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The Paul Harris Story

Paul P Harris, a lawyer, was the founder of the world's first and most international service club.  The second of six children, he grew up in the care of paternal grandparents in Wallingford, Vermont.
 
He worked as a reporter, stock agent, business teacher, actor and cowboy and travelled in the US and Europe selling marble and granite.  He received an LLB from the University of Iowa and a honorary LLD from the University of Vermont.
 
In 1896, Paul went to Chicago to practice law.  One evening he visited the suburban home of a professional friend.  His friend introduced him to various tradesmen in their stores.  It was here that Paul conceived the idea of a club that would recapture some of the friendly spirit amongst businessmen in small communities.
 
On February 23, 1905, Paul Harris formed the first club with three other business men: Silvester Schiele - a coal merchant, Gustavus Loehr - a mining engineer and Hiram Shorey - a merchant tailor.
 
He named the new club "Rotary" because members met in rotation at their various places of business.  Club membership grew rapidly and convinced that Rotary could be an important service movement in other cities, Paul worked to establish new clubs at home and abroad.
 
Paul was also prominent in other civic and professional work.  He services as the first chairman of the board of the National Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children and Adults in the US and the International Society for Crippled Children.
 
He was on the boards of the Bar Associations of Chicago and America.  He was decorated by many international governments, as well as by the Boy Scouts Association for distinguished service to youth.
 
Paul Maintained his law office for most of his life, but spent much of his time travelling and speaking at Rotary functions.  He married Jean Thompson, they had no children.  When he passed away on January 27 1947 his dream had grown from an informal meeting of four to some 6000 clubs.
 
FOR A FULL HISTORY OF PAUL HARRIS, SEE THE DOWNLOADABLE FILE IN THE LEFT HAND SIDE MENU BAR.