Brief histories of the "First 100" Clubs

Rotary Club of St. Joseph 32

Rotary International District 6040

Also see our page "About St. Joseph 32"

Club History

 1910 – Mr. Leo Bat had a dream and he shared it with Mr. Cal Hagen, a hardward store owner at King and Missouri Ave.  Mr. Batt manufactured pianos, and made frequent trips to St. Joseph.   There was also a gentleman with the name of Mr. Lee Mettler from Kansas City met with Mr. Batt and Mr. Hagen.  In December 1910 at a called meeting a club was formed and was called Club #32.  Mr. Batt was from St. Louis and belonged to Club #11 and Mr. Mettler from Club #13 in Kansas City.  Club 32 had 26 Charter men one of which was George BeGold an undertaker from none other than Heaton-BeGold Funeral Home.   The first president was W. A. Bodenhausen, vice president J. W. Lehr, secretary W. S. Aldrich, treasurer was Mr. Andriano, and today we retire president #86 and install our 87^th president. The first meeting place was in the Platt College area of the Bartlett Building.  In November of 1911 Club 32 was accepted into the Rotary organization.

1912 – Club #32 met at YMCA at 10^th & Faraon and at some point in 1912 the club moved their luncheon meetings to the Robidoux Hotel.

 

1914 – Club meetings were held at the YW.

 

1915 – Rotarian William Mitchell drowned when the Lusitanian sank. 

 

1915-1916 – The first Kiwanis club was formed in Detroit, Michigan.

 

1917 – William Spratt was Club 32 president.  The top floor of the Corby Building was added.

 

1923 – Dr. John Whitsell was Club 32 president.  Rotary had 100,000 members at this time.  On April 26^th James Hunt organized the Apple Blossom parade.

 

1930 – Ted Tedlock held the District Conference here in St. Joseph with 1200 visitors.  Mr. Tedlock was the first District Governor from our club.

 

1931 – Henry Raines was president and established a permanent Rotary office and library at Hotel Robidoux.

 

1936 – We were notified that past member Roe Bartle was elected president of KC #13.  He also served as a District Governor.

 

1937 – Past President Ted Tedlock was elected District Governor. The President of Club 32 was William Guenther.  The Rotary Convention was held in Nice France this year.  In November 1937 Governor Tedlock chartered the South Side Rotary Club.  Their first president was G. E. Brumback.

 

1943 – A Rotary Quiz broadcast over KFEQ from our lunch area at 1:00 p.m.  This quiz was under the direction of  H.L. Dannen.  Russell Peck was president this year.

 

            The Nazis executed Joseph Morton an AP War Correspondent.

 

1946 – Dr. Foy Trimble returned to Club 32 after 6 years in the Navy.  He retained his Rotary membership while serving his country.

 

1949 – Carl Schuchardt was Club 32 president.  It was decided to give $2.00 per capita to the Paul Harris Foundation.  At the end of this Rotary year the club had an excess fund so an additional $2.00 per capita was sent making a total of $4.00 per capital.  At this time the club had 124 members.

 

1954 – Club president was Dr. Ernest Wadlow who served from July to July 1955.  Twelve members were lost due to transfers, death and resignations.  To offset this loss 52 new members were inducted with a net gain of 37.  The credit went to the classification committee, Russell Peck chaired.  The club had 162 members, which is an all time high.

 

1955 – Barent Springsted served as club president.  The district governor asked that more club activities be planned.  All Rotary Day was started at the St. Joseph Country Club in 1955.

 

1960 – Dwight Dannen chaired the first Golf Tournament event and had 97 golfers participate and 108 attended the buffet.  In 1960  1-29 opened from St. Joseph to Kansas City.

 

1961-1962 – Frank Gee served as club president.  We celebrated 50th birthday as a Rotary Club.

June 1962 the Rotary International Convention was held in Los Angeles, California.  Those attending were Mr. & Mrs. Frank Gee (club president), Dwight and Mrs. Dannen and David and Mrs. Mary Jo Hornaday.  Mrs. Hornaday’s father Joe Abey serviced as Rotary International president.  Barbara Wurtzler is Mr. Abey’s granddaughter.  His theme was A – Aim for Action, C – Communicate for understanding and T – test for leadership.

 

In October 1963 a special train made up of Rotarians proceeded to Kansas City to see the Chiefs play the Chargers.  The total cost was $9.50.

 

1965 -  In April of this year the East Side Rotary Club received their charter.  Melvin Brown was their president.  Rus Peck and Ernie Wadlow established this .  Roe Bartle spoke at the Crystal Room of the Hotel Robidoux.

 

1967 - Milt Taylor chaired All Rotary Day at the Moila club. Bill Mytton had the best drive on #14.  The East Side Rotary challenged the “Old Men” to a baseball game.  East Side was referred to Club 32 as the metallic club “gold in all our teeth, sliver in our hair, and lead in our pants”

 

1968 – 1969 - President Mel McLean closed his year with 162 members and reached a 300% plateau of contributions to the Rotary Foundation.

 

1969 – 1970 - Serving as president was Dr. John Martin, the most outstanding things members remember is the day a fine gentleman like Mel McLean gave Dr. Martin the gavel and the other when our great guy Eddie Hirsch took it away.  A friend to laugh with and nice memories of those who are not with us to laugh again so Mr. Rotarian keep laughing you really look good to me.

 

1970 – 1971 – Eddie Hirsch served as president and attained club membership of 100% attendance for the first time in its history.  The club entertained the pupils of the Mary U. Neipp School.  Important guests during this year were Mayor A. J. Cervantes, St. Louis, Mayor Charles Wheeler, and former mayor of Kansas City. H. Roe Bartle and Ewing Kaufman.

 

1971 – 1972 - President Ross Woodbury held a Vocational Service Day at MWSC with 100 Freshmen and Sophomores attending.  Club members attending were Jim Bocell, Eddie Hirsch, Howard Christensen, Dr. Howard Fields, Dr. Sam Maddox, Barent  Springsted,, Jr., Dr. John Martin and Errol Taylor.

 

            There were 600 Rotarians and their Anns attended the District Conference, which was hosted by the St. Joseph Rotary Club.

 

1980 – 1981 – Denton Matteson served as president and the District Conference was again held here in St. Joseph.  Marvin Looney was elected District Governor of District 603.

 

1983  - 1984 – James Bocell was club president.  The club awarded 14 Scholarships this year.  All Rotary Day hosted by our club had 88 Rotarians from all over the district here for a day of golf, tennis and dinner.

 

1985 – Rotary International Convention was held in Kansas City.  Many Rotarians from our club helped.  Charles Bayer wrote The Best of St. Joseph’s Business, Religious, Political, Medical and Social Services have been represented in our ranks.  Ours is a proud history.  We have made a significant difference in our city.   From a “League of lonely men” Rotary International has become a vital part of the fabric of thousands of communities throughout the world. 

Mighty Missouri

St. Louis 11

Kansas City 13

St. Joseph 32