Rotary
Club of Augusta
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Honoring Rotary Leaders at the 25th Anniversary
Turn Back the Block
Service Above Self
As seen in
September 23, 1914
Rotary Club of Augusta organized during a luncheon at the Albion Hotel. Postcard courtesy of the Augusta Museum of History.
Celebrating
100 YEARS by Lucy Adams
Ask any Rotarian anywhere about the four-way test and he or she will readily recite: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? These questions unify and guide Rotarians across the continents. With 1.2 million members worldwide, Rotary International impacts communities of every size. What began in 1905 as a small service club for Chicago-based professionals has grown into an organization of community-minded leaders with a global perspective.
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ttorney Paul P. Harris founded the first Rotary Club and named it thus because meeting location rotated from office to office among the original members. The Rotary Club of Augusta formed less than 10 years later on September 23, 1914. Organized during a luncheon at the Albion Hotel, located in the 700 block of Broad Street, the club grew out of the Merchants and Manufacturers Association and attracted founding members with strong ethics and high ideals. It was the 138th Rotary Club chartered and James M. Hull served as the group’s first president. Rotary Club of Augusta initially held weekly meetings at the Albion Hotel then later at the Richmond Hotel. Rotary differs from other service clubs in that its members represent a multitude of career fields, from doctors and lawyers to bankers and business owners. Each draws on his or her particular expertise to identify issues, develop solutions and implement plans. This multi-disciplinary approach to philanthropy is at the heart of Rotary’s special projects. Special Advertising Section
Paul P. Harris
James M. Hull
In 1922,
Rotary Club of Augusta brought Boy Scouts of America to the city and underwrote the first year’s expenses. Today many of Rotary’s members still serve as Scout leaders and in other roles.
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n the early years, Rotary Club of Augusta’s expanding membership sought to ensure that a wide range of business sectors was represented. Classifications of industries and professions included dairy farming, poultry raising, cotton factor, cotton ginning and broom manufacturing in addition to the expected accounting, medical, legal and engineering fields. Today as then, members come from a broad variety of professional niches. The number of members within each classification, however, is limited. Networking and competition are Chamber of from the Motorcycle Traffic Squad of the Commerce activities. Service is at the heart Augusta Police Department discussed Auof Rotary. gusta’s traffic problems and suggested that Jim Hull, in a speech regarding the defi- institution of state issued drivers’ licenses, nition of Rotary, remarked, “Rotary believes a highway patrol and a Rotary traffic comin cordial good-fellowship and wholesome mittee could aid in remediating the traffic fun, in the hearty hand-clasp and the cheer- concerns. In November 1933, the Rotary ful smile, as inducements to happiness and district governor, during his presentation aids to success.” The regular Sunshine Re- on service, stated that he was “thrilled with port, frequently infused with wit as well as Bobby Jones’ golf course.” In 1947, the war goodwill, highlights events in fellow mem- in the past and the world readjusting, Mrs. bers’ lives. Delivery of the report encourages Louise Hall, who had returned from Red connectedness among members, who be- Cross service in the South Pacific, spoke come friends while exercisabout the Red Cross’s new December 14, 1918 ing their civic duties. responsibilities. In DeEach week, Rotary incember of 1952, Mr. L.E. vites a speaker from outside Culbertson gave a talk on of the club to give a short the atom bomb. presentation. While the Rotary Club of Augusta Sunshine Report builds uniat its inception had the austy within the club, speakers picious fortune to be sponapprise members of matters sored by one the South’s affecting citizens of the city, best Rotary Clubs, Rotary county, state or beyond. RoJanuary 14, 1931 Club of Savannah. Deltary member Jennifer Penegates from the Savannah nington, executive director Rotary Club of Augusta Club helped the Augusta of American Red Cross of continues to be a forum Club organize and get off for professionals from Augusta, says, “Meetings are to a roaring start with 44 a good forum for Rotarians diverse backgrounds to charter members. It seems to learn what’s going on in exchange ideas, address fitting that the Augusta the community because we club in turn should aid community needs have such good speakers.” other clubs in their efand recognize Weekly speakers educate the forts to acquire charters. accomplishments. membership on concerns, Interest among the CSRA’s issues and accomplishments of which they professional community in making Augusand all Augustans should be aware. ta and environs an ever better place to live In the same way that classifications of spurred charters of several additional Rotary industries and professions over the decades clubs. Since 1922, the Rotary Club of Auhave reflected the changing economic cli- gusta has organized the Waynesboro Club mate, the roll call of speakers has mirrored (1922), Augusta West Club (1963), North the changing face of the city, nation and Augusta Club (1978) and Augusta South world. In November 1932, two officers Club (1999). u
September 4, 1927
James M. Hull accepted general chairmanship of the $12,500 drive for funds to maintain the work of the local Boy Scouts Council for the next year.
