History of the
Orange Rotary Club

The Beginnings

On July 1,1810 the Spanish Government granted to Antonio Yorba and Juan Pablo Peralta the Rancho Santiago De Santa Ana which included what is now the City of Orange. Jose Antonio Yorba, son of the original grantees, cultivated the site which was to become Orange. Then in 1870-71 the original town site of Orange was laid out by two Lawyers, A. B. Chapman and Andrew Glassell. In 1907, another lawyer, Paul Harris by name, formed the first Rotary Club back in Chicago, Illinois. So, what about Orange?

Well, there is a certain charm about how things used to get done around here, how things first began. Take the Rotary Club for instance. Leon O. Whitsells, the first vice-president of Orange Rotary, is credited with the best version of how this club started. He said, "Bill Hart, Justus Craemer, Clyde Newton and yours truly, met on the corner in front of the jewelry store on the plaza in Orange (Harry Huff Emporium) and discussed the desirability of establishing a Rotary Club of Orange. It being the day of the weekly meeting of the Santa Ana Rotary, we invited ourselves to the meeting in Santa Ana and talked with the Rotary scout for the district, who was manager of the local telephone company. l can't remember his name at the time (it was Earl Morrow) and we hurriedly made up a list of charter members.

He sent in our application with his recommendation and in due time we received our charter. Frank Drumm was elected president, and as I recall, l was elected vice president. Several of us usually met in Clyde Newton's office a day or two before each meeting and cooked up something for the meeting to make things interesting. Orange Rotary soon had the reputation of being a live wire club."

The street corner meeting recalled by Leon was some time prior to October 27th, 1921, when a meeting was held in the Trinity Parish house and twenty-three Orange business men met with delegations from Rotary Clubs of Santa Ana, Anaheim, and Long Beach, and it was decided to organize a Rotary Club in Orange. On November 3rd 1921 twenty-five charter members met for permanent organization. The first slate of officers were Frank Drumm, President, Leon O. Whitsell, vice president, John R. Porter, treasurer, Clyde F. Newton, secretary, and for directors: Frank Henderson, William O. Hart, and Hugh Thomson.

Mac O. Robbins, past president of the Santa Ana club, charged the officers, explaining their duties and responsibilities. William H. Spurgeon, jr., then president of the Santa Ana Club, gave the inaugural address, and Orange Rotary Club was underway. The third club in the county after Santa Ana and Anaheim, and number 1038 in the Rotary world.

Our charter was dated December 1st, 1921. Our Charter Night was January 31st, 1922, and that meeting was held in the basement of the City Hall. Earl Morrow had a leading part in this meeting, and until the day of his death, one of his greatest joys was the fact that he was considered the father of Orange Rotary.

So it was, on the Plaza of Orange.

Involvement

From the very beginning Orange Rotary evolved around youth work and community projects. These efforts were what made Orange Rotary so great to its early members and what continuous to make it so vital to the Orange community today.

Youth Work

From the start the Rotary Club paid special attention to helping youth.. In 1922, at its very first director's meeting, $50.00 was appropriated for boys work, and later that year $ 100.00 was donated for a public playground. In January 1924 a Perpetual Trophy for winners of the High School Honor Society was established. Later in May the Club, under President Stanley Mansur, financed an operation for a crippled child at the Orthopedic Hospital. In 1925 the Club supported work at the YMCA, and in 1926 a sizable grant was given to improve the YMCA facility at Camp Osceola. In 1927 a substantial contribution was made to the Orange County Health Camp. And in 1930 the YMCA, Health Camp, and Boy Scouts received the bulk of the money used for good works.

So it has been down through the years. In 1935, under President Bob McAulay, a blind and deaf youth, Bruce Knight, was provided with a hearing aid end a Braille typewriter. Then in 1938 the Club sent the high School football squad to Los Angeles to see one of the big games. (Think what a thrill that must have been.) Early support for youth work included the Orange County Health Camp, the California Society for Crippled Children. and the Fred C. Nelles School. Our support for this work was recognized , in an article that appeared in the February 1948 edition of "The Rotarian".

