Founding of The Terre Haute Rotary Club
The Terre Haute Rotary Club was organized in September, 1913. It is the oldest service club in Terre Haute, and the second oldest Rotary Club in Indiana. It is club number 84 among more than 34,000 Rotary clubs worldwide. Fifty business and professional men met September 2, 1913 to begin discussions of forming a Rotary club in Terre Haute. Just two weeks later, 88 men indicated their interest in Rotary which resulted in the creation of a constitution and election of officers. George Holloway led efforts to create the club. He was inspired to do so after attending a district meeting of Rotary International in Kansas City, MO during the summer of 1913. Holloway was elected as the Terre Haute Rotary Club’s first president.
Milestone Accomplishments
The Terre Haute Rotary Club’s earliest accomplishments included leadership to create the local Boy Scouts Council, raising money for a full-time director, and help build a new lodge at the Boy Scouts’ campsite. The club’s longest continuous community service effort has been to assist the local Goodwill industries. Rotary volunteers began helping the Goodwill in 1927. The annual Goodwill Drive sponsored by the Terre Haute Rotary Club continues to generate donations of materials for stores supported by the local Goodwill.
Terre Haute Rotarians helped create new Rotary clubs in Evansville, Brazil, West Terre Haute, Vincennes, Paris, Ill.; and a second club in Terre Haute.
Four Rotary District Governors have been members of the Terre Haute Rotary Club. The club has won numerous Presidential Citations for outstanding operations, service and membership development.
To creating a lasting memory of the club’s 100th anniversary, the Rotary Club of Terre Haute donated $25,000 in 2013 to Art Spaces to help fund the creation and installation of a sculpture to honor noted song writer Paul Dresser. This Centennial Project was the largest gift in recent history that the club has donated to a community project. In addition, the club hosted 175 guests in September, 2013 at a banquet to celebrate the club’s 100th anniversary. Among the guests at the banquet were visiting Rotarians from other clubs in our home district 6580.