The History of Springfield Rotary Club
Photographs courtesy of the Clark County Historical Society.
The Springfield Rotary Club was first suggested by local businessman Harry S. Kissell to several of his friends. On January 14, 1914, a meeting of local businessmen was called by W. E. Copenhaver to discuss the advisability of organizing a Rotary Club in Springfield, Ohio. The idea was greeted with enthusiasm by the 13 men who attended: Warren D. Alexander, Robert C. Bancroft, E. W. Baxter, Harry V. Bretney, Charles F. Buchholz, W. E. Copenhaver, Fred J. Green, Harry S. Kissel, Warren A. Myers, Wilbur J. Myers, Murray Ramsey, Gus Sun, and James S. Webb. Six days later, a meeting was held to make the organization a permanent one and officers were elected.
Harry Kissell was the first speaker for the Club. His topic was “Rotary.” A formal application for a charter in the International Association of Rotary Clubs was filed on February 13, 1914, with a list of 25 members. By July 1, 1914, 41 members were listed in the report to Rotary International.
During the first year, Rotarian George Kelly called attention to a subscription being taken for the purchase of artificial arms for a young boy who had lost both arms under a train. The Club subscribed $50 and turned it over to the boy’s parents on April 22, 1915. In January of 1915, the Club turned over $100 to the Probation Officer to be distributed as Christmas gifts to the needy, and in 1916, the Club contributed $1,000 for needy families of National Guardsmen who were serving along the Mexican border.
In 1919, the Club appointed its first Welfare Committee, with Harry Kissell as Chairman. This became known as the Crippled Childrens Committee which met monthly with Mrs. Margaret Fisher, a Rotary Case Worker. In addition, Rotarians Dr. C. W. Hullinger and Dr. Francis Link, assisted by other orthopedists in Springfield, contributed generously of their time and services to the work of this Committee. In 1992, it was renamed Services to People with Disabilities, and expanded its mission to focus on children, but still serve all ages. Since 1919, using donations and fines from Rotarians and sales of Easter Seals, the Springfield Rotary Club has expended a sum of about $1.5 million to assist people with disabilities in Springfield and Clark County, Ohio.
Since its formation in 1914, two members of the Springfield Rotary Club have become District Governors: Bert Downey in 1938, and Charles Fry in 1964. Our Club has hosted three Rotary District Conferences – 1926, 1942 and 1964.