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The Founder of Rotary -Paul Percy Harris

The Man who started it all …

Founder of Rotary – Paul Percy Harris

Paul Percy Harris was the founder of Rotary. He was born in Racine, Wisconsin, USA on April 19, 1868. He received the Bachelor of Physical Culture and LL.D, degrees from the University of Vermont and LL.B degree from the University of Iowa.

He received an honorary PH.D. in 1933 from the University of Vermont. The Boy Scouts of America gave him the Silver Buffalo award and he was decorated by the governments of Brazil, Chile, Dominican, Ecuador, France and Peru

He worked as a newspaper reporter, a business college teacher, a stock company actor and as a cowboy. He traveled as a salesman for a marble and granite concern in the US and Europe. These varied experiences broadened his vision and were of material assistance in the early extension of Rotary. In 1896, Paul Harris went to Chicago to practice.

In 1900 after dinner with a lawyer in a residential section of Chicago, Paul Harris was impressed by the fact that his friend stopped at several stores and shops ion the neighborhood and introduced him to the proprietors who were his friends.

This experience caused him to wonder why he could not make social friends out of least some of his law clients and he resolved to organize a club which band together a group of representative business and professional men in friendship and fellowship

Board of Directors 2006/07

President
Gladys Goh, PHF

Immediate Past President
Dr David S Scott, PHF

President Elect/Treasurer
Wilfried James, PHF

Vice President
PP MM Patel, PHF

Hon. Secretary
Jude Tan

Sergeant-at-Arms
Kwok Weng Fai

Club Service
Heinrich Grafe, PHF

Community Service
PP Dr Kwok Wai Mun, PHF

International Service
PP Lee Lye Wah, PHF
Sunny Bay, PHF

New Generation
June Jonet
CP Hector Charles, PHF
Wilfried James, PHF

Vocational
Thomas Cherian
CP Hector Charles, PHF

Rotary Information
PP Leong Cheng Chit, PHF

Web Master 
Manfred Korger