1Born in
Racine, WI, USA 1868. At age 3,
along with his 5 year old brother, were sent to Wallingford, VT to live
with Grandma and Grandpa Harris, in 1871.
Expelled from the U of Vermont for
forming an "Underground Society!" 1888 enters Princeton with help
from a tutor. Grandpa Harris dies, Paul goes to work for a VT marble
company.
1891 Paul earns his Law Degree! On to
Chicago.
But First, a five-year detour -- He was a newspaper reporter for the San Francisco
Chronicle, 1891; manual labor on a fruit ranch, then raisin packing
plan, teacher at the L.A. Business College in 1892.
Denver, Colorado, 1892: Actor in a stock company, reporter for the Rocky
Mountain News, cowboy, reporter for The Republican. Jacksonville,
Florida: St. James Hotel night clerk, traveling granite/marble salesman
1892/93, reporter on the Washington Star,
cattleman on a ship 1893, haymaker and cannery
worker 1893, sub-foreman of the gang of cattlemen 1893, orange picker in
Florida 1893, back to Jacksonville selling marble granite. His territory
included the southern states, Cuba, the Bahamas and Europe. When he
announced that he was going to Chicago to practice law his employer
said, "Whatever the advantages of settling in Chicago may be, I am satisfied
you will make more money if you remain with me." To the Paul replied: "I
am sure you are right but I am not going to Chicago for the purpose of
making money; I am going to the purpose of living a life."
So it was on
February 27, 1896, almost
exactly nine years before the birth of Rotary, that Paul Percy Harris
stepped from a train to the station platform in Chicago. This was it.
his five-year recess was at an end. He was now 28 and ready to go to
work as an attorney-at-law.
In the early 1900's he took a walk with a friend,
Bob
Franks, also an attorney. Everyone in the neighborhood waved to Bob.
In his recollection of the occasion Paul Harris tell us:
"I couldn't help but feel it would be
pleasant if men of this caliber could get together often. Say one
man from each business or professional, meeting socially."
"Paul and good friend Silvester Schiele
would discuss this concept over dinner for the next five years. Often at
Madame Galli's Restaurant. Then, one night after dinner, Silvester and
Paul walked over to Gus Loehr's 7th Floor office in the Unity Building.
When they arrived at Room 711, Hiram Shorey was visiting with Gus. ...
It was after dark 23 February 1905. Paul Harris' life and the world
would change forever, and his attention would never waiver from this
passion for the next 42 years, the remainder of his life.
He would see Rotarians literally form
the United Nations. Could he have dreamed up wiping out a world-wide
childhood disease. He did say,
"This is a
changing world; we must be prepared to change with it. The story
of Rotary will have to be written again and again!"