September 26, 1918 Rotary Club of Augusta celebrated its fourth anniversary at the Albion Hotel.
September 21, 1949
Rotary celebrated its 35th anniversary.
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Augusta • 3
, 1964
September 20
September
25, 196
4 Rotary Club of Augusta celebr ated its 50th annive rsary.
I Rotary Club of Augusta is actively
involved with community outreach. Their annual Christmas party, complete with a visit from Santa, is a much anticipated event.
December 2, 1936
Early on, the Christmas Cheer Fund provided support to needy families during the holiday season. The fund continues to be generated annually, but monies are now given to the Salvation Army.
May 28, 1933
Rotary Club of Augusta started Sunshine Camp to provide healthy meals to the city’s undernourished youth. It received financial and handson contributions from Rotarians.
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t has also brought other beneficial orga- fessionals and business people eager to give nizations to the community with the goal back through membership in Rotary. of developing tomorrow’s leaders from Good deeds go farther when civic clubs today’s youth. In 1922, Rotary Club of work together. When Junior League of AuAugusta not only brought Boy Scouts of gusta collaborated with Rotary Club of AuAmerica to the city, it also underwrote the gusta to raise funds for a battered women’s Scout’s first-year expenses. The Boy Scouts shelter, the impact was phenomenal. Serve continue to provide high-quality experi- for the Shelter, a tennis tournament, brought ences and skills to the CSRA’s youth, and beloved pro Arthur Ashe to Augusta for the many Rotarians still serve as Scout leaders cause. Safe Homes of Augusta, the first entity and in other roles. Sunshine Camp, which of its kind in the CSRA, came to fruition and served up wholesome food and fun, began continues to provide prevention and intervenin the summer of 1933 in response to the tion services for victims of domestic violence. growing number of undernourished chilResponding to Rotary International’s dren ages 7-14 in the city. It was established 2009 partnership with the Dollywood on the Hayne-Anderson Estate on Stevens Foundation to promote early childhood Creek Road. A three-week session for girls reading around the world, Rotary clubs of followed a three-week Richmond and Columbia The main objective of session for boys. counties collaborated to Rotary is to develop In the year of its 50th form the Greater Augusta initiatives that tackle anniversary, which was Partnership for Literacy. celebrated in 1964, Ro- critical local, national and The partnership distribtary Club of Augusta initiutes books from Dolly world issues. Rotary ated a Junior Achievement supports youth programs, Parton’s Imagination Liprogram in Augusta. The brary each month to chileducation opportunities Club was awarded the Paul dren residing in Columbia and career development. Harris Award in 1965 for and Richmond counties this effort. Junior Achievement provides ex- who have registered for the program. periential education to foster financial literacy The nature of Rotary Club is that it is and entrepreneurial skills. So successful was attune to needs and to avenues for meeting this venture that it is now solely commu- them. From the start, members contributed nity sponsored. Operating within the public to the Christmas Cheer Fund to benefit school system, Augusta’s Junior Achievement area children. The scope of the fund grew to serves 7,600 students in 16 Georgia counties provide for entire families. During the Deand two South Carolina counties, ensuring a pression Era it helped financially destitute well-spring of future community leaders, pro- individuals and families feed themselves. u Special Advertising Section
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Augusta • 5
In the ’70s and ’80s Rotary Club of Augusta opened up membership to women. Dr. Martha K. Farmer (left) was its first female member. Today women hold prominent positions at all levels of Rotary. Anne Matthews (above), the first female vice president of Rotary International, was a recent speaker at Rotary Club of Augusta.
