RGHF Rotary Global History

 

"Slowly, we seek to serve others, believing that history will encourage membership retention."

HISTORYGLOBALDISTRICTCLUBMISSINGLIBRARYHARRISPEACETRFPHILOSOPHYPRESIDENTSCONVENTIONSNEWCOMMITTEEJOINemailFORUMSEARCHRGHF RGHF is not responsible for Google translation errors

Home SECTION HOME Early Leaders of Rotary International - The Developers of Rotary HISTORY CALENDAR
SCHIELE RUGGLES BEAR WOOD COLLINS SHELDON
MORROW DAVIDSON RALSTON ROTH COATES OTHER DEVELOPERS
COORDINATOR NEEDED DISCUSSION COMMITTEE WHAT'S NEW? UPDATES

FRANK MOLLOY

There are several possible founders of the Rotary Clubs in Vienna,  Prague and Budapest, but one name and one club appears in every  account . 

These names are Frank Molloy and the Doncaster Rotary Club  from England. 

In the records for Vienna, Molloy is called the ‘Grundungsbeauftrager’  (foundation agent)  and the Doncaster Club  the ‘Patenclub’. (father club) 

It was recorded in the club’s annals that Molloy (seen here with his wife) “had been selected by Headquarters to pay a visit to the Continent and to inaugurate the Rotary Clubs of Budapest and Vienna.  It is not clear whether the headquarters was of RI or RIBI.  

The charter was  presented to Vienna on October 19, 1925 by RI Commissioner Willem de  Cock Buning.
Besides Molloy, there were 2 other Doncaster members as  well as members from Barnsley and Rotherham.

In 1990 at the re-chartering of the Budapest Club, a brochure told of a large party of British Rotarians, many from Doncaster, attended the inaugural meeting of the Budapest Club on October 30, 1925.   Prague also noted the work of Molloy at their inaugural meeting.



A year later, another group led by Molloy toured Europe visiting the same three clubs and establishing youth exchange and other joint activities.  When Paul Harris attended a major rally of Rotarians in 1928, Dr Hyka a Vice President of the Prague Club was among those who came to meet him. 

The Doncaster Club about the same time presented  all three clubs with Presidents’ Chairs and Vienna and Prague with 
Presidents  Jewels.

 

These two photos, above left and right, by courtesy of the Doncaster Rotary Club, show a party of South Yorkshire Rotarians on a visit to Eastern Europe in front of the Sans Souci Palace at Potsdam near Berlin, and with their pilot in front of the airliner (Junkers 52?) which took them on their visits to Berlin, Vienna, Budapest and Prague. Molloy will be there but we are not sure which he is!! Help gratefully received.
Edited by Basil Lewis, UK, from 'The Beginning' the 75th anniversary booklet of the Doncaster RC put together in 1996 by club archivist, Ken Emmott.

www.earlyleaders.org

 

Become a member of Rotary Global History Fellowship for only $30 USD. Dues support internet, membership services, and convention costs. Click here to join!

RGHF Disclaimer  Privacy Policy  Usage Agreement

The contents of this website, our electronic features and newsletters have been researched, collected, compiled, and written by Rotarians.

RGHF Mission: As an effort to serve others, RGHF accumulates and preserves the complete history, values and philosophy of the Rotary movement, as well as encourages others to do the same at every level of the Rotary movement, and publishes those histories, values and philosophies on the internet, as well as other forms of media as expedient. 17 March 2003, amended 20 December 2007, Rotary Global History Fellowship Board of Directors.

This fellowship is not an agency of, or controlled by, Rotary International, but is affiliated with individual Rotary districts, clubs, other Rotary organizations and enjoys the support of Rotarians, clubs, districts, and zones world-wide. The views and opinions expressed on this website are not necessarily the collective views and opinions of Rotary International or all Rotarians. Rotary International is not responsible for any content and accepts no liability therefore. © 2000-2008 RGHF (Rotary Global History Fellowship)