RGHF Rotary Global History Fellowship

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Dear Jack;

Concerning my recollections about Ches Perry and Herb Taylor:

Ches Perry
After our club was chartered 24 October 1958 we were fortunate to have Ches come to a regular meeting of our club and make the enclosed herewith Rotary talk.

Personally I had the privilege of escorting him to the meeting from his Chicago near north side apartment, and then home again which I did also for the soon there after new Rotary Club of Hinsdale. My only other direct contact with Ches was at the 1959 Rotary Convention at the old Madison Square Garden in New York City where I served as an assistant Sgt. at Arms, and the picture (right) was taken of Ches and me. As you probably are aware Ches passed on in 1960.

Your best source for more information about Ches is “The Rotary Life of Chesley Reynolds Perry” booklet written by ROTARY/One member Richard “Titch” Harrison.

Herb Taylor
My wife Caroline and I first met Herb and Gloria Taylor at our La Grange club’s charter banquet Thursday, November 19, 1958 at the Y.M.C.A. in La Grange with 250 Rotary people in attendance when he made the Keynote address entitled “Rotary Progress-World Wide”.

Soon there after we elected Herb to Honorary Membership in our club because the headquarters of his Club Aluminum Products Company was located in La Grange Park the community which abuts La Grange on the north.

Herb attended some of our Friday noon meetings, and was often accompanied by his son in law Allen Mathis. (Kenneth Johnson, President of club Aluminum Products Co. was a charter member of our club.)
Herb also installed our officers on a few occasions, and Caroline and I were at the Taylor’s home in Park Ridge, Illinois for a P.D.G. meeting the day that astronaut Armstrong landed on the moon.

My favorite recollection about Herb occurred in April of 1971 when our La Grange club sponsored an Interact Convention at Lyons Township High School here with 125 Interactors attending from four states.
As the chair of the event I thought it would be great to have Herb serve as the banquet keynote speaker hence I phoned his home and Gloria answered. When I told her what I had in mind she said: "Oh Ted I’m sorry, but that is Herb’s birthday, and I have planned a surprise party for him” which saddened me. One half hour later I received a phone call from Herb. He said: “The birthday party has been cancelled. Gloria and I will be there!”

Herb had a keen interest in youth guidance through Rotary and his religion, and he made a very inspiring talk that evening, and was very pleased when a birthday cake was brought in and the assemblage of teenagers sang Happy Birthday to him.

Allan Mathis Jr., Herb’s grandson made far the best talk about Herb and The Four Way Test that I have ever heard at the Past and Present R.I. Officers Institute luncheon prior to the Chicago Convention last year which was attended by over 500 Rotary people.