In the early 50's radios and televisions were supplied to children at the county hospitals. And in 1951 the Visa program (Visiting International Students Association) began with support for students from Hawaii and Czechoslovakia In 1952 an achievement award was presented to the outstanding graduate of Orange High School. In 1970 the Rotary loan fund was established for Chapman College students....Under Fred Barrera an electric score board was purchased for the Los Pinos Forestry Camp in the Ortega Mountains. Youth programs increased under the readerships of Ron Sands and Mike Hairston, For many years we have hosted international students each June as they toured the Southwest. And today we support a long list of ongoing programs for youth including:

Boy Scouts Explorer Posts: (three posts) Orange Law Enforcement Explorer Post #26 (35 years) and Animal ControlPost #538 (21 years), and Challenger post (2 years)
Youth Singers Competition
Achievement through Courage (23 years)
Athletic Recognition
Academic and Vocational Student
Homework Hotline (18 years)
Child Abuse Center
Girl's Invitational Track Meet
Drug Awareness (DARE) Program
Interact clubs (22 years)
Community Works

But, youth wasn't the only concern for a club as vibrant as Orange Rotary. Crucial to its history was an ever growing awareness of community needs and finding the where-with-all to support these needs: Rotary started out in its first year by donating to a fund for a Rose Parade float. In 1925 Orange Rotary sent help to the Santa Barbara Rotary Club for assisting the community that was devastated by earthquake damage. During World War II, Orange Rotary supported our boys by sending gifts and letters overseas. And in recent years Rotary has reached out to the community in numerous ways: Projects to help the Public Library, paint houses, plant trees, support the Senior Citizen's Center, and to sponsor scholarships for the high schools and Santiago Community College. We have supported CHOC and St. Joseph's Hospital, student scholarships, senior citizen programs, self help programs for Third world countries, world wide eradication of the polio disease, mini-grants for teachers, library support, and mentor programs.

Orange Community Trust Fund

Through the years the Rotary Club of Orange has been committed to the concept of community service. The club offers scholarships to the high school and college-age young people, supports various non-profit agencies throughout our community, and pursues projects that will improve the quality of life for the community.

One way our Club meets this challenge is, through our own Trust Fund. This is a permanent endowment for local projects only. The income from the fund is for these projects. The initial contribution of $ 10,000 to the Trust Fund came from the estate of Mrs. John Adams, whose husband was a member of Orange Rotary for over twenty-five years. Through the years from the contributions of other members this amount has grown over five times.

Members and non-members are encouraged to make either direct cash contributions, memorial gifts in the name of one who has recently departed, or in honor of one who is still living or By naming the Trust Fund in a will or trust document. As a tax exempt entity, gifts to the Trust Fund are tax deductible.

The way the Trust Fund works is this: the principle is never touched, only the interest income is disbursed for community service projects.

The Trustees of the Fund are the current Rotary president and past presidents of the Orange Rotary Club. They are committed to preserve the Trust Fund as a perpetual legacy.

One month each year your Trust Fund Trustees have a drive within our Club to raise money. Gifts to the Orange Rotary Community Trust Fund can be sent to PO Box #5882, Orange, California 92613.

Membership

The Rotary Club of Orange was first chartered with 25 members. And from the beginning records show a study growth pattern since then. By 1928 this number grew to 52 usually with 100% attendance. In 1929 there were 57 members and in 1934, under president C. H. Anderson this increased from 65 to 85 members.. During 1952 it is recorded there were four 100% perfect attendance meetings; the first time in 30 years. Why even in 1950 Clyde Newton, a charter member, came to a noon meeting in an ambulance so as to preserve his 100 percent attendance record. In 1978 under president Mike Abdalla membership increased from 101 to 116 persons. During the 80's membership increased until there were 135?? in the "Best Club in District 532." And in 1989 women became a part of Rotary and our membership grew to 155. Today we have 140 members and we are the 2nd largest Rotary Club in District 5320..

Meeting Places

Orange Rotary first met in the basement of the old City Hall but soon moved to the Trinity House of the Episcopalian Church. The club moved frequently during the first few years, alternating between that home, the Masonic Hall and the City Hall Basement. Then for a few months to the old Rochester Hotel, since razed to make room for the Post Office on Chapman Avenue. The Women's Club and the l.O.O.F. Hall also were used. Then in 1928 the then new American Legion Memorial Hall was selected as the meeting place for fifty-two years except for the period in 1942 when the Army took over the building for a six month period. In 1980 the club moved to our present site at the Turnip Rose located in the Orange County Medical Association Facility.

