Rotary Comes to Texas - 1912

Rotary came to Texas with the organization of Club No. 39 in Dallas in May, 1911.  The second club was formed at San Antonio, in June, 1912, and at Houston in August, 1912.  From this date on clubs were organized rapidly in other cities of the State, until there are now 155 clubs within the borders of the State including more than 6,500 members.  Two Conventions of Rotary International have been held in the State.  The fifth at Houston, in 1914, and the twentieth at Dallas, in 1929. 

During the 1912 – 1914 period, clubs were aggregated in “Divisions”, each under the jurisdiction of a Vice-President of the International Association. 

In 1915, areas known as “Districts” were established in Rotary. Texas and Louisiana formed the 12^th District.  W.H. Richardson of Austin was the first Governor.  In 1918, the State as a whole was denominated as 18^th District.  Elijah Coles of Houston, Lynn B. Milam of Dallas, Tom Reed, Jr., of Beaumont, H.J. Lutcher Start of Orange and George Holmgreen of San Antonio served successively as Governors. 

In 1922, a few counties of the extreme western part of the State were added to the 42^nd District, those remaining being designated as the 13^th District, with John Singleton of Waxahachie as Governor.  Following him in order as Governors came Lester W. Dawley, then of Paris, and Harry H. Rogers of San Antonio.   

In 1925, the number of Clubs in the District exceeded one hundred, and it was deemed advisable on account of the great distances to be traveled to divide the District into three Districts.  This was accomplished at the Galveston Conference in March, 1925.  These three Districts were numbered 41^st, 47^th and 48^th.  (District 47 became the Houston District). 

What we know today as District 589 has been variously numbered and constituted.  In 1950, for example, it included forty-three clubs in the area from Orange to Weimar and from Galveston to Nacogdoches, and was then District 190.  Prior to that it had been numbered 12, 18 and 47.   

In 1955, the number of clubs in the Houston area having increased, the district lines were re-drawn and the district was given the present designation of District 589.  The first Governor of the newly constituted district was W. H. “Bill” Avery, a member of the Houston Club.  Incidentally, the only man ever to be District Governor without first having been president of his club was Walter Jenkins, long-time International song-leader, and later to become president of the Houston Club.

Texas "First 100 Clubs"

The Most of the First 100

Austin 63

Beaumont 72

Galveston 73

Waco 74

Fort Worth 75

Dallas 39

San Antonio 52

Houston 53