History

While the national organization had been in existence some 11 years when the Denison Club was formed, the local unit was granted Charter No. 227. Rotary International today has 27,926 clubs in 154 different lands with more than 1,185,431 members.

Father and first president of the Denison Rotary Club was Dr. J.E. Aubrey, a colorful Denisonian whom older residents still remember. Dr. Aubrey was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church and later served as interim secretary of the Chamber of Commerce.

But it was as a lecturer that Dr. Aubrey stood the tallest. He was a member of the once flourishing Chautauqua lecture group and toured much of the country as a speaker. Dr. Aubrey called four friends togther to lay plans for the club. Having lunch with him were G.O. Morgan, head of the Denison Peanut Co., Guy Alexander, Insurance Man, Jack Tinsman, Druggist and H.E. Ellis, Editor of the Denison Herald. They invited others to each meeting and soon they had enough men interested in Rotary to begin an organization.

The first challenge to face the Denison group was obtaining a charter from the National Association of Rotary Clubs. The club was put on probation by the National Organization, and on June 1, 1916, a charter was granted.