By the way, during the depression years annual dues were $20 and meals were $0.50. Ladies' night dinner on March 6th, 1930 cost the unusual price of $0.75 per plate. BY 1942 the luncheon price reached $1 :00. Then in the 1960's it reached $5.00. By 1990 dues was $ 120 annually, and meals were $ ] 0.00. At 50 meals per year, there have been 3750 Rotary luncheons held in Orange with conscientious dieting yet to be seen.

A History of Firsts

Many interesting memories and practices belong to the Rotary Club of Orange. Here are just a few firsts you might find in scanning through the Rotary memory book:

City of Orange was first incorporated on April 6,1888
By 1912 the first paved streets were ready, and the first Boy Scout troop organized.
Major flooding occurred in 1916.
By 1920 the population of Orange reached 4,884.
The year 1921 saw the first City Council and the First Chamber of Commerce.
And at the end of 1921 occurred the founding of the first Rotary Club of Orange.
The American Legion Hall was completed in 1927 and in 1928 Orange Rotary started meeting there for a period of 52 years.
By 1928 there were 52 members and often all were present. Fines for absences were made official in 1929.
In 1929, after the market crash on Black Thursday, Orange Rotary Club.
invested $700.00 in the local Building and Loan Association.
By 1930 the population of Orange grew to 8,000.
In 1933 the Rotary year and the fiscal year were made to coincide
The year 1934 saw the practice of giving each visitor to the Rotary Club an Orange orange. Now the practice is for a box of Orange oranges to go to each guest speaker. Tradition has it that these oranges are grown locally, but today this seems unlikely.
The May festival started in 1933, Orange City Park (Hart Park named after Rotarian W. O. Hart) was dedicated in 1936, and the present Plaza Fountain installed in 1937.
Orange population in 1940 was 7,900.
The Orange Rotary newsletters started in 1942. Before the is weekly events were published in the Orange Daily News published by W. O. Hart. The first printed form of our newsletter appeared in 1953. Computer generated copy began in the 1980's.
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors began in 1944. Policy decisions rested then with the Board of Directors and not just with the President and Secretary as had been the past practice.
In 1946 senior girls from Orange High School conducted their first Rotary meeting, this becoming an annual event for 20 years. Maybe the first snow fall in Orange occurred in 1949. Orange Population in 1950 was at 10,027, not much growth for nearly 20 years, then they started to come.
In 1953 Orange Rotary first participated in the May Day Festival.
In 1954 Chapman College moved from Los Angeles to the old campus of Orange High School. The college thrived and became Chapman University in 1991.
In 1956. our present Club Banner was adopted, the design coming from an innovative contest held in an Orange High school art class.
In 1957 our club met with the Palm Springs Rotary at the Palm Springs Tennis Club. What a makeup that must.
The annual May Festival Pancake Breakfast started with Harold Kibby as president in 1958 and continued on for many years.
Population of Orange more than doubled in 10 years to 26,444 by 1960.
The practice of visiting Rotarians' places of business began in 1960 with President Bill Frantz.
In 1961 the new Public Library was built replacing the old Carnegie Library on Chapman.
The Law Enforcement Explorer Post was started by President F. Bert Skiles in 1962 and has been supported by Bill Schoppert for 34 years.
The first Interact Club was started by President. Bob Hoyt in 1963 and has grown to 70 members today.
President Bob Welch in 1964 initiated the first movie screen and public address system.
President Jay Bush started the year of the pin in 1969 where dollars were collected from those who forget to wear their Rotary pins. This practice is still done, and with gusto, by Bill Hockenberry. Jay also shepherded the Library Book Project with the Orange Public Library where scores of new books were added to the collection, thus started a program of continuing support for our community libraries.
Population of Orange reaches 77,374 by 1970, a nearly 200% increase in just two years.
Two sets of father and son presidents have served Orange Rotary. The first set was Ernest H. Smith (1942-43) and Harlan Smith (1965-66). The second pair were John Cannon (1950-51) and Paul Cannon (1970-71).
President Paul Cannon first allowed committee chairs to establish their own projects in 1971.
The first Paul Harris awards went to Harold Kibby and Bill Frantz in 1972!
VISA program at Chapman College began under President Ron Sands 73 -74. This followed the earlier establishment of VISA in 1951 -52 during President Al Klaustermeyer's regime.
First Annual Rotary Fire and Police Awards Luncheon were held in 1975 under the leadership of President Ed Corlett.
First woman to receive a Paul Harris Award from Orange Rotary was Virginia Kibby in 1975 under President Ralph Linnert The Orange Sunrise club also was organized that year.
Music came to Rotary in 1976. Pres. Jerry Holte had Russ Patterson write out the Welcome song. This started a tradition of music involvement the Holte family has kept down through the years. Daughter, Rene Cahill, has been our pianist for 16 years. Some outstanding speakers that year included James Roosevelt, sports caster Stu Nehan, and newsman Jess Marlowe.
