History of Rotary and our Paul Harris Fellows

Rotary Club of Perth - Paul Harris Fellows

Rotary International Founder - Paul Percy Harris: 1868 -1947

Founded the World's first International service club.

Born in Racine Wisconsin, USA on 19 April 1868, Paul was the second of six children to George N. Harris and Cornelia Bryan Harris. At age 3 he moved to Wallingford, Vermont where he grew up in the care of his paternal grandparents. He received an LLB. from the University of Iowa and received an honorary LLD. from the University of Vermont. Paul married Edinburgh born Jean Thomson (1881 - 1963) on 2nd July 1910 in Chicago, they had no children, after Paul's death, Jean returned to her native Edinburgh in 1955, where she died in 1963.

Paul Harris worked as a newspaper reporter, a business teacher, stock company actor, cowboy, and traveled extensively in the U.S.A. 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 friend. After dinner, as they strolled through the neighbourhood, Paul's friend introduced him to various tradesmen in their stores. It was here Paul conceived the idea of a club that could recapture some of the friendly spirit among businessmen in small communities. 

On 23 February 1905, Paul Harris formed the first club with three other businessmen: 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 to other cities.

• The rest is now history, Rotary extends to every corner of the Globe, it turned out to be some stroll!

Perth Rotary Club has bestowed the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship Award on the following members:

Jimmie Cairncross, Tony Luck, Alex Masson, Robbie Singer, Alan Calderwood, Alistair Ritchie, Gordon Dow, Harry Robertson, David Lindsay, Hamish Milne, William Duncan, Joe Cairns, Alastair Dorward, John Holme (bestowed by a previous Rotary Club), Ewan Bannerman, and Ian Mclean.

This is in recognition of their contributions to the Rotary Club of Perth, and more importantly the greater fellowship of Rotary International. Their long-term commitment to Rotary and tireless work for others, both in the community and internationally, is an example to all who know and knew them and a lasting paradigm for others who follow.

Service Before Self certainly applies to these members, who embrace the ideals of Rotary in everything they do and did.