(MURFREESBORO) The Murfreesboro Rotary Club celebrated its 100th anniversary on Tuesday. Club President John Hinkle noted, "Twenty-five community leaders were charter members of the club on October 1, 1919."

Rutherford County Historian Greg Tucker was the keynote speaker. He turned the calendar back a century and made events come to life. He shared how the suffrage movement came to a vote and Tennessee gave the 19th amendment the approving vote, due in part to some of the club's founding members.

100 Years Ago

The Rotary torch was passed from Nashville Rotarian James Cayce to James M. Butler in Murfreesboro. These two Jims were good friends, sharing an interest in Jersey cattle and both serving on the Board of Directors of the Tennessee State Fair Association.

Jim Butler discussed Rotary with Collier Crichlow, who had first heard of the organization during a visit to Fort Worth, Texas; and the idea of having a club in Murfreesboro took seed.

Other civic leaders became interested, and the Murfreesboro Rotary Club was organized in August of 1919, receiving its charter on October 1, 1919 as the first civic club in Murfreesboro.

When the founding day arrived, District Governor Herson Graves attended the ceremony with the principal address given by Nashville Rotarian Graham Hall.

Charter Members, October 1, 1919

William O. Baird, Treasurer
Howard D. Henderson, Secretary
George J. Burnett
B. B. Kerr, Sr., Director
James M. Butler, President
Henry King, Director
John M. Butler
P.O. 'Alf' Lyon
Charles R. Cawthon
James E. Manson, Jr., Director
James Clayton
Al D. McKnight, First Vice President
N. Collier Crichlow, Director
John C. Mitchell
Jerry O. Delvin
W. Eugene Mullins
William Draper, Sergeant-At-Arms
James H. Reed, Sr., Director
Neal D. Frazier
James D. Richardson
William T. Gerhardt
Andrew L. Todd
David Goldstein
Dr. Bart N. White, Second Vice President
Robert Groom

Club's Centennial Celebration Included

In addition to the information and powerful talk given by Historian Tucker, District 6760 Governor Bob Huffman presented a Rotary International 100-Years of Membership Award to the Rotary Club of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This was accepted by President Hinkle.

Rotarian and St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital President and CEO Gordon Furguson was also presented a multiple Paul Harris Fellow commendation.

The Murfreesboro Rotary Club meets at noon on Tuesdays at the Stones River Country Club, 1830 NW Broad St.