An electric Scoreboard was purchased for the Los Pintos Forestry Camp in Fred Barrera's year of service, l 977-78.
The 8-Ball card to integrate new members into the Club was started in 1978 by President Mike Abdalla and our Club was awarded the Governor's Award for best club in our district for the first time.
In 1979 Art Robinson established the homework hotline and initiated the idea of having auctions. Art also initiated the practice of collection one
dollar for a new grandchild.
In t980 the population reached 90,200 and in 1985 the 1O0,OOOth resident moved to Orange.
Also in 1980 the first funeral conducted at a Rotary luncheon is attributed to President Gene Beckerbauer. By appointment only he continues this practice to this day. That year's projects included smoke detectors for seniors.
President Don Daniels in 1981 founded the District 532 Golf Association, that eventually grew into the Southern California Rotary Golf Association. This year saw the start of Orange Rotary participation in the Rabies clinic.
In 1983 saw the first year a foreigner became President of Orange Rotary; it was Vaughan Kelley from Maine. When the Club finally got used to his heavy accent along came Tito Parola from Argentina. The jovial Vaughn increased membership by 10%.
Orange Sunrise Club was started in 1984 under President Darol Carlson.
That year Club donations to charities were over $ 11,000 and to Rotary International over 12,000. Orange Rotary received the Governor's Award as outstanding club in District 5320 for only the second time.
The award for the shortest board meetings goes to Andy Ross, 85-86. This year we also provided strong support for Orangewood Home.
In 1986 Mike Hairston started Achievement through Courage awards and increased participation in the Gale Pattison youth leadership programs.
President Wayne Miller (87-88) started Orange Rotary on the very successful Polio Plus program that eventually netted $90,000 for this crucial program of Rotary International. Wayne also introduced the Paul Harris Recognition awards, now an annual event, the Tissue donor and blood type awareness program. Our Club won the District Governor's award for the third time.
Women were first invited to join Orange Rotary in 1988. Seven ladies were inducted into Orange Rotary during President Hank Durante's 1988-89 term. Hank also initialed the two year scholarships at Santiago College
President Cliff Nelson started support for Grad Night at El Modena High. And he initiated planting of over 300 trees by the Explorer Scouts. Video equipment was purchased for our Club's Program Committee. The club became involved with child abuse prevention programs. The first scholarships were presented to Rancho Santiago College, and out Club was awarded the Governor's Award for the fourth time in club history.
By 1990 the population of Orange became 107,712 and today has climbed to over 133,000.
"Prez" Dave Weilmuenster helped organize the Community Trust Fund in 1990. CHOC Activity books were a big thing as well as the vocational tours to Rotary businesses in Orange.
The raffle really grew under Dave Juroe in 1991. Funds were raised for the Community Trust Fund as well as Canyon Acres Youth Home.
Interest in Rosarito Beach began in 1992 under President Tito Parola. Two bank accounts were started under the Finca (Foundation For International Community Assistance) Program. Tito started the "paint a House" program and taking homeless children Christmas Shopping. Under his guidance two new air conditioners were purchased for the Orange Public Library.
Graham Gilmer started a healthy Orange Rotary club in 1993.
In 1994 Frank Parsons increased our support for the Orange Senior Citizen's Center. He added the Mini Grant programs for Orange schools. And Frank introduced database management to the Club so as to gain control over club operations.
The first computer for Orange Rotary was acquired under President Neil Schwartz, 1995. Bill Cordes championed automation for Orange Rotary by introducing special software for tracking Club activities.
President Bob Meyer continued our club's support for the Orange Public Library by Orange Rotary's donation in 1996 of three computer systems for internet access, jointly supported by the Club and the Orange Community Trust Fund.
As Orange Rotary stands poised for the 21st century many firsts are yet to come. It is through the foresight and vision of Orange Rotarians that our community continues to be so well served.. As one of the largest and most innovative service clubs in Orange, Rotarians have reason to be proud for their accomplishments in the past and for the future.
As the third Rotary Club established in Orange County, Orange Rotary grew to become the "Finest Club in District 5320." During that growth the Club was privileged to sponsor or support the founding of other Rotary Clubs in the District. First came sponsorship of the Newport-Balboa Club in 1939. Then in 1963 President Bob Hoyt chaired a committee that ultimately started the Rotary Club of North Orange in 1976. The Orange Sunrise Club was started under the guidance of then President Darol Carlson in 1984. Then in 1995 the Orange Club sponsored the founding of the Villa Park Rotary Club. In these ways Orange Rotary helped the concept of Rotary to grow and spread throughout the community.

