Rotary Club of Edinburg:
The History

Introduction

The first Rotary club was founded in Chicago in 1905. Paul Harris, a Chicago lawyer, and three friends began meeting to seek opportunities for service to the community outside of professional pursuits.  Since then, Rotary has become an international organization with clubs in more than 167 countries.  Today, more than 24,000 Rotary clubs list a membership of more than one million two hundred thousand members. The Rotary Club of Edinburg is proud to be a part of this international fellowship of men and women dedicated to service above self.

The millennium year 1999-2000 is the 75th anniversary year of the Rotary Club of Edinburg.  Although age 75 is retirement time for many people, the Rotary Club of Edinburg remains vibrant, active, and a key service provider to its community and to the ideals of Rotary International.  As we enter this landmark year, it is important that we remember and honor the past.  It is a long, proud past that serves as the foundation to a culture and personality that is the Rotary Club of Edinburg today.

This history is a compilation of the work of many of the club's members.  It results from the accumulated remembrances and memories of many, but the foundation of this report is the 1983 account of the club history by Charles Hodges.  It is further developed under the watchful stewardship of Bill Koen, whose 1995 document provided important updates to the information.

Edinburg Chartered in 1927
 
In the early days of Rotary, clubs were organized in larger cities in the United States.  In Texas, both Houston and San Antonio organized Rotary clubs in August 1912.  These clubs were the progenitors of all South Texas Rotary clubs.  Since Rotary clubs must be sponsored by an existing club, it is fairly easy to trace the history of Rotary in South Texas.

 

The Edinburg club was sponsored by the McAllen club in 1925 and the club received its charter from Rotary International in 1927.  Shortly thereafter, the Rotary club of Edinburg sponsored establishment of a club in Falfurrias.

This year represents the 75th year since the founding of the club.  We hope this year will provide a springboard for the continued growth and success of the Rotary Club of Edinburg.

 

 

 

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