Paul Harris Fellows

Who was Paul Harris and how was he involved with Rotary?

The world's first service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, was formed on February 23rd 1905 by Paul P. Harris, an attorney who wished to capture in a professional club the same friendly spirit he had felt in the small towns of his youth.

In 1917, RI President Arch C. Klumph proposed that an endowment be set up "for the purpose of doing good in the world." In 1928, when the endowment fund had grown to more than US$5,000, it was renamed The Rotary Foundation, and it became a distinct entity within Rotary International.

The Paul Harris Fellows programme was established in 1957 to express the Foundation's appreciation for contributions to what was then its only programme - International Scholarships.

Paul Harris Fellows are awarded to people for their humanitarian contributions which help to improve the lives of others in communities both at home and abroad. A company or organisation can also be recognised with a Paul Harris Fellow.

Historic - The Rotary Club of Troon holds a Paul P. Harris Award

In 1964/5 an exceptional project known as the Craft Apprenticeship Award Scheme was organised by the Rotary Club of Troon. Applications were invited from persons entering their 5th year of their apprenticeship in 1964, for a short study tour to the Continent or any suitable area in Great Britain.

In recognition of the organisation of this outstanding scheme, the Club was granted the Paul P. Harris award, one of three such awards in the Rotary World at that time, the other two being in Japan and America.

The Paul P. Harris Award was presented to R.I.R. Bill Lantham of Ayr at the Rotary Conference in Denver, Colorado who subsequently handed it over to the Troon Club in 1966.