Paul Harris Fellows

A Paul Harris Fellow is one who has contributed $ 1000 to Rotary International or has been named by the Club or another individual that has contributed $ 1000 or more to the Rotary Foundation.. This act symbolizes a commitment to the purposes of Rotary. The origin of the Rotary Foundation was a proposal made at a 1917 Rotary Convention in Atlanta, Georgia by Arch C. Klumph, the sixth president of Rotary International. He proposed the creation of an endowment fund "for the purpose of doing good in the world in charitable, educational, and other avenues of community progress." The Foundation provides humanitarian grants that improve the quality of life throughout the world. The first contribution to the Foundation was $26.50 from the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Missouri. Since then, over $700 million has been raised for the Foundation. To date the Rotary Club of Orange has a total of 216 Paul Harris Fellows and the all-time contribution from the Club and its members is nearly $276,000, a truly worthy record in giving.

Honor Roll of Past Presidents Looking back at the Rotary years in the city of Orange clearly leadership has been a key element in our Club's community involvement. So we honor those community leaders who have given of their time and efforts to make this club a success. Our honor roll of Orange Rotary Club's past presidents follows:

Frank C. Drumm Attorney
1921-1922 Frank C. Drumm Attorney
1922-1923 Frank A. Henderson Education -Administration
1923-1924 Stanley V. Mansur Autos - Retail
1924 - 1925 William O. Hart Newspaper Publishing
1923 - 1924 Stanley V. Mansur Autos - Retail
1924- 1925 William O. Hart Newspaper Publishing
1925-1926 Dr. Charles S. Parker Dentistry
1926- 1927 E. B. Collier Lemon Packing
1927-1928 Kellar E.. Watson Drugs -Retail
1928- 1929 Fred H. Alden
1929- 1930 V.D. Johnson Chamber of Commerce
1930-1931 Dr. James C. Crawford Medicine - General
1931 - 1932 Ernest M. Bolinger Building and Loan
1932- 1933 Roy B. Willis Citrus Grower
1933-1934 Donald S. Smiley Water Company Secretary
1934- 1935 C.H. "Bob" Robinson Fertilizer Materials
1935-1936 Dr. Robert B. McAulay Protestant Churches, Presbyterian
1936- 1937 Hervey D. Nichols Orange Packing
1937- 1938 Thomas P. Douglas Social Services
1938- 1939 Frank H. Collins Orange Shipping
1939-1940 Edwin F. Gould Wire & Cable Manufacturing
1940- 1941 Karl F. Glasbrenner Insurance
1941 - 1942 Dr. Herbert Wallace Chiropractor
1942- 1943 Ernest H. Smith Optometry
1943 - 1944 Clarence E. Skiles Citrus Fruit Sales
1944- 1945 R. Hollis Hardy Rope Manufacturing
1945- 1946 Ranald A. Fairbairn Newspaper Publishing
1946- 1947 Adin B. Wimpey Cordage
1947- 1948 O. Kemper Anderson Orchards Management
1948- 1949 Glenn P. Allen Irrigation Water Supply
1949- 1950 David D. French Civil Law
1950- 1951 John Cannon Drugs - Retail
1951 - 1952 Alvin Klaustermeyer Ammonia Distributor
1952- 1953 Rolland Tincher Protestant Churches, Methodist
1953- 1954 George L. Eilers Honey Packing
1954- 1955 Bruce Gelker Casualty Insurance
1955- 1956 Ben S. Brubaker Banking - Savings