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he evolution of the James M. Hull Rotary Education Fund is but one example of the club’s ongoing commitment to identifying and solving problems for the betterment of individuals and the community, nation and world. The fund began as a student loan initiative in 1923 when banks and the federal government weren’t in the business of financing higher education. It was supported solely by the contributions of club members. Applicants for assistance underwent a panel interview to ascertain their need, scholarship, character and purpose in life. In 1932, the fund was officially named the Lawton B. Evans Rotary Education Fund in honor of Evans’s 55-year tenure as Richmond County Board of Education superintendent. Over the 91 years of the fund’s existence, the aspirations of more than 900 students have been sustained with low-interest loans. In recent years the demand for loans has decreased. The fund has shifted focus, now supplying grants for educational purposes in the Greater Augusta Area. The fund also supports the Rotary Club of Augusta’s annual international visiting student. Rotary Club of Augusta, spurred into existence by the energy of Jim Hull and his cohorts, started with 44 charter members. By May of 1933, Rotary Club of Augusta hit the centennial mark of 100 members. Fifty
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years after September 23, 1914, Mr. Hull, one of four charter members still living, actively participated in club business. He remained dedicated to the organization until his death in 1975. True to the motto of service above self, other members have demonstrated the same loyalty. The late Matt Barrett had perfect attendance for 41 years. C. Babers Rhodes had perfect attendance for 46 years when he retired in 1977. As of 2008, Jim Prestwood
Among its many achievements Rotary Club of Augusta is proud to have received the 100 percent Paul Harris Fellow Designation in 2011.
and Bill Kemp had perfect attendance going on 57 years and 34 years, respectively. Moreover, Rotary Club of Augusta, in response to a changing social and civic climate opened membership to African Americans and
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women in the late ’70s and ’80s. This influx of leaders, ideas and perspectives has further fostered at the local level the dynamic philanthropic charge by which Rotary International has earned its reputation. That kind of enthusiasm continues today as evidenced by Augusta Rotary being named a 100 percent Paul Harris Fellow Club in recognition of 100 percent member participation in individual donations of $1,000 or more to the Rotary Foundation. About 160 men and women currently participate in the Rotary Club of Augusta. They serve their fellow citizens locally and globally. While at it, they hone their problem-solving skills and engage in lifelong friendships. In honor of the 100th anniversary of Rotary Club of Augusta, the membership is contributing significant support for and working with the Augusta Canal Authority to update the movie theater in the Augusta Canal Museum at Enterprise Mills. In addition, a historical marker will be placed on the 700 block of Broad Street to commemorate the club and its founders. Erick Montgomery, executive director of Historic Augusta, Inc. and a current Rotary member, is spearheading the production of a video using archived materials and interviews to compose a seven-minute overview of Rotary Club of Augusta through the years. The video will premier at the 100th anniversary celebration planned for September. f
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Interact Club
Community Involvement Interact Club
PolioPlus
Rotarians enrich the lives of local youth. The Rotary Club of Augusta sponsors the Interact Club at the Academy of Richmond County. A Rotary member acts as advisor to the club and a school faculty member gives direct mentorship and guidance. Rotary International’s Interact Clubs are designed for students ages 12-18. Through membership in an Interact Club, civicminded boys and girls tackle issues most important to them. Each year the Interact Club plans and implements a school or community service project and a project that promotes international understanding. They have opportunities to participate in hands-on service projects, develop leadership skills and make international connections with youth their age. Interact Club at the Academy of Richmond County sponsors an annual fall blood drive on campus. Club members plan, organize, publicize and implement the blood drive. Select students also attend Rotary’s Monday lunch meeting. Other Interact projects have included packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child and visiting and reading to Alzheimer’s patients. These endeavors align nicely with Augusta Rotary’s service interests past and present.
