| 1919 - Team from Fort Worth Rotary Club visits Brownwood in
September to talk about organizing a Rotary Club here.
1920 - Brownwood Rotary Club organized in Brownwood, meeting twice a month at Graham Hotel. 1921 - Tree planting project results in over 1,000 pecan trees being planted in Brownwood. Club establishes Boy Scout organization in Brownwood. Club now meets at Southern Hotel. 1922 - Club helps establish a public camp ground at Hot Wells. First ladies night held May 25th. 1923 - First representatives go to a Rotary International Convention in St. Louis, MO. Membership at 36 members. 1926 - Club sponsors organization of Rotary Clubs at Brady and San Saba. 1927 - Hosted complimentary luncheon for all boy graduates of Brownwood High School on May 13. Club Council voted to meet each month at the Harvey House at 6 pm. 1929 - Club took charge of raising $6,500 for the formation of the former Comanche Trail Council, BSA. 1930 - Moves meetings from the Southern Hotel to the new Brownwood Hotel on Baker St. 1933 - Joe N. Weatherby joins Rotary Club. Weekly meals go from 50 to 60 cents. 1934 - Thomas Taylor elected District Rotary Governor, first from Brownwood Club. First issue of the “Rotary Banner” published in November. 1935 - Sponsors first Pioneer Day, October 15th, in Soldiers and Sailors Hall. 1936 - Club honors Dr. John Power on his 90th Birthday. Sponsors Troop 43 of BSA (1936-1978) 1937 - A dove supper is organized honoring the traveling men who work out of Brownwood. Average age of members is forty-five. Dr. John Powers passes away, known as “Parson.” 1940 - Meetings changed from Friday to Wednesdays after Chamber of Commerce changed their meeting from Wednesday to Mondays, thus freeing up Wednesdays. 1941 - Club scheduled to meet at Mess Hall of 141st Infantry on Thursday, December 11, but date canceled on account of Pearl Harbor. 1942 - Club votes to waive dues of members in service. Membership increased to 57 with advent of Camp Bowie. On December 23rd club met at Officers Club in Camp Bowie. 1943 - Joe Weatherby meets Paul Harris at Rotary International Convention in Colorado while outside for a quick“smoke.” 1944 - Jim White honored by club as the only charter member of club who has held continuous membership during 24 years since club was organized. 1945 - Club celebrates first 25 years of service to Brownwood. 1946 - Club sponsors Sea Scout Ship 43 (1946-1953). 1947 - A large number of farmers and ranchers of Brown County were special guests of the club for Rural-Urban Day on November 5th. 1948 - Five of six of the first Junior Rotarians spoke at club on May 19th. Four of them were Floyd Griffin, Everett McCrum, Don Wright and George Germany. Alvin Ray Turner, a senior in Blanket high School, was introduced as Junior Rotarian of the month. He was the first Junior Rotarian from one of the County High Schools to be recognized. 1949 - Rotary Ann Club organized. Mrs. Maxine Mitcham serves as first President. 1950 - First Junior Rotary Anns recognized. They were Patsy Beane, Charlene Capps, Jane Wright, Mary Elizabeth White, Lou Evelyne Lee, Jane Watson, LeVerne Dennis. 1951 - Club voted to change the meeting time from 12:15 to 12:05 p.m. Adjournment will be at 1:05 p.m. 1952 - Club voted to buy a building for Scout Troop. 1954 - Fourteen members of club recognized on August 4 for perfect attendance this past Rotary year. Club staged a venison supper for all Brown County Scouts on November 22 (1954-1962). 1955 - A history of the club, under leadership of Bert Weatherby, was published in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of Rotary International. Club sponsors Explorer Post 34 (1955 - 1963). 1959 - The club gave a banquet honoring all Brownwood High School seniors in the top ten scholastically. 1960 - Bob Blake elected District Rotary Governor, second one from Brownwood Club. 1965 - Club sponsors Explorer Post 43 (1965 - 1967). Contributes $1,000 to funds for the new Brownwood Community Hospital. Membership is now 99 members. 1966 - Rod Villamizar was an exchange student from Columbia, South America. Sponsored by and lived with the Dr. Ned Snyder family. Named an honorary Junior Rotarian. 1967 - Club sponsored Little League Team, the Rotary Red Sox, had won the American League Championship. 1968 - Eighteen Brownwood High School students and their parents were honored at a banquet May 10th at Downtowner Motor Inn. Plaques were presented to the top three boys and three girls from each high school class with the highest academic average. 1969 - The Group Study Exchange Team from District 292, New Zealand, spent several days in Brownwood from October 17 - 21. 1970 - A joint civic luncheon was held on September 16th to officially kick off the Brown County United Fund Drive. Rotary acted as host with some 200 in attendance. Goal was $51,822.50. 1971 - Club changed from having three directors to now having four directors for two year terms. Raised $4,685.00 for a Hubbard Tank to be used by hospital physical therapy unit. 1973 - Head Lion Football coach Gordon Wood gave a run down on the Lion Football team. 1975 - Plaques were presented to the honor students from Brownwood High School and Brownwood Junior High. All together, thirty-six students were honored. 