1956- 1957 Alfred E. Dierker Tire Distribution
1957- 1958 Harold V. Kibby Education - Administration
1958- 1959 William H. Corwin Automobiles - Retailing
1959- 1960 James E. Donegan Funeral Director
1960- 1961 William S. Frantz Commercial Banking
1961-1962 Henry C. Garner Fertilizer Distribution
1962- 1963 F. Bert Skiles Citrus Shipping
1963- 1964 Robert D. Hoyt Furniture - Retailing
1964- 1965 Robert E. Welch Sand and Gravel Distribution
1965- 1966 Dr. Harlan Smith Optometry
1966- 1967 Gale W. Pattison Education - Administration
1967- 1968 Raymond C. Martin Amusement Parks
1968- 1969 Briant Sando Business Magazines
1969- 1970 Jay L. Bush Protestant Churches, Presbyterian
1970- 1971 Paul Cannon Pharmacist
1971 - 1972 Robert B. Holland Civil Law
1972- 1973 Ronald D. Sands Auto Parts - Wholesale
1973- 1974 John V. Fonley Municipal Water Service
1974- 1975 Dr. Edward Corlett Orthodontics
1975- 1976 Ralph E. Linnert Car Leasing
1976- 1977 Gerald R. Holte Floor Covering - Retail
1977- 1978 Fred L. Barrera Refined Petroleum Products
1978- 1979 Dr. Michael Abdalla Physician & Surgeon
1979- 1980 Art Robinson TV Sales & Service
1980- 1981 Gene Beckerbauer Funeral Director
1981 - 1982 Don Daniels Law - Real Estate
1982- 1983 Jack Gray Medical Groups - Administration
1983- 1984 Vaughan Kelley Colleges - Public Relations
1984- 1985 Darol Carlson Business Consultant
1985- 1986 Andy Ross Life & Health Insurance
1986- 1987 Mike Hairston Physical Therapy
1987-1988 Wayne Miller Banking& Loan Service
1988- 1989 Hank Durante Fire Insurance
1989- 1990 Cliff Nelson Traffic Signs & Markings
1990- 1991 Dave Weilmuenster Property Maintenance
1991 - 1992 Dave Juroe Family Counseling
1992- 1993 Tito Parola Analytical Chemistry
1993- 1994 Graham Gilmer Internal Medicine
1994- 1995 Frank Parsons Agriculture Commissioner
1995- 1996 Neil Schwartz - Frank Parsons
1996- 1997 Bob Meyer Fund Raiser
1997-1998 Bill Cordes Retail Bicycles
1998-1999 Gary Remland Insurance
1999-2000 Bob Finnerty Chemicals
2000-2001 Julie Holt St. Joseph Hosp.
2001-2002 Jim Lorman Irvine Company
2002-2003 Bob Gallagher Property Management
2003-2004 Warren Parchan D.L.S. Construction
2004-2005 Joe Fortier School Principal - Retired
2005-2006 Dave Stephenson Dentist

Club Secretary The Club Secretary is the person who insures smooth Club operations year after year. A demanding job, the secretary satisfies the information needs for Rotary International, Orange Rotary, and all of its members. Only brave souls accept this job, and for Orange Rotary, they are a remarkably few and honored group. Through the years the Club secretaries we honor here are:

1921-29 Clyde F. Newton 1960-66 Gale W. Pattison
1929 "Doe" Morrow 1966-71 Karl F. Glasbrenner
1929-31 Wilber Woods 1971-72 Gay Trueblood
1931-35 Carl Stuckey 1972-73 John Fonley
1935-50 C. H. "Bob" Robinson 1973-74 Jerry Holte
1950-52 George Eilers 1974-75 John Fonley
1952-54 Forrest M. Thomas 1975-76 Karl F. Glasbrenner
1954-57 Arthur Murphy 1976-95 John Fonley
1957-60 Glen P. Allen
1996- Bill Cordes

History of theOrange Rotary Club

The Beginnings

History of the
Orange Rotary Club