Who touched you
Richard D. King is a Rotarian at the Rotary Club of Niles-Fremont, CA. He was:
- President, Rotary International, 2001-2002
- Trustee, The Rotary Foundation, 1996-2000
- Director, Rotary International, 1989-91
- Chairman of the Executive Committee, Rotary International, 1990-91
Richard D. King is a past world president of Rotary International, and for 51 years was the senior partner in the California law firm King, King & King. He earned undergraduate and law degrees from the University of California at Berkeley where he is a member of the California Club and the Order of the Golden Bear. He taught law at Brigham Young University. He is a distinguished military graduate of the University of California and served as captain in the U.S. Military Intelligence. He received an Honorary Doctorate in Law from Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
A trial lawyer, Mr. King belongs to several legal associations including the American Association of Trial Lawyers. He is admitted to practice in both Utah and California and before the Supreme Court of the U.S. He served on the board of directors of the Eden Hospital Foundation, the Woodminster Performing Arts, and Oakland Ballet. He is a trustee of the City of Hope, and received the City of Hope “Spirit of Life” Award. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Council of the Boy Scouts of America and was a member of the Board of Fremont Symphony Orchestra. He has been knighted by the Republic of Italy and is a holder of the Great Official Order of Merit. He is a recipient of the State of Rio de Janeiro’s highest award, the “Medalha Tiradentes.” He is a member of Actor’s Equity. He is an elder and officer of the Mormon Church. He holds the Chevalier Degree, the Legion of Honor and is a member of the Hall of Fame of the Order of DeMolay. He is a recipient of the Distinguished Citizen Award from the United Portuguese of California and is a recipient of the Distinguished Public Service Award from the Brigham Young University Management Society. He has been honored by some 50 associations, by the President of the U.S., and by many countries across the globe for his community and charitable service. He served as the Executive Director of The Wheelchair Foundation.
A Rotarian since 1968, he is a member of the Rotary Club of Niles-Fremont, California USA. He has also served Rotary as a club president, district governor, an international assembly instructor and an official representative of the president of R.I. He has chaired and served on many Rotary International committees, task forces and special assignments. Mr. King has received the Rotary Citation for Meritorious Service and the Distinguished Service Award for his support of humanitarian and educational programs of the Rotary Foundation. He is a recipient of the PolioPlus Pioneer Award.
One of Rotary’s most popular speakers, Mr. King has addressed Rotary International Conventions, Assemblies, Institutes, Seminars, Conferences and Rotary Clubs in every state in the USA and some 100 countries. As President, he led Rotary International to its greatest one-year growth record in its 100-year history, with 75,000 New Members Net, a global membership of 1,243,431 and 1,158 New Rotary Clubs in 2001-2002, more than one new club every 8 hours. In the same year, Rotarians contributed the highest amount of money ever raised for the Annual Fund of the Rotary Foundation.
Mr. King is married to Cherie Kay King. They have two grown sons and reside in the San Francisco, California Bay Area.