David Kefauver, DVM was part of a small group of community leaders who began talking about a solution to the need in our rural Monroe County area for positive influence and activity for youth.  These discussions began in the early to mid-1990’s, and by 1995, a large group of concerned individuals had formed a Board of Directors and chartered the Boys & Girls Club of the Monroe Area.    Local Attorney Curwood Witt (then President of the Board of Directors) was quoted in the local newspaper in 1996, giving credit to David Kefauver as they kicked off a fundraising campaign to raise the first year’s budget for the organization.  “Much of the project’s undertaking could be traced back to Dr. David Kefauver, whose efforts have kept the ball rolling through the early phases.  He’s been our cheerleader.  He has been the driving force behind it all.”  Without the dedication to the cause shown by David Kefauver, the Boys & Girls Club of the Monroe Area would likely not be in existence.     The founding Board of Directors worked to open the first club unit in Madisonville, with David helping to lead the way to seating the first Executive Director, finding a club location and getting the doors opened to the first youth to be served.  The first club opened in the Madisonville Middle School in 1996, with club locations in Tellico Plains (1997) and Sweetwater (1999) following. During this time, David worked to help secure those locations and funding, and work began on building a facility for the Madisonville Unit.  In November 1999, David and his wife Mary attended the official opening of the newly built, 6000 square foot Madisonville Unit, celebrating several years of hard work to make the dream a reality.  Since then, he has continued to work alongside the rest of the Board of Directors to see the Vonore, Rural Vale and Teen Center club locations open.    

During his 17 years of service on the Board of Directors, David has worked on committees including the Financial Development Committee, Nominations Committee and Property/Facilities Management Committee.  He has also served as Vice President of Operations.  Working on the Nominations Committee, David helped seek out community leaders to serve on the Board of Directors who would be an asset to our organization.  His biggest asset as part of this committee, and even when not on this committee, has been the example of leadership and service he sets for all Board Members.  As part of the Financial Development Committee, he has helped raise funds for operations and capital projects, seeking out supporters who have continued to contribute over the years, both with cash contributions and in-kind donations.  He has worked year after year obtaining Auction Items and Sponsorships for special events and fundraisers including the 5K Race, Motorcycle Run, Golf Tournament, Fitness Fair and Turtle Tumble.  In addition to securing funds and donations for these events, he was in attendance, hanging lights and tent walls, setting up and tearing down tables and chairs, helping serve food and drinks, or doing anything else that needed to be done to make these events a success.  Whether or not he is actively serving on the Financial Development Committee, David’s personal level of financial commitment through the years cannot be overlooked.  The Kefauver Room at the Madisonville Unit is named in honor of his family for their contribution to the capital campaign to raise funds to build that club location.  For every year it has been in existence, David and Mary Kefauver have been listed as Jeremiah Milbank Society members, contributing personally more than $10,000 annually to operating funds.  David’s work on the Property/Facilities Management Committee is probably what  has kept him most busy.  Throughout his 17 years, David Kefauver has spent countless hours and days at most Boys & Girls Club locations throughout the Monroe area.

David Kefauver has spent time securing outdoor storage facilities, getting mulch for playgrounds, overseeing repairs due to leaks, storm damage, etc. including several roof repairs and a total roof replacement this past year.  Transportation maintenance and repair needs have also been met by his tireless effort, with his work to secure cost efficient repairs and maintenance, as well as overseeing retirement and disposal of vehicles when necessary.    

While working endlessly to help Boys & Girls Club of the Monroe Area to succeed, David spent more of his time devoted to a lengthy practice as a Large and Small Animal Veterinarian from 1976 until retirement in 2005.  Since retirement, he has served as a consultant and financial supporter of Monroe County Animal Shelter.  He also has served as a long-time Kiwanis member, original member of the Hiwassee College Kefauver Scholars Committee, and served on the Chota Medical Clinic Board of Directors for many years.  David’s church involvement at First United Methodist in Madisonville includes service as a member of the Pastor Parish Relations Committee, Buildings and Grounds Committee and currently as 5th and 6th grade Sunday School teacher since 2002.  While helping Mary raise their family, David assisted in coaching football, basketball and baseball for the Madisonville Sports and Civic Club during elementary and middle school years for all four children: Matt, Josh, Carrie and Adam.    

David credits some of his personal success to his membership in the Boys Club in Georgetown (DC) during his 4th and 5th grade years of school, while his father Estes Kefauver was serving in the US Senate.  He knows that his attendance at the club kept him from running the streets of DC, possibly landing into some troublesome situation.  David played baseball during the summer at the club in Georgetown, an experience that likely led to a family love of the sport even today, as David and Mary’s youngest son coaches the local high school team, the Sequoyah Chiefs.  While he may credit some of his success to the Boys & Girls Club organization, the Boys & Girls Club    of the Monroe Area must credit its very existence and a great deal of its success from the beginning through today to Founding Board Member, Dr. David Kefauver.