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District Governor Nominee 

Barry Kalar was born and raised in Minnesota but moved to Montana while in high school. Shortly after graduation, he joined the Marines to serve his country, see the world and, perhaps, to escape the cold weather. He ultimately was deployed to Vietnam where he served until his discharge in 1969. In no hurry to return to the Midwest, he decided to head west to California.

During his early college years, Barry focused on becoming an aeronautical engineer and working at NASA. That dream was cut short in 1971, however, when a friend encouraged him to test for a reserve Deputy Sheriff position which he passed with flying colors. He quickly was recruited for a position with the Merced County Sheriff’s Department and began what would be a 31-year career in law enforcement.

Barry obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Chapman University in 1978 and his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from California State University of Hayward in 1996. In between his studies, work and family, he also managed to find time to attend the FBI National Academy and graduated in 1982.

In addition to working as Deputy Sheriff for the Merced County Sheriff’s Department, Barry served as a Lieutenant with the Merced Police Department. Barry then accepted a job as the Chief of Police for the City of Willits became the first Chief of Police for the City of West Sacramento in 1987 and finally retired as Chief from the Moraga Police Department in 2002.

Barry is no stranger to public and community service. He was elected to the Washington Unified School District Board of Education in West Sacramento in 2004 for a four-year term and currently serves as the Board President. He also has held several state offices with law enforcement organizations, including State President of the California Law Enforcement Association of Records Supervisors, Central Chapter President of the Police Officers’ Research Association, Chairman of the Contra Costa Police Chiefs’ Association and member of the Board of Directors for the California Police Chiefs’ Association.

Barry joined Rotary in 1984, presently is a member of the Rotary Club of West Sacramento and is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Moraga (1998-1999). Not only has he served as Assistant District Governor in District 5160, he has been an Assistant District Governor for District 5180 since 2004. He has held numerous positions within his own club -- including Foundation Chair -- and several at the District level -- District Leadership Assembly Chairperson (2006), STRS presenter and Assembly workshop facilitator. He is a Paul Harris Fellow +7 and a member of the Paul Harris Society. In September 2005, Barry had the privilege and opportunity to serve as a non-medical volunteer on a Rotaplast mission to Karaikal, India. The experience has had a profound and unforgettable impact on his life. He has spoken at many Rotary clubs about Rotaplast, encouraged individual and grant participation in other missions and become a Rotaplast Ambassador for District 5180. He hopes one day to lead a trip as a mission director. Barry is an avid cook and baseball enthusiast. He loves traveling, dogs, woodworking, scuba diving, exercising and spoiling his five grandchildren.