About The Anniston Rotary Club
About Rotary
Rotary’s primary function is the development of the individual, Service Above Self and the Four-Way Test being its creed. As a result of the work that has been done in this connection, a majority of the presidents of the Anniston Chamber of Commerce, and leaders of the United Way Fund, have been selected from the Anniston Rotary Club. The club has provided leaders of virtually every phase of community endeavor. Rotary has representation in all the major industries, professions and businesses.

About the Anniston Rotary Club:
The Anniston Rotary Club had its embryonic inception in the director’s room of the Anniston National bank in the fall of 1917. Dr. George Lang, then connected with the Presbyterian College, was the moving spirit of these first steps. The population of Anniston at that time was about 15,000 and the city was regarded by International as being too small to support a Rotary Club. However after several months a charter was granted on September 7, 1917. Tuscaloosa, Alabama was the Sponsoring Club. Dr. Lang was elected president and the first meeting was held in the Riser Café at Tenth and Noble. The first project of the club was to start a wood yard in west Anniston to furnish work for the unemployed. One of the historical highlights was when a delegation of Boy Scouts was sent to the International Jamboree in Holland in 1931. Our representation there was greater than that of any other city in the southern states. In 1936 Thomas G. Coleman led a movement to elect H.M. Ayers as District Governor, and during his tenure, Ayers organized eight new Rotary Clubs in the old 26th District before leaving for the International Convention in Nice, France. Dr. Houston Cole, a member of our club was elected District Governor while he was a member of the Tuscaloosa Club, and Dr. Lang then a member of the Tuscaloosa Club, was District Governor in 1950. Anniston’s other District Governor’s were Ralph Porch, elected in 1957; Ed Van Keuren elected in 1969; and John. R. Stewart elected in 1978. During 2007-2008 former club president Sheila Gilbert became assistant district governor.

Presidents of the Anniston Rotary Club:
1917-18 George Lang
1918-19 Scott Roberts
1919-20 W.G. Crutchfield
1920-21 John Stillwell
1921-22 Chives M. Woodruff
1922-23 W. Frank Johnston
1923-24 Bennett W. Pruet
1924-25 C.M. Jesperson
1925-26 Charles R. Bell
1926-27 Eugene L. Turner
1927-28 C.H. Young
1928-29 Walker Reynolds
1929-30 Harry M. Ayers
1930-31 Frederick Smith
1931-32 Benjamin R. Sawyer
1933-34 Frederick Smith
1934-35 Cutis Bruce and Horace Miller
1935-36 Thomas G. Coleman
1936-37 Thomas M. Fowler
1937-38 Melton Clark
1939-40 Louis Horn
1940-41 Albert Harris
1941-42 Joe E. Moose
1942-43 Erman L. Crow
1943-44 Leon Sterne
1944-45 William P. Acker
1945-46 Otto K. Seyforth
1946-47 Houston Cole
1947-48 T. Flint Gray
1948-49 Winston Brooke
1949-50 Ralph D. Porch
1950-51 Albert S. Mathews
1951-52 Marshall K. Hunter
1952-53 Herbert Tittle and C.L. Buchanan
1953-54 Earl W. Aldrup
1954-55 William M. Nave
1955-56 Edwin Van Keuren
1956-57 John L. Lanford
1957-58 Steve C. Stutts
1958-59 Thomas G. Coleman, Jr.
1959-60 Frank V. Pease
1960-61 Frank H. Robinson
1961-62 L. Chandler Watson, Jr.
1962-63 Tom S. Potts
1963-64 Lon H. Smith
1964-65 John M. Palmer
1965-66 George R. Hooper
1966-67 Frank A. Reynolds
1967-68 Clay Slate
1968-69 C.M. Adamson
1969-70 Charles S. Doster
1970-71 Allan E. Strand
1971-72 Claude Kitchin, III
1972-73 William S. Halsey
1973-74 Guice Potter, Jr.
1974-75 William P. Acker, III
1975-76 Harry M. Mabry
1976-77 James Potter
1977-78 James H. Meigs, Jr.
1978-79 Robert Dillon
1979-80 Elbert H. Willett
1980-81 Ernest Stone
1981-82 Frank Newell
1982-83 Bill Andrews
1983-84 Roy Crow
1984-85 A.W. Bolt
1985-86 Charles Cooper
1986-87 Mal Street
1988-89 Ralph Tidwell
1989-90 Chip Howell
1990-91 Peck Mallory
1991-92 Ed Isom
1992-93 David Boozer
1993-94 Bill Kreh
1994-95 James Barton/Glen Franklin
1995-96 Roy Flannagan
1996-97 George Miller/Gibson Coleman
1997-98 Terry Newland
1998-99 James Lloyd
1999-2000 Cynthia Wingo
2000-2001 Ken Hoffman
2001-2002 George Gorey
2002-2003 Jerry Leake
2003-2004 Jim Miller
2004-2005 George Attwood
2005-2006 Charles Turner
2006-2007 Sheila Gilbert
2007-2008 Richard Crabtree
2008-2009 Arthur Young



