A Brief History of Lima Rotary Club 

On January 19, 1915, a luncheon meeting was called at the Norval Hotel in Lima attended by twelve Lima business and professional men.  This meeting was held to begin the process of organizing the Lima Rotary Club.  The twelve attendees were: W. H. Moore (who was the first President of the club), Charles W. West, E. C. Eppley, M. Hofeller, George Carver, Henry Wemmer, W. L. Russell, Nelson Shook, J. C. Bucher, L. S. Galvin, E. M. Gooding and Harry O. Bentley. 

Sponsored by the Toledo Rotary Club, the Lima Rotary Club received it charter No. 143 on April 1, 1915, with thirty-four members.  By September 16, 1916, the Lima Rotary Club had grown to approximately 135 members representing most of the business, professional and industrial leaders of the community.  The first women were inducted into the Lima Rotary Club in 1988. 

From the beginning of the club, Lima Rotarians have actively served the greater Lima Community through financial support of and personal involvement in community activities.  Sponsorship of the Boy Scout movement was the Lima club's first project in this community.  The club hired the first Scouting director and financially supported the organization until the scouting program established itself and other funding became available. 

Throughout its history, the support and leadership of Lima Rotarians has been, and continues to be, reflected in almost every charitable, religious, civic and youth organization in the greater Lima area.  Members of the Lima club have contributed in a variety of ways to a broad array of community organizations from the arts to recreation to health service and anti-drug campaigns.  The club sponsored the Lima Rotary Boys Choir for many years.  Lima Rotary built the Rotary Pavilion in Faurot Park where a series of free concerts are performed during the summer months.  In addition, the club has been responsible for underwriting chairs for the Lima Symphony Orchestra, has supported the Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center and has provided a Council for the Arts dance stage to be used in area schools.  A boardwalk was built in Kendrick Woods and playground equipment has been purchased and installed for the Metropolitan Park District.  Rotary has assisted in neighborhood development in the Southside of Lima by initiating the garden plot program and supporting a medical doctor in the neighborhood.  Many Rotarians assist with the annual Salvation Army kettle drive each Christmas Season.  The Lima Rotary Club was also instrumental in the development and building of the Rotary River Walk which runs through the city of Lima.