Rotary began in Chicago in 1905. Paul Harris, a young attorney, had an idea. He called a few of his friends together and suggested an organization that would include men of diverse professional and business interests. They hoped to attract others who already were characterized by the spirit of community service.
The pioneer group met in members’ offices in rotation, a plan that gave Rotary its name. From an initial membership of four, the #1 Club grew to thirty by the year’s end. A second club was organized in San Francisco in 1908. By 1910 there were a dozen similar groups, each with its own objects and by-laws. Finding a need for a unity of purpose and for an understanding of organizational policy, a convention was called in 1910. Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary, became the first President of the associated clubs.
By 1912, Rotary became international with the recognition of affiliated members in England and Canada. Inter-city meetings of clubs were first officially encouraged in 1914 and each club was asked to hold a joint meeting with another Rotary Club.
The late Price Cross, a Dallas insurance executive, brought the Rotary idea to Dallas after he visited the San Francisco Club. He talked up the idea among his business friends, had meetings and finally the organizing session was held in the old Oriental Hotel. In 1911, Rotary came to Dallas. The Downtown Club of Big “D” holds Charter #39 and was our big brother. It began with 79 members and its first officers were: Marvin E. Martin, President; Lewin Pluckett, Vice-President; Fred E. Johnson, Secretary; and A.A. Slaughter, Treasurer. These community pioneers, each a stalwart in a business or profession; increased club membership, and expanded club activity.
The Dallas Club helped organize Rotary Clubs in Houston, San Antonio, Fort Worth, and other Texas cities. By the year 1948, Highland Park, University Park and North Dallas had become a sizable and important segment of Greater Dallas. The Rotary Club of Dallas, chartered in 1911, determined that the time had come to establish The Rotary Club of Park Cities. An extension committee of eight prominent members of the Dallas Club was formed to sponsor and guide the organization of a new club. The Charter Night Banquet was held the evening of June 11, 1948 with the induction of sixty charter members. Jim Maxfield was elected the first president.
The Club met Fridays at noon in the ballroom of the Melrose Hotel in the then suburban area of Oak Lawn. The Club continued to meet there until 1975 at which time the facility was deemed inadequate for the 230 members. Jerre Elliott, president 1975-1976, was concerned that moving the meeting location after 29 years at the Melrose, might cause some members to drop out. But the move was made for the overall good of the Club and very few members were lost. During the next 25 years our meetings were held at The Executive Inn and The Ramada Inn at Love Field and at The Hilton Inn, The Radisson and Doubletree Hotels on North Central Expressway before moving to our current location, Maggiano’s Little Italy Restaurant at NorthPark in 2000.
In the Club’s early years, Rotary was more formal than it is today. The membership was exclusively male professionals - doctors, attorneys, educators, clergy, corporate executives and managers plus many individual business owners. The classification system was rigid, and if there were no openings, prospective members were turned away until such time that there was an opening. Business suits and ties were the dress code of the time. The Annual Banquet for the Installation of Officers and the Board of Directors was a gala black tie affair for members and wives at the Dallas Country Club. The Annual Banquets in the evenings continued until 1985.
Until 1967, the Club Administrator was a Club member serving as Secretary. Ken Mason held that position for seventeen years. Upon his passing, the Club hired its first administrator.
Miss Inez Teddlie, a Dallas institution, was an accomplished pianist and organist, who played for the Dallas Club at their meetings at noon on Wednesdays. She began playing for the Park Cities Club at its inception and up until she passed away in 2002.
Herb Durham has been a member of our Club for over 50 years. Dudley Rouse, who has been most helpful furnishing background material for this presentation, has been a member for 48 years.
Six of our Past Presidents have served as District Governors. They are:
- Dr. Tom E. Smith 1959-1960
- D.U. “Doc” Parker 1973-1974
- Dr. Frank Monroe 1980-1981
- C.C. Collie 1985- 1986 & 1987-1988
- Eric Erickson 1989-1990
- Dick Dickson 1992-1993
- C.C. Collie served the 1987-1998 upon the untimely death of Governor-Elect Dwight Sleeper, Bill Sleeper’s father.
In 1964, Lt. Col. Robert Q. “Bob” Smith was recommended to the Dallas Club for membership. Because his classification as “Military” was full, he could not be accepted. Fortunately for us, he was proposed and accepted as a member of our Club where he served as Sergeant at Arms for over thirty-five years before his passing in 2004.
In 1987, Rotary eliminated the gender restriction for membership. Karen Farris and Honor Franklin were the first Rotarians to become members under the new rule in late 1987. Lynn Garison Shoop was our first woman president in 1998-1999, and Linda Tunnell will serve as the Club’s third woman president this year.
The Rotary Club of Park Cities and its individual members have garnered numerous awards from District 5810 and Rotary International, too many to enumerate at this time. The Club has sponsored and participated in a multitude of Service Projects, gaining recognition internationally, nationally and in the community. We have led and hosted GSE Teams, Ambassadorial Scholars and Exchange Students. We have consistently supported The Rotary International Foundation as Paul Harris Fellows.
For those of you that are interested in more information on the Club, there are video tapes in the Club office of interviews in 2001 with all of the Past Presidents living at that time plus interviews with Lu Sneed, Col. Bob Smith and Ed Fjordbak speaking for the late Dr. Frank Monroe about the Rotary Club of Park Cities Foundation.
In the 2004/2005 Rotary Year Rotary International is celebrated its 100th birthday. As its Centennial project, the Club built Child’s Play at Bachman Lake. The project is open to all children but was specifically designed to accommodate both children and adults with disabilities. ChildsPlay at Bachman Lake has been a collaborative effort with the City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department, Bachman Lake Foundation and Easter Seals of Greater Dallas. The playground provides a unique opportunity for families and children of all abilities to interact socially without segregation. Built on an acre tract of land on the north side of Bachman Lake adjacent to the Bachman Recreation Center, the playground cost approximately $500,000 to complete. For this accomplishment, the Club was recognized by District 5810 with the Spirit of Cooperation Award for 2005-06.
As of July 1, 2007 the Rotary Club of Park Cities had 178 active members and three honorary members.