Kent Rotary Club singing reputation.
Early in its history, the club established an enviable singing reputation. That this reputation has spread throughout the district is shown by a little conversation overheard at a district conference in Cleveland on March 21-22, 1921. As customary at these gatherings each meeting has a song leader. At one of the large meetings our song leader, Frank Elgin, was invited to lead. Frank adopted the same tactics that he practiced in his own club. Not satisfied on the platform he was soon down in the center aisle exhorting everyone to sing. Finally he divided the audience into two groups and instructed one side of the center aisle to sing “Keep the Home Fires Burning”, and told the other section to sing simultaneously, ”A Long, Long Trail Awinding”. There was an instantaneous and hearty response. Everyone who could sing did so, and those who could not sing could make a joyful noise. When the competition was over someone was heard to ask who is this song leader, and another replied he comes from the Kent club that’s the singingest club in the district. Credit should be given to Frank Elgin for the excellent reputation established in those early years which continues to today.
