Our Rotarian of the Week was born in Troy, Ohio, before moving to Yuma, Arizona for elementary school, and then to Vernal, Utah for Junior High and High School. She graduated almost an entire year early from Uintah High School, Home of Utes, with a graduating class of 268. Following graduation, she moved to Greeley, Colorado, to attend the University of Northern Colorado, graduating in just 3 years with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Legal Studies. She worked overtime to get her degree so quickly as she wanted to graduate before welcoming her son into the world! She went on to earn her Master of Public Administration from the University of Wyoming with honors, all while working two full-time jobs and chasing around a toddler!
Her first job in high school, aside from babysitting, was working at Little Caesars Pizza, where she earned her Certified Pizza Maker credential, making her hourly wage of $5.75. A skill put to good use every New Year’s Eve at her house when she makes her famous calzones.
One of her proudest accomplishments was being invited as a diplomatic educational representative by the Chinese Government to travel to China and review education, safety and training standards for industry and technical education in Chinese factories with the hopes of improving education and trade relations. The 11-day whirlwind trip included giving 28 presentations with the assistance of a translator, being interviewed by a Chinese Education Magazine, meeting the Leader of the Party (equivalent to the US Secretary of the Treasury) in a Chinese Government Compound, touring both safe and extremely unsafe factories, being followed, photographed and interviewed by an entourage of paparazzi, demonstrating the safe operation of a forklift in a full suit and high heels, and learning the cultural significance of NOT accepting fruit from certain individuals.
Carole Boughton and her husband Johnny, a proud Navy Veteran, have one of the craziest love stories there is – like Hallmark movie worthy! Followed by a honeymoon that was National Lampoon’s Honeymoon story worthy! (Ask her about them, she loves telling the stories!). They will celebrate their 7th anniversary this November.
She has one grown son, Erik, who will be 23 in April and lives in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. He is a website and video production technician for a Real Estate company. Carole and Johnny also have a fur-baby, Buddy, who is an American bull-dog and great dane mix. He just turned 9 and works full-time as Johnny’s medical alert service dog.
Carole was sponsored into Rotary by Bill Noel in Rifle, Colorado while she was serving as the Campus Vice-President, before making haste to return home to Wyoming – or WyHOMEing as they like to call it in their house.
Her most memorable Rotary Experience is a toss-up between the honor of experiencing her first Rotary International Convention with an amazing group of Rotaractors, and the wildly successful joint club food drive in August of 2022. She enjoys the networking and friendships of Rotary but considers nothing more exciting and rewarding than service to others. She also considers it a great blessing to be able to share the message of “Service Above Self” with the wonderful Rotaract Students and working/serving alongside other dedicated Rotarians.
If she could have the meal of her choice, she would choose fall-off-the-bone smoked ribs, smothered in sweet bourbon glaze, paired with a loaded baked potato on the side.
In her free time, Carole serves as the President of P.E.O. Chapter AQ, serves on the P.E.O. state Technology committee, and coordinates the Service Learning Project at LCCC. As a retired hockey mom, you can find she and Johnny still cheering loud and proud for a variety of sports - from supporting LCCC Golden Eagle Athletics, to college and professional hockey, NASCAR, F1, and of course football – including attending (or watching if we can’t attend) as many University of Wyoming – Go POKES - sporting events as possible! Carole also operates a small craft business called Flops N Frills, where she makes and sells custom made wreaths, flipflops, and scarves.
