Paul_harris

      The 1996, 1997 ROTARY International year has been officially dedicated by Rotary International to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death (January 27, 1997) of Rotary's founder, Paul P Harris. The following artical is exscerpted from the official biography of Paul P harris as printed in the Rotary publication for public distribution "Honoring a Legacy of Service." It is reprinted here by permission.

          Paul P Harris, a lawyer, was the founder of Rotary, the worlds first and most international service club.

          Born in Racine Wisconsin, USA on April 19, 1868 Paul was the second of six children to George N Harris and Cornelia Bryan Harris. At age 3 he moved to Wollingford, Vermont where he grew up in the care of his paternal grandparents. Married to Jean Thompson Harris (1881-1963), they had no children. He recieved an L.L.B. from the University of Iowa and recieved an honorary L.L.D. from the University of Vermont.

          Paul Harris worked as a newspaper reporter, a business teacher, stock company actor, cowboy, and traveled extensively in the USA and Europe selling marble and granite. In 1896, he went to Chicago to practice law. One evening Paul visited the suburban home of a professional freind. After dinner, as they strolled through the neighborhood, Paul 's freind introduced him to various tradesman in their stores. It was here Paul conceived the idea of a club tthat could recapture some of the friendly spirit amoung businessman and small communities.

On February 23, 1905, Paul Harris formed the first club with three other businessman: Silvester Schiele, a coal merchant; Gustavus Loehr, a mining engineer; and Hiram Shorey, a merchant tailor. Paul Harris named the new club "Rotary" because members met in rotation at their various places of business. Club membership grew rapidly. Soon Paul became convinced that the Rotary club could be developed into an important service movement and strove to extend Rotary into other cities.

Paul was also prominent in other civic and professional work. He served as the first chairman of the board of the National Easter Seal Society of Crippled Children and Adults in the USA and the International Society for Crippled Children. He was a member of the board of managers of the Chicago Bar Association and its representative at the international Congress of Law at the Haigue, and a committee member of the American Bar Association. He recieved the Silver Buffalo Award from the Boyscouts of America for distinguished service to youth, and was decorated by the governments of Brazil, Chili, Dominican Republic, Equador, France, and Peru.

Paul maintained his law office for most of his life. He spent much time traveling and was invited to speak to Rotarians at annual conventions, District and Regional meetings, and other functions. When president emerietus Paul Harris passed away on January 27, 1947 his dream had grown from an informal meeting of four men to some 6,000 clubs. In the past 5 decades, the organization has grown to more than 27,500 clubs with 1.2 million members brought togethor by Paull Harris'' vision of service and fellowship.

A distinguished group known as "Paul Harris Fellowship"

          Named in honor of Rotary's founder,a Paul Harris fellow is a distinction afforded a person who contributes, or in whose name is contributed, US$1,000 to the Rotary Foundation. A new Paul Harris Fellow will receive, upon request a personalized certificate with presentation folder, a lapel pin, and a medallion with neck ribbon. The distinction is reserved for individuals, either living or dead, and may not be conferred, as has been attempted, upon beloved pets, fictitous characters, or inanimate objects.
          As of 07/00 726,017 is the total number of Paul Harris Fellows in Rotary. 70% of annual contributions to Rotary Foundation are derived from Paul Harris Fellow recognitions.
          The Suntree Rotary Club has 23 Paul Harris Fellows, they are;
Frank Bradley--Nancy Bradley--Al Chipman--Rick Filichia--Dan Frazee--Carroll "Doc" Hodges--Neil Jackson--Brigit Kirchofer--Dave Lehtonen--Bill Latimer--Mike Malone--Chuck Manning--Dick Marshall--Brian Murtha--Terry Naberhaus--Warren Price--Carl Reitz--Harry Rhame--Joan Rhame--Art Schroeder--Marcel Snyder--Dollie Snyder--Charles Sikes