Some of the major events and projects of the club have been:

1919-20 The Anniston Rotary Club sponsored the organization of the Choccolocco Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

1921-22 The club assisted with the organizational and administrative expenses of the Choccolocco Council.

1926-27 Two college scholarships were given by the club. Other projects included support of the high school athletics program, assisting a crippled girl to attend school support of child welfare, buying text books for poor children and support of the Salvation Army.

1928-29 A Student loan fund was begun and the club participated in the newly formed inter-club council.

1929-30 The main project of the club was the support of the Community Chest.

1930-31 Christmas baskets and clothes were distributed to the needy. A program was begun to guarantee loans for fertilizer to be used under county supervision. The club also worked with local 4-H Clubs.

1931-32 Glasses were furnished to needy school children and the club assisted in getting treatment for tubercular children.

1932-33 The club participated in the Calhoun County Soil Improvement program.

1933-34 The club, along with other service organizations, set up a baseball team for an inter-city game. The proceeds benefited undernourished children in local schools. Other activities included participation in the crippled children's clinic and rural-urban acquaintance.

1936-37 Three boys were sponsored to the international jamboree of Scouting in Holland. Another highlight of the year was the established of international correspondence contacts.

1937-38 The club cooperated with other agencies to secure new uniforms for the high school band. 1938-39 Rotary International President George C. Hager and his wife were honored at a banquet. An inter-city meeting was held with international program.

1940-41 Contributions were made to the 4-H Club's camp and the Boys' Club Scholarship to send boys to Boys State. The club won the District Trophy for its work among unlisted men in nearby Army camps.

1941-42 One thousand kits were provided for draftees as they left Ft. McClellan for overseas duty.

1942-43 Funds were raised for the crippled children's program.

1944-45 A portable X-Ray machine was given to the County Board of Health for use with children in both the city and the rural areas. Other projects included the sponsoring of a 4-H Club fat calf project and a livestock show and sale.

1945-46 The club raised funds for a new Y.M.C.A. 1946-47 Contributions were made to the Spies Nutrition Clinic. The club assisted in the Community Milk Fund and help was given to the needy family of a serviceman.

1948-49 Food parcels were sent to Oxford, England. Gift subscriptions to "The Rotarian" and "Revista Rotaria" were given to local hospiLaIs and libraries. The club financed a girl's study in France for a year.

1949-50 A fellowship picnic was held to get the younger men better acquainted with the older Rotarians.,Another highlight was a softball game between the Anniston and Gadsden Rotary Clubs. The club supported the Roy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the Y.M.C.A. and the Leon Sterne program. The Rural-Urban Committee honored local farmers at a special meeting.

1950-51 The club kept four notebooks firr the lour Avenues of Service to record the significant events of the year, then misplace the notebooks. Support was given to a 4-11 livestock show and the club speakers were given a memento.

1951-52 Boy Scouts and crippled children projects were the main programs of the club.

