved his law practice to Kansas City and shortly founded the first Cosmopolitan Club. Hodgins wanted a civic organization that fully adopted the ideals of Unity of purpose, Service to the community and Action on the part of all members. The name Cosmopolitan was selected because of the meaning of “citizen of the world.”
Cosmopolitan was established for the principal purpose of bettering our communities by providing service and support to worthwhile projects. As with many of the service clubs in existence then and today, Cosmopolitan clubs and members saw needs in their respective communities and sought to fulfill those needs. That same practice is central to the Cosmopolitan role today in our commitment to our communities, our clubs and the fight against diabetes.
Cosmopolitan quickly grew with clubs springing up in St. Joseph and Independence, Missouri and followed closely by Kansas City, Kansas and Wichita. The clubs went international with the chartering of our first Canadian Club in Winnipeg in 1927. Mexico was added with the founding of a club in Mexico City in 1948. In 1933 our organization was reborn as Cosmopolitan International, the name we still hold today.
Cosmopolitans have been involved in a variety of local projects in the communities we serve. But our true legacy is in the area of our fight against diabetes. The membership took on diabetes as our International Project in 1977. Since that time, Cosmopolitan has established itself as a leader in the fight with internationally renowned centers working to identify, treat and research this horrible disease.
Our Governors
1937 to 1952
1937 - Lovel Smith (Saskatoon)
1938 - A. McArthur
1939 - Walter Kurth (Winnipeg)
1940 - J. Van Slyk
1941 - Bill Bridgeman
1942 - Charlie Musk (Prince Albert)
1943 - Fred Kinny
1944 - Clare Olsen
1945 - Harry Barton
1946 - Frank Paul
1947 - Max Horning (Winnipeg)
1948 - Reg Woolston
1949 - Jack Thorogood
1950 - Ian Gray (Prince Albert)
1951 - Larry Straigh
1938 - A. McArthur
1939 - Walter Kurth
1940 - J. Van Slyk
1941 - Bill Bridgeman
1942 - Charlie Musk
1943 - Fred Kinny
1944 - Clare Olsen
1945 - Harry Barton
1946 - Frank Paul
1947 - Max Horning
1948 - Reg Woolston
1949 - Jack Thorogood
1950 - Ian Gray (Prince Albert)
1951 - Larry Straigh
1952 - Eric Cranston
1953 to 1982
1953 - Bill Powell
1954 - Frank Dojack (Winnipeg)
1955 - Bill Miller
1956 - Ernie Lawby
1957 - Alex Fernet (Saskatoon)
1958 - Vern Pickersgill (Winnipeg)
1959 - Myron Dean
1960 - Jack Bremnr
1961 - Charlie Hewitt
1962 - Ronald Smith (Saskatoon)
1963 - Bill Turnbull (Prince Albert)
1964 - Bob Bordon
1965 -Archie Lamarsh (Saskatoon)
1966 - Glen Wilfong
1967 - Stan Franklin
1968 - Harry Klassen
1969 - Gordon Baker
1970 - Al Segal (Winnipeg)
1971 - Frank Buckan (Saskatoon)
1972 - Bob Johnston
1973 - Chuck Boskill (Saskatoon Bridge City)
1974 - Fred Hughes (Regina)
1975 - Thorny Gross (Edmonton)
1976 - Danny Law
1977 - Len Howsam (Saskatoon)
1978 - Jack Mack
1979 - Maun McNeil
1980 - Blake McKay
1981 - Conrad Abel (Saskatoon Bridge City)
1982 - Lyle Broadfoot (Saskatoon)
1983 to 2012
1983 - Aubrey Reimer
(Prince Albert)
1984 - Ned Dudley (Regina)
1985 - Rick Stevenson (Saskatoon)
1986 - Larry Adams
1987 - Warren Klassen (Saskatoon Bridge City)
1988 - Bob Stoyand (St. Albert)
1989 - Reg Rawling (Saskatoon)
1990 - Bob Johnson (Prince Albert)
1991 - Bob Dojack (Winnipeg)
1992 - Brian Mitchell (Regina)
1993 - Jim Smith (Saskatoon)
1994 - Brian Liepert (Regina)
1995 - Richard Schindelka (Saskatoon Bridge City/Couples Club)
1996 - Roger Pilon (Saskatoon Hub City)
1997 - Neil Gow (Calgary)
1998 - Lorne Wirth (Regina)
1999 - Chris Clinton
2000 - Lyle Hardy (Sturgeon)
2001 - Vic Gotch (Regina)
2002 - George Lukovszaki
2003 - Myrna Pollon (Wascana)
2004 - Gary Wensel (Winnipeg)
2005 - Richard Greer (Saskatoon)
2006 - Norman Hill (Prince Albert)
2007 - Rod Randolph (Edmonton)
2008 - Brian Duckett (Wascana)
2009 - Jack Ostoforoff (Saskatoon)
2010 - Gerald Grywacheski (Regina)
2011 - Shawn Larson (Sturgeon)
2012 - Darwin Baker (Saskatoon)
2013 to Present
2013 - Kathy Krysak (Wascana)
2014 - Keith Shepherd (Regina)
2015 - Sandra Abello (Wascana)
2016 - Arthur Brassard (Prince Albert)
2017 - Angela McFalls (Edmonton)
2018 - Debra Down (Saskatoon)
2019 - Christine Shepherd (Wascana)
2020 - Tammy Allen (Edmonton)
2021 - Tammy Allen (Edmonton)
2022 - John Krysak (Wascana)
2023 - Karen Shepherd (Wascana)
Western Canada Federation Recognition
WCF International Recognition
COSMO of the Year
2018 - Debra & Terry Down (Saskatoon)
2003 - Gary Jurke (Sturgeon Valley)
1994 - Roger Pilon (Saskatoon Hub City/Saskatoon Couples Club)
1986 - Rev. Don McNeil (Regina)
1973 - Maun McNeil (Calgary)
Club President of the Year
Earlier Records were not available
2020-21: Angela McFalls (Edmonton)
2013-14: Keith Shepherd (Wascana)
Patrick J. Hodgins Award Recipients
This award is given to an outstanding Cosmopolitan for exemplary Cosmopolitan service over a period of not less than ten (10) full calendar years prior to the date of the International convention at which the award is to be presented.
2018 - John Krysak (Wascana)
2012 - Jim Smith (Saskatoon)
2004 - Brian W. Mitchell (Regina/Wascana)
2002 - Brian Liepert (Regina/Wascana)
Rookie of the Year
Earlier Records were not available
2013-14: Rick Lockyer
Community Service Award
This award is given to an outstanding Cosmopolitan for exemplary achievements in family life, church life, business standing in the community, civic service, community affairs and Cosmopolitan club activities over a period of not less than five (5) full continuous calendar years prior to the date of the International Convention at which the award is to be presented.
2015 - John Krysak (Wascana)
1994 - Wayne Eger (Regina)
