Rotary Club of Reno

Club Officers

Bill Creekbaum
President

Bob Moore
President Elect

Steve Mestre
President Elect Designee

Dave Stark
Treasurer

Caryl Larva
Secretary

Strategic Plans

History of the Rotary Club of Reno

In the early 1900’s Reno was the economic center of the Eastern Sierra. -  With livestock, agriculture and mining making up the economy, folks would travel to Reno to do their business, ship and receive goods being delivered by rail from the east and west coast industrial centers – there was no tourism industry, no gaming, as we know it,– It was to legalized 15 years later.

The economic lifeblood of this community of 12-15,000 was the railroad, which was similar to all of the towns east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and west of the Rockies.

A serious problem arose in early 1916, when the railroad increased freight rates for shorter hauls than a longer haul on the same line in the same direction. A local organization called the Reno Commercial Club began organizing business groups in Reno, and other towns to the east to lobby Washington to pass legislation to make such practices unlawful.

It is thought by many, that this was the basis for organizing the Rotary Club of Reno. Another organization to provide more names to impress Congress with the petition.

Although this may be conjecture to some extent, when one reviews the manner in which the Club was chartered, one would have the tendency to agree with the circumstances. – I’ll leave it up to you to decide.

The Club held its first organizational meeting on July 6, 1916,and was chartered on August 1, 1916. Documents show that after the July 6^th meeting, on July 7, 1916, A. R. Kent, Secretary, of the proposed Rotary club of Reno, sent a telegram  to The National association of Rotary Clubs, stating “that if welcomed into the Rotary fold, we will endeavor to send our President to the Convention In Cincinnati.”

On July 8, a telegram was received from National, asking them to communicate with District Governor Brunier.On July 9, DG  Brunier reported to National, “got wire from Reno Rotary Club, will leave a day early, and report to you in person in Cincy.”

Arrangements were made for the President–Elect to travel to Cincinnati and present the application to the Rotary National Board of Directors on July 16, at which time the Club paid a $10.00 entrance fee, and their $12.00 annual fee, and was elected “as is,”and assigned charter # 248. The President - Elect was Judge Willis Brown, of the Reno

Commercial Club, who became the first President of the Rotary Club of Reno. The Club’s first meeting was held on August 9, 1916, with 25 charter members, and 43 members present. This whole process was highly unusual, as no other Rotary club has ever been chartered in this manner – every club, as well as every Rotarian, must be sponsored - by another Club, or another Rotarian.

As it turns out, the Rotary club of Reno, which was the first Club in Nevada, and one of the few Rotary clubs in the west, became an outstanding organization from the very beginning. In 1916, the year of our Charter, The national organization was just beginning its expansion to other shores. A club had been founded in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in 1912, another in London, in 1912, others in Canada, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Philippines. At the beginning of 1916, The International Association of Rotary Clubs boasted of 230 Clubs, and 27,000 Rotarians. Today,  there are 32,500 clubs 1.2 million Rotarians spread through out 200 countries or geographic regions.

Also, it was a year after our Charter was issued that the forerunner of the Rotary foundation was created by Rotary International President Arch Klumph. And along these lines, it is also interesting to note, that in 1916, the United States was suffering through its worst polio epidemic in history, with 27,363 documented cases, and over 7,000 deaths. Who would have thought ninety years later, our organization would be the major player in helping to eliminate this terrible disease from the face of the earth. Because of Rotary’s efforts, along with others, nearly two billion children have been immunized, with more to come.

SOME OTHER INTERESTING NOTES:

Reno Rotary’s first BBQ was held in 1936 – 70 years ago.

Reno Rotary was responsible for establishing the Reno Ski Program, Junior Achievement, Purchased the first “Iron Lung” for Washoe Medical Center.

Reno Rotary has sponsored eight Rotary Clubs since its inception, and from those eight, 21 clubs are now working throughout western Nevada, and eastern California.       

