His vision for lifelong learning continues today.
Toastmasters International turns 100 this year, a remarkable achievement thatarted with the foresight and vision of one man, founder Dr. Ralph C. Smedley. First fun fact: He was born on February 22, 1878, in Waverly, Illinois—which means he would be turning 146 years old this month.
Another detail that usually keeps people guessing: The “C” in Smedley’s middle initial stands for Chesnut—an old family name. He often had to tell people he wasn’t named for a nut or tree.