1976 - Rotary Square was dedicated on Thanksgiving morning, November 25th, as part of Bicentennial celebration by United States. Thanks were given to Stuart Coleman, Putter Jarvis and Harry Miller for the work they did on the project. 1979 - Badges with name and classification on them, were worn for the first time at club meetings. 1980 - Club votes to pay the $150 initiation fee charged to the new club that is being organized, the South Brownwood Rotary Club (to actually become the Heart of Texas Rotary Club). 1981 - Heart of Texas Club presented its charter February 25th. Met at 7 am each Monday at Sid Richardson Hall.on Howard Payne University Campus. 1982 - By-laws changed so that there was a vote for President-elect, who became president the next year. Club raised money for a “Jaws of Life.” 1987 - A Texas flag, that was flown above the State Capitol, was presented to the club on May 27th. 1990 - Club sponsors Cub Scout Pack 43 (1990 - 2005). 1991 - First Bicycle Safety program held at Coggin Elementary School. Hospital equipment shipped to Mexico. 1992 - Mary E. Taylor becomes first female member of club. Club planted Bradford pear trees on Streckert Drive and at St. John’s Episcopal Church. 1993 - First Enchilada Dinner Fund Raiser held at Adams Street Community Center to raise funds for local Latch Key program. 1995 - Club celebrates “75 Years of Service” with dinner at Mabee University Center. Dr. Carlos Canseco, “Father of Polio Plus,” spoke. Jon Wyatt, winner of club’s 4-Way Speech Contest, came in second at District contest on April 22, and won a $500 scholarship. 1996 - First “Public Servant of the Year” presented to Travis Fraser. Dann Barger receives District Service Award” for his help in obtaining ambulance to be shipped to Mexico. 1997 - Internet Web Site created for club. Heart of Texas Club disbands on May 13. Club takes over U. S. flag project from Heart of Texas Club. 1998 - David Gleason prepared steaks and smoked chicken at the Rotary Club Assembly held May 30th at Groner Pitt’s Boxcar. Latch Key presented a check for $1,000 from profits of Enchilada Dinner held at Adams Street Community Center. 1999 - First Barbecue benefit luncheon held at Adams Street Community Center to benefit youth in Brown County. $2,000 given out in college scholarships. 2000 - First occupational service awards were presented to Carol Byerly and Mikie Bly of Skinny’s Convenience Stores. Paula Stephens becomes first female President of club. 2001 - Scholarships were given to six seniors in Brownwood High School totaling $4,000. Tour made of new Brownwood Regional Airport facility. Seniors from Early High School included as Junior Rotarian of the Month for the first time. 2002 - First scholarships given to Seniors from Early High School. Total of six scholarships again given for total of $4,000. Sixty-three U. S. flags retired on June 14, 2002 in ceremonies at Rotary Square. $2,500 given to Aldersgate from annual barbecue profits. Flag setout extended to eight times a year from six times a year. 2003 - Flag setout extended to nine times a year. Annual barbecue profits to go to Aldersgate and CASA. Four-Way Test Speech Contest held and winner goes all the way to District Competition. Service project in local park selected for the 100th Anniversary of Rotary International. Club sponsoring a Junior student from Brownwood High School to attend RYLA in June. 2004 - $4,000 was given in six scholarships to four seniors from Brownwood High School and two from Early High School. Flag project reduced to setting out flags six times a year and netted $3,800. Had Rotary fellowship social at Dale Wheelis’s Caboose on June 24. Worked gates at playoff football games as a fund raiser. Wal-Mart gave club $500 in matching funds for last year’s barbecue. $405 raised for Mexico Relief Fund. Prepared hot dogs for National Guard at their going away ceremony to Fort Hood. Held Christmas party for foster kids at New Horizons. 2005 - Rotary Centennial project to built a gazebo at Alcorn Park. Rotary garage sale March 5 raised money for project. Wal-Mart gives club $1,000. Work completed in November on the gazebo. Held party for second year for foster kids at New Horizons. Margaret Gray resigned as President and Doug Streckert took over as President in November. Six Rotary Scholarships were given to high school seniors in May. 2006 - Doug Streckert resigned as President and Gene Deason takes over as President. Six Rotary Scholarships were presented in May to Victoria Hernandez, Michelle Kelley, Michael Morgan, Kevin Seaton and Charles Nowell, all of Brownwood. Also to Karesa Keesee of Early. Blood Drive held on November 11th with 13 people donating blood. Gazebo at Alcorn Park was completed and dedicated to the City of Brownwood Parks Dept. 2007 -Blood Drives held on January 18th and May 22nd. A special program was held for Valentine Day featuring the Jordan River Jubilee Singers. Maitreyee Nigalye was selected by our club to go to RYLA. Cub Pack 43, sponsored by our club, was rechartered with seventeen youth, Albany Sargent serving as Cubmaster.
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