The Original Rotary Club of Reno – 1916

Miles E. North, New York Life  ...................... President

Silas E. Ross, Mortician  ................................. Vice President

Arthur B. Kent, Reno Commercial Club  ........ Secretary

George W. Lewis, Gents’ Clothing  ................ Treasurer

Dr. Parker A. Lewis, Surgeon  ........................ Director

Phil Gillson, Cadillac Dealer  .......................... Director

George R. Bowers, Druggist  .......................... Director

Dale D. Hurst, Theatre Manager  .................. Director

Members

Rev. Brewster Adams, Baptist Minister

W.F. Burroughs, Threshing Machines Salesman

Speed Barnes, Groceryman

C.C. Bridgeman, Lumber Company Manager

B.D. Billinghurst, School Superintendent

Fred DeLongchamps, Architect

R.A. Daniels, Music Store Manager

Herman Davis, Mining Engineer

John Ferris, Auto Tire Dealer

August Frolich, Soap Manufacturer

R.I. Falor, Wholesale Grocer

L.A. Gibbins, Attorney

A.B. Graham, Stationer

Dr. Charles Gasho, Optometrist

J.W. German, Hardware

Harry F. Holmshaw, Auto Accessories

W.H. Johnston, Shoes Retail

Rev. W.E. Lowther, Methodist Minister

W.S. Lake, Printer

H.A. Lemmon, Reno Power & Light

C.J. Miller, Real Estate

A.J. Mergen, Insurance

Robert B. Parker, Bakery

Dr. C.H. Rhodes, Dentist

George A. Raymer, Reno Commercial Club

Harry E. Saviers, Wall Paper and Paint

Harry Skerry, Office Supplies

John S. Sinai, Nevada Credit Rating

G.A. Seaware, Auto Accessories

L.A. Todd, Cigar Manufacturer

J.R. Van Nagell, Flour Manufacturing

William Wagner, Plumbing and Heating

N.E. Wilson, Druggist

Forrest Whiting, Music Retailing

David Williamson, Managing Editor of Reno Gazette

(information taken from History of The Rotary Club of Reno, January 1980)

Miles E. North, New York Life  ...................... President

Silas E. Ross, Mortician  ................................. Vice President

Arthur B. Kent, Reno Commercial Club  ........ Secretary

George W. Lewis, Gents’ Clothing  ................ Treasurer

Dr. Parker A. Lewis, Surgeon  ........................ Director

Phil Gillson, Cadillac Dealer  .......................... Director

George R. Bowers, Druggist  .......................... Director

Dale D. Hurst, Theatre Manager  .................. Director

Members

Rev. Brewster Adams, Baptist Minister

W.F. Burroughs, Threshing Machines Salesman

Speed Barnes, Groceryman

C.C. Bridgeman, Lumber Company Manager

B.D. Billinghurst, School Superintendent

Fred DeLongchamps, Architect

R.A. Daniels, Music Store Manager

Herman Davis, Mining Engineer

John Ferris, Auto Tire Dealer

August Frolich, Soap Manufacturer

R.I. Falor, Wholesale Grocer

L.A. Gibbins, Attorney

A.B. Graham, Stationer

Dr. Charles Gasho, Optometrist

J.W. German, Hardware

Harry F. Holmshaw, Auto Accessories

W.H. Johnston, Shoes Retail

Rev. W.E. Lowther, Methodist Minister

W.S. Lake, Printer

H.A. Lemmon, Reno Power & Light

C.J. Miller, Real Estate

A.J. Mergen, Insurance

Robert B. Parker, Bakery

Dr. C.H. Rhodes, Dentist

George A. Raymer, Reno Commercial Club

Harry E. Saviers, Wall Paper and Paint

Harry Skerry, Office Supplies

John S. Sinai, Nevada Credit Rating

G.A. Seaware, Auto Accessories

L.A. Todd, Cigar Manufacturer

J.R. Van Nagell, Flour Manufacturing

William Wagner, Plumbing and Heating

N.E. Wilson, Druggist

Forrest Whiting, Music Retailing

David Williamson, Managing Editor of Reno Gazette

(information taken from History of The Rotary Club of Reno, January 1980)