Rotarians around the planet share the goal of eradicating the crippling disease of polio. Rotary Club of Augusta contributes approximately $2,000 to the cause each year. Rotary International’s first vaccination campaign, which began in 1979, was waged to immunize 6 million children in the Philippines. Since then, Rotary and its partners have helped reduce the number of annual cases from 350,000 to fewer than 250 and remain committed until every child is safe from the disease. Rotary has contributed more than $1.2 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect more than 2 billion children in 122 countries. By 2012, that number had been reduced to three countries—Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria—with only 157 cases, evidence that the concerted global effort of Rotarians through financial support, advocacy and action moves mountains. Sustained, ongoing immunization of the world’s children will lead to eradication of the disease altogether. India recently reached a three-year milestone, having reported no new cases of polio for 36 months. This paves the way for the declaration of Southeast Asia as polio-free.
Georgia Rotary Student Program (GRSP) Through the Georgia Rotary Student Program, international students recommended by a Rotary Club in their home country are given a one-year scholarship to undertake undergraduate study in a Georgia college or university. Although students are assigned a Georgia host family, they live on campus and experience college life in America. Scholarships that cover tuition, textbooks, meal plan and campus housing are awarded to about 80 students each year with the intention of advancing international friendships and exchange of ideas across cultures. The Georgia Rotary Student Program reflects Rotary International’s desire to bring about mutual goodwill and world peace through education, shared goals, understanding, acceptance and friendship. Since the 1951-1952 academic year Augusta Rotary has sponsored or co-sponsored an undergraduate international student studying in Augusta. Young men and women from around the world have benefitted, arriving from countries such as Russia, Sweden, El Salvador, New Zealand, Hungary, Nigeria, Thailand and multiple others. In recent years, thanks to the generosity of Barbara Botts’s financial contribution in honor of her late husband Bert, the Rotary Club of Augusta has funded the entire scholarship for a GRSP student.
Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust (CART) CART is a project on the minds of Rotary members at weekly meetings, as they drop their spare change into a collection pot. Of all the Rotary clubs that participate in raising money for the CART Fund, the Augusta club is among the top three givers. The dollars raised support innovative research in the prevention and cure of Alzheimer’s disease. As of 2013, 22 grants totaling more than $4 million have been extended to research institutions performing cutting edge inquiry and experimentation that will lead to the eradication of Alzheimer’s as a disease of aging. CART gave out $500,000 in grants this year.
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PolioPlus
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September 24, 1964
Rotarians met for the club’s 50th anniversary celebration. Rotary Club continues to have dedicated members. In 2011, Rotary Club of Augusta began the Kemp-Puryear Rotarian of the Year Award to recognize outstanding Rotarians who exemplify Rotary’s call to service. The award is named in honor of Bill Kemp and Jim Puryear.
Rotary Club of Augusta Past Presidents
This year’s recipent of the Kemp/Puryear Award (left to right) Jim Puryear, Marc Miller, recipient, Bill Kemp and President John Whitwell.
First Officers James M. Hull Jr.
