Brief histories of Rotary's First 100 Clubs

Rotary Club of Stockton 92

Rotary International District 5220

Home Club of RI Presidents Stan McCaffrey 1981-82

Clifford L. Dochterman 1992-93

Out of more than 29,000 Rotary Clubs in the world today, the Rotary Club of Stockton was the 92nd Club chartered by Rotary International. With 265 members, Rotary Club of Stockton is one of the largest clubs in our district and the largest and oldest club in Stockton. We have the unique distinction of being the home club of Rotary International President (1981-82), Stanley E. McCaffrey, and very proud to include Rotary International President (1992-93), Clifford Dochterman, as an honorary member of our club.

The Early Years

Bank of Stockton Building, built in 1908, the first sky scraper Stockton.

Photo courtesy: Bank of Stockton Historical Photo Collection

In December of 1911, A.V. Faight came to Stockton as manager of Heald Business College. He had been associated with Heald in Oakland up to that time.

In October of 1912, Charles G. Bird came to Stockton as president of Simpson-Gray Lumber Company. He had been secretary-treasurer of Pacific Coast Lumber and Mill Company and had been acquainted with Mr. Faight ("Bert") from his time in Oakland.

Early in 1913, Mr. Faight contacted Mr. Bird with the idea of organizing a Rotary Club in Stockton and the matter was taken up with members of the rotary Club of Oakland. On August 12, 1913, six members of the Oakland Club came to Stockton and held a luncheon meeting at the Hotel Stockton. The members from Oakland were:

Stocktonians attending this initial meeting were:

S. C. Beane, Railroads	J. P. Irish, Chamber of Commerce
Charles Birds, Lumber	C. R. Nunan, Newspapers
W. W. Doolittle, Real Estate	A. G. Ross, Collections
A. V. Faight , Business College	A. L. Tredway, Office Supplies
W.H. Fowler, Typewriters	F. G. Warren, Mortician

These men became the original charter members of the Rotary Club of Stockton. The charter was kept open until October 1, 1913.

Important Note: Much of the above information is from the Number One Scrapbook at the Stockton Public Library, which reports the founding of the Rotary Club of Stockton.

Stanley E. McCaffrey

1981-82

Convention History

President's Home Page

"Golden State" First 100 Clubs

San Francisco 2 

Oakland 3   

LA5 

San Diego 33

Stockton 92

Sacramento 97