1953-54 The club in a joint project with other civic clubs air-conditioned the dining room of the Y.M.C.A. International student guest were entertained by the club and programs in traffic safety were sponsored.

1955-56 The Leon Sterne Memorial program was begun. The club continued its support of Boy Scouts and added other charities to the list of those supported by the club.

1956-57 An Explorer post was organized and the International House at Jacksonville State Teacher's College was supported.

1958-59 A club picture was taken. Special meals were provided for those members on a diet. A family picnic was held. THe club sponsored a Colt League baseball tam and an international program was highlighted by 40 Brazilian student as guests of the club. Rotary presidents from throughout the district were invited to visit the club during the year.

1961-62 Sponsorship of the Town and Gown theatre production was begun. A fund drive for the Opportunity Center was started.

1962-63 The club continued support of the Town and Gown, the Opportunity Center and Leon Sterne Memorial Fund.

1963-64 A professional golf exhibition was sponsored and Rotary signs were placed on the highway approaches to Anniston.

1964-65 The club By-laws were written. Club information and pictures were sent to District 350 in Japan. The Annual Certificate of Achievement was begun and club member Claude Kitchin was the first recipient.

1965-66 A student guest program was begun and the club sponsored Colt and Little League baseball programs.

1966-67 The club supported a Y.M.C.A. membership drive, a number of children were sent to "Y" Day Camp and a Rotary sponsored Scout troop was chartered at Glen Addie.

1967-68 Four-Way Test signs were placed in local schools and contributions were made for Girl Scout and Y.M.C.A. memberships.

1968-69 A Vehicle Safety Check and Girl Scout troop were sponsored and Four-Way Test signs were placed in local industries.

1969-70 The Student Loan Fund was terminated and the funds were used to set-up an endowment program at the International House at Jacksonville State University.

1970-71 A four part program on crime prevention was a highlight of the year. Local Police were invited as special guest of the club. A drug program was put on in area high schools. A contribution was made to the flood victims in Pakistan, and the club endowed the Anniston Room at the Liles Memorial Library.

1972-73 A series of programs featuring space scientists from NASA at Huntsville, AL were held. The club was updated on the space station; data gained from unmanned probes to Venus and Mars. The flight to the moon was on the drawing board.

1973-74 A 9x12 photograph was made of the membership of the club in front of YMCA, 14th and Gurnee. The club had a total of 140 members, 126 of these were in the photograph. Two charter members were included, namely Eugene Turner, Sr. and Walker Reynolds, Sr.

1974-75 The first booklet of historical highlights of Rotary International and the Anniston Rotary club was published. Club approved $9,515.00 fund for scholarships for foreign University Students at International House, Jacksonville, AL.

1975-76 Emphasis was given to the support of the Anniston Community Theatre, also to the Leon Sterne Christmas Fund, and attracting the finest speakers possible. The President of Club created the "Rowdy List" consisting of 20 club members guilty of creating interruptions and rowdiness during the course of meetings.

1976-77 John Stewart was nominated to be District Governor of District 686 at District Conference, April 3 in Birmingham, A.L.

1977-78 A study exchange team from England was hosted, expanding our perception of Rotary's world-wide activities. District Governor John Stewart was instrumental in establishing funds for the World Community Service Project 686.

1978-79 Group singing program was regenerated. Excellent programs provided by Jacksonville State musicians. New membership drive provided 12 additional members. Leon Sterne Fund and Salvation Army Bell ringing for Christmas season was very successful.

1979-80 Jan. 15, 1980 was declared Miriam Coleman Recognition Day for 19 years of service as administrative secretary for the club. Dr. Houston Cole was made a Paul Harris Fellow. The club hosted a group of young men from Argentina in a group study exchange program. A group photo of club members was made in celebration of 75th Anniversary for Rotary International.

1980-81 The new Oxford Rotary Club was organized and sponsored by the club.

