Fran Bayless - District Governor 2008-09

Fran Bayless is a native Clevelander and she and her husband Tom are longtime residents of Shaker Heights, Ohio.

Fran received her B.S. degree from Mary Washington College/University of Virginia and is currently attending the Cleveland Institute of Art. She is a former kindergarten teacher and Director of Kindergarten Education at Laurel School of Girls and upon her retirement she served as Director of Executive Development at the May Company. She is a longtime volunteer at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and has served in many capacities at her church; as an Elder, Elder Emeritus and church archivist having written and published two volumes on its history.  Both Fran and Tom completed the Shaker Heights Citizens Police Academy’s 10-week training program and volunteer monthly. Fran, along with her daughter Nancy, founded S.A.F.E (Shaker Animal Friendship Endeavor) in 2000, a volunteer corporation in support of the Shaker Heights Animal Shelter.

The 2008-09 Theme Logo...

Fran and Tom’s extensive travels to photograph and video wild animals in the natural habitat around the world (Arctic, Antarctic and just about everywhere in between) resulted in their company World Nature Photos. Leica Camera Corp. purchased one of Fran’s Antarctic photographs for their holiday cards and Kodak has a number of her photos and artistic resume on their website – the first wild life photographer to be so honored. Fran has lectured extensively on the importance of the environment and sustaining the wild life and has spoken at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Audubon Clubs, Camera Clubs and Rotary Clubs, to name a few. Fran was honored to be included in Dr. Sylvia Rimm’s book entitled “How Jane Won, 55 Successful Women Share How They Grew from Ordinary Girls to Extraordinary Women.”

Fran is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Shaker Heights and currently a member of the Rotary Club of Cleveland, where her husband Tom has been a member since 1987.  She is a member of the Youth Service and International Service Committees. At the District level Fran has served as Assistant Governor, District Conference Chair and is currently a member of the Ambassadorial Scholarship Committee. 

Both Fran and Tom are Paul Harris Fellows and members of the Paul Harris Society, Level Two Bequest Society members, and Level Two Major Donors. Also, they were honored by the Rotary Club of Cleveland as charter members of the Arch C. Klumph Society of the Cleveland Rotary Foundation established to recognize giving to The Rotary Foundation.

Fran and Tom have been married for 55 years and have two grown daughters, Margaret (William Schwing) and Nancy (Jeff Cross), and two grandsons, John and Alexander Cross.

Throughout their married life, Fran and Tom have traveled extensively within the United States, their special love being the Southwest. For many years, Fran worked closely with Native American Indians and traders to encourage and promote their native crafts. Through her business, Southwest Exchange, Fran procured and sold fine native American Indian art and jewelry, and delivered many lectures on the culture and crafts of the Navajo, Zuni and Hopi Indians.