J. Rice Smith I Clarence Levy J. Frank Ellis William W. Hackett Luke J. Henry
President Vice President Treasurer Sgt.-at-Arms Secretary Asst. Secretary
Charter Members Frank H. Barrett Harry H. Bell F. Lombard Brinson Rufus H. Brown George F. Claussen Mareen H. H. Duvall J. Frank Ellis Ed J. Erbelding Henry B. Garrett Frank P. Gracey Will W. Hackett John L. Haines Tracey I. Hickman Luke J. Henry P. Virgil Hollingsworth James M. Hull Jr. Pendleton King I. Clarence Levy J. Robert Lewis Herbert C. Lorick Thomas W. Loyless W.C. Lyle
Arthur Merry W.C. Miller Simon J. Newcomb Hugh N. Page Andrew C. Perkins Coles Phinizy John Phinizy G. Loyd Preacher Marion G. Ridgely Patrick H. Rice Louis A. Renki Ambrose J. Schweers J. Rice Smith W. A. Smith Robert W. Spofford Howard H. Stafford John Twiggs Jesse W. Westmoreland T. A. Whitaker John B. Whitney George Wilman J. P. Wood
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1914-15 James M. Hull Jr. 1915-16 Rufus H. Brown 1916-17 Lawton B. Evans 1917-18 John Phinizy 1918-19 Maurice E. Dyess 1919-20 Marion Ridgely 1920-21 William H. Barrett 1921-22 W. J. Hollingsworth 1922-23 William. M. McGovern 1923-24 Herbert Lorick 1924-25 Sam W. Saye 1925-26 Frank J. Miller 1926-27 George F. Claussen 1927-28 T. Harry Garrett 1928-29 P. V. Hollingsworth 1929-30 I. Clarence Levy 1930-31 Marion S. Symms 1931-32 Addison Weisiger Jr. 1932-33 William W. Snow 1933-34 Lee I. Blum 1934-35 H. R. Creamer 1935-36 Lee S. Trimble 1936-37 A. Brian Merry 1937-38 R. E. Barinowski 1938-39 A. D. Hemstreet 1939-40 Elbert P. Peabody 1940-41 William N. Parsons Jr. 1941-42 John Bell Towill 1942-43 R. C. McGahee 1943-44 Guy H. Merry 1944-45 Carl Claus Jr. 1945-46 John P. Cooney 1946-47 Francis S. Dennis 1947-48 Reginald Maxwell 1948-49 Thomas R. Duncan 1949-50 Fred A. Ware 1950-51 James C. Harrison Jr. 1951-52 Anton P. Markert 1952-53 George W. Ewing 1953-54 H. Jack Griffis 1954-55 Alex Barrett 1955-56 Andrew B. Speed 1956-57 F. E. (Jimmy) Cook 1957-58 James G. Prestwood Jr. 1958-59 Frank S. Dennis Jr. 1959-60 Vivian Maxwell 1960-61 Frank S. Adams 1961-62 Gharles H. Gibboney 1962-63 Gerald B. Robins 1963-64 Dorroh Nowell 1964-65 John W. Owen
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1965-66 Walter G. Rice 1966-67 Russell A. Blanchard 1967-68 Frank B. Williams Jr. 1968-69 Phillip Dow 1969-70 Paul A. Martsolf 1970-71 Randolph Kowalski 1971-72 Thomas E. Wilson Jr. 1972-73 Joseph P. Bailey Jr. 1973-74 Ray Chestnut 1974-75 Bernie Silverstein 1975-76 Rufus Foster 1976-77 George A. Christenberry 1977-78 James B. Puryear 1978-79 John C. F. Tillson III 1979-80 Wyck A. Knox 1980-81 R. Lee Smith Jr. 1981-82 Edward M. Gillespie 1982-83 Lee W. Curley 1983-84 Whitney O’Keeffe 1984-85 Haskell D. Toporek 1985-86 Donald P. Howard 1986-87 David J. Hogg 1986-87 Francis S. Dennis III 1987-88 Thomas E. Wilson III 1988-89 Herbert S. Upton 1989-90 J. Benjamin Kay III 1990-91 James H. Childress 1991-92 Neal W. Dickert 1992-93 J. K. Widener Jr. 1993-94 David J. Hogg 1994-95 Hamilton Kuhlke 1995-96 Rosie Messer 1996-97 Eldridge A. Whitehurst Jr. 1997-98 Davenport S. Bruker 1998-99 Hugh P. Greene Jr. 1999-20 Franklin J. Futrelle III 2000-01 Raymond L. Walters Jr. 2001-02 Brian J. Marks 2002-03 Susan M. Rice 2003-04 Walter H. Alexanderson 2004-05 John F. Hexamer 2005-06 Joseph D. Greene 2006-07 Edmond A. Booth Jr. 2007-08 Gerald W. Woods 2008-09 T. Ernie Sizemore 2009-10 J. Robert Evans 2010-11 Frank T. Mulherin 2011-12 Kevin L. Wade 2012-13 Connie Melear 2013-14 John A. Whitwell
(706) 733-3444 CONGRATULATIONS ROTARY!
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