The founding and other stories.
The ROTARY CLUB OF KENT was elected to membership of Rotary International on November 1, 1920. It was thus the 777th club to which a charter had been issued by the parent organization.
The conception of a Rotary club in Kent originated in the mind of William A. Walls, affectionately know as “Tubby” who at the time was superintendent of the Kent Public Schools. In the spirit of Rotary, which was always his, Bill Walls had the vision of what could be accomplished by bringing together the business and professional men of Kent into one service club. He perceived that through the medium of such an organization the members would develop a close acquaintance in Fellowship; and that by the practice of the principles of Rotary the club would become a vital force in the social, religious and civic life of Kent.
In the early part of the year 1920, he discuss the subject of Rotary with a few of his friends and, after several informal meetings, decided to contact headquarters in Chicago with reference to the formation of a club in Kent. The officials of Rotary International we’re at first reluctant to give approval as they consider the city too small to support a club adequately; however, the vigorous efforts of the men interested overcame this objection. A committee was formed and eventually a survey made. The report stated “Kent is an established little city having a character distinctively its own not dependent upon other cities for its commercial success”. It also emphasize the fact that there were sufficient business and professional men of sound reputation to form a Rotary club.
On August 18, 1920, governor Sam Squires appointed William A. Walls chairman of an organizing committee with authority to select other members; and he, intern, extended an invitation to Dr. William B. Andrews, Dr. George H. Dumm, James S. Greene, and Hale B. Thompson to serve with him. At the next meeting the bylaws and Constitution were adopted. It called for regular noon meetings to be held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at the Franklin Hotel. The admission fee was placed at $10, and the membership dues were set at $20 per year payable semi annually. There were 25 charter members, all prominent residents of Kent.
The first regular luncheon meeting of the club was held on Tuesday, December 14, 1920 at the Franklin Hotel. President Bill Walls with the speaker. He discussed the purpose of the club, and outlined the program for the year. The club soon came to the conclusion that it was not sufficient to encourage wholesome fellowship and to extend the educational program; that it was necessary, in addition, to inculcate the workable technique of Rotary throughout the entire membership. The Crippled Children’S Movement, was then in the first stages of its growth and furnished an opportunity for the practical application of this tenant.
The Crippled Children’s Movement was Originated by Edgar Allen, a member of the Rotary club of Elyria. Edgar became commonly known among Rotarians and was familiarly addressed by his little protégés as “Daddy Allen”.
Early in 1921, Miss Elnora Getz, City Nurse, had called to the attention of the Rotary club of two crippled children both in the same family. The plans formulated comprised: (a) a listing of all crippled children in Portage County, (b) missionary work among the parents of these children, (c) the clinic, (d) follow-up work. This project continued on through William Walls first two years of his presidency and an additional two more administrations until it was taken over by the state of Ohio. It was probably the finest project undertaken during the first 25 year history of the club.
The conception of a Rotary club in Kent originated in the mind of William A. Walls, affectionately know as “Tubby” who at the time was superintendent of the Kent Public Schools. In the spirit of Rotary, which was always his, Bill Walls had the vision of what could be accomplished by bringing together the business and professional men of Kent into one service club. He perceived that through the medium of such an organization the members would develop a close acquaintance in Fellowship; and that by the practice of the principles of Rotary the club would become a vital force in the social, religious and civic life of Kent.
In the early part of the year 1920, he discuss the subject of Rotary with a few of his friends and, after several informal meetings, decided to contact headquarters in Chicago with reference to the formation of a club in Kent. The officials of Rotary International we’re at first reluctant to give approval as they consider the city too small to support a club adequately; however, the vigorous efforts of the men interested overcame this objection. A committee was formed and eventually a survey made. The report stated “Kent is an established little city having a character distinctively its own not dependent upon other cities for its commercial success”. It also emphasize the fact that there were sufficient business and professional men of sound reputation to form a Rotary club.
On August 18, 1920, governor Sam Squires appointed William A. Walls chairman of an organizing committee with authority to select other members; and he, intern, extended an invitation to Dr. William B. Andrews, Dr. George H. Dumm, James S. Greene, and Hale B. Thompson to serve with him. At the next meeting the bylaws and Constitution were adopted. It called for regular noon meetings to be held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at the Franklin Hotel. The admission fee was placed at $10, and the membership dues were set at $20 per year payable semi annually. There were 25 charter members, all prominent residents of Kent.
The first regular luncheon meeting of the club was held on Tuesday, December 14, 1920 at the Franklin Hotel. President Bill Walls with the speaker. He discussed the purpose of the club, and outlined the program for the year. The club soon came to the conclusion that it was not sufficient to encourage wholesome fellowship and to extend the educational program; that it was necessary, in addition, to inculcate the workable technique of Rotary throughout the entire membership. The Crippled Children’S Movement, was then in the first stages of its growth and furnished an opportunity for the practical application of this tenant.
The Crippled Children’s Movement was Originated by Edgar Allen, a member of the Rotary club of Elyria. Edgar became commonly known among Rotarians and was familiarly addressed by his little protégés as “Daddy Allen”.
Early in 1921, Miss Elnora Getz, City Nurse, had called to the attention of the Rotary club of two crippled children both in the same family. The plans formulated comprised: (a) a listing of all crippled children in Portage County, (b) missionary work among the parents of these children, (c) the clinic, (d) follow-up work. This project continued on through William Walls first two years of his presidency and an additional two more administrations until it was taken over by the state of Ohio. It was probably the finest project undertaken during the first 25 year history of the club.
Here are some interesting facts as it relates to the year 1920 when Kent Rotary was formed. A Rotary club was started in Madrid Spain the first to be organized in continental Europe . The first Rotary club was organized in Japan in Tokyo. The League of Nations held its first meetings. The International Court Of Justice was established. The 19th amendment giving suffrage to women was added to the Constitution of the United States of America. All this in addition to our club 777 being formed!
I’ll finish with an amusing story regarding the difficulty of transportation in its day for the Crippled Children’s Movement.
Sam Bissler’s experience may be cited as an example. For his business as funeral director Sam had a fleet of cars which were always spotlessly clean. At the time of one of the clinics the dirt roads were almost impassable. The state has not yet paved many side roads, and Sam’s assignment was in the southern part of the county, a long distance away from the main highway. He had started off early in the morning in one of his brilliantly polished cars. He reached the clinic in a car plastered with mud from bumper to bumper and from hubcap to hubcap. Sam himself was not as clean as when he started out, but when he entered the clinic he had one child by the hand and another in his arms. He was tired and bedraggled; nevertheless his radiant smile indicated a satisfactorily performed and profit gained by unselfish service. Sam is only one example. There were many Sam’s who labored that day to learn the truth of the Rotary motto, “he profits most who serves the best”.
