Rockwall Rotary Club has long history of ‘Service Above Self’

The Rockwall Rotary Club, sometimes referred to as “Noon Rotary,” is Rockwall’s oldest service club. It held its organizational meeting on April 6, 1939 at the Rockwall Community Building, and had 20 businessmen charter members. The Rockwall Rotary Club is one of the thousands of Rotary Clubs worldwide that make up Rotary International which has members in well over 100 nations.

The Rockwall Club has the distinction of being one of only a few clubs that owns the building in which it meets. In the 1940’s, some far-sighted members went into debt and bought the first Rotary building at a tax sale. At that time the building was located next to the Stephenson Hotel. The current and much larger building on Goliad Street was purchased and renovated in 1997.

The Club is composed of 100+ outstanding Rockwall businessmen and professional women, many of whom have gone on to state and national prominence in their respective fields. Past Rotary president Ralph M. Hall is the first Rockwall County resident to ever be elected to the United States Congress. The first woman member was Jane Bounds, editor of The Rockwall Success.

The Club participates in many civic undertakings, sponsors a Boy Scout Troop, and supports Rotary International’s projects. Its current focus is on the 26th Annual Hot Rocks bike ride that furnishes the funds for two, four year $10,000 scholarships.

Jeff-Bookhout-KSmith- — Rotarian Kent Smith congratulates scholarship recipients Jeff Bookhout of Rockwall-Heath High School, who will attend Texas A&M; and Taylor Davis of Rockwall High School, who will attend the University of Texas. Submitted by Barbara Allan.

Scholarship recipients this year are Taylor Davis of Rockwall High School and Jeff Bookhout of Rockwall-Heath High School.

Written by Barbara Allan, Rockwall Rotary.

Sources: Rockwall County History – Tom Ryan, former District Governor; Bill Sinclair, past president; Lowell Moon Sr., president during purchase and renovation.