1981-82 Group study exchange team visited Argentina. More than 2000 trees have been planted by Rotarians, Rotary Clubs and Rotary Districts, world-wide since the Paul Harris Peace Forest was established in 1965.

1982-83 Established monthly program chairmen. Moved from YMCA to Downtowner for meetings. Initiated sponsorship and financing of beautification for block of Quintard Avenue (6th St. to 7th St.). Club made contributions to 14 organizations.

1983-84 The club made more than $10,000.00 contributions to you; and service organizations including over $4,000.00 to the Leon Sterne Christmas Fund, for Salvation Army.

1984-85 The board approved funding to help the creation of the Anniston Soup Kitchen. Initiated option of salads for meals. The first black member was enrolled in membership. A photograph was taken of all members to celebrate the club's 80th anniversary.

1985-86 The work of the International Student Project Committee resulted in the club sponsorship of Chris Mabry in Denmark and the club hosted Bo Brinch-Iverson from Denmark to our country. Board authorized money to fund this program for another year.

1986-87 The club hosted a group of professional musicians from Japan. A goal for U.S. of 30 million dollars was set for Polio Plus. A program for special recognition of outstanding soldiers of Fort McClellan was instigated.

1987-88 The Club Board adopted goal of $20,000.00 for Polio Plus as our fair share. The club celebrated 70th anniversary on Sept. 8. All past presidents were invited for group photo. Members of the District 184 group study exchange, Munich, Germany arrived on October 25th.

1988-89 Club began sponsoring the Interact Club at Donoho school. Historical highlights of club brought up to date.

1989-90 Cynthia Wingo was inducted into Anniston Rotary Club as first woman member of our club. This was consistent with the general policy of Rotary International.

1990-91 Our club sponsored and organized the Anniston Rotary Morning Club which became immediately active and successful. Our club also hosted two Group Study Exchange teams during the year (1) From Southern France an all woman member team and (2) Team from the Philippines, island of Luzon.

1991-92 Relief fund for Bosnia and Croatia collected at one club meeting in amount of $1,400.00. Club hosted twelve Japanese Journalists in homes of Rotarians.

1992-93 By agreement smoking banned at Rotary meetings. Group Study Exchange team from Portugal of five members hosted four days by club. Club celebrated 75th Anniversary.

1993-94 Eleven members became Paul Harris Fellows increasing the clubs Fellowship members by 38%. New club by-laws adopted to conform to Rotary International by-laws.

1994-95 "Project Sponsor" supported by 25 members who counseled senior Anniston High School students for career guidance and motivation. Funding furnish by club to YM.C.A. for additional pool equipment and at Day Care Center for rehabilitation of senior citizens to repair kitchen facilities.

1995-96 September 95 club presented Big Brothers and Sisters with $5,000 seed money to start their new program.

1996-97 Club participated in "Clean and Green Campaign" and "Adopt a Mile" program. Club hosted for lunch and meeting and tour of Ft. McClellan, AL. Another successful Leon Sterne Christmas Fund drive. Hosted Group Study Exchange Team from Bavaria area of Germany. Club charities for year $21,626 to 22 causes.

1997-98 Eighteen new Paul Harris Fellowship inductees honored by club.

1998-99 In 12 month period club uses three locations to seek permanent home (1) Ramada Inn, Quintard Avenue (2) Elks Lodge, S. Noble Street, (3) Caldwell Building, 10th and Noble Street. Club gave major financial support to (1) JSU International House Scholarship Fund - $42,000.00; (2) Habitat for Humanity

* $25,000.00 toward one house; (3) Largest ever Leon Sterne Christmas Fund administered by Salvation Army - $9,500.00.

Rotary's primary function is the development of the individual, Service Above Self and the Four-Way Test being its creed. As a result of the work that has been done in this connection, a majority of the presidents of the Anniston Chamber of Commerce and leaders of the United Way Fund, have been selected from the Anniston Rotary Club. The club has provided leaders of virtually every phase of community endeavor. Rotary has representation in all the major industries, professions and businesses.
Website Design Company