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The organization of a Rotary Club in Rolla
was the result of discussions and planning between Bruce
Williams, a Rotarian from Joplin, Missouri, and a nucleus of
business and professional men of Rolla.
In visiting Rolla during the early thirties, Bruce noticed that
the town had grown considerably since he had attended Missouri
School of Mines in 1902.
As an active Rotarian for many years and a Past District
Governor, he was possessed with the idea that Rolla presented
the necessary potential for a Rotary Club.
While a guest in the Hotel Edwin Long on January 27, 1935, he
discussed this matter with J.E. (Jack) Aston, proprietor of the
Hotel. Also, the
topic was mentioned in a conversation between Bruce Williams and
Dr. H.A. (Chief) Buehler.
Other Rolla men who actively participated in the
organizing were James B. Bronson, formerly a Rotarian in El
Dorado, Arkansas, Will H. Coghill, DeVere Joslin, Louis H.
Breuer, and W.R. (Bob) Brown.
After much preliminary planning, the group of sixteen charter
members met with Bruce Williams on February 15th.
Officers were elected, and the Constitution and Bylaws of
Rotary International were adopted.
On February 18th, the official application and
check for dues were mailed to Rotary International in Chicago.
Shortly thereafter, the Charter was received.
Effective February 27, 1935, the Rotary Club of Rolla
officially came into existence – the first service club to be
organized in Rolla.
On March 22nd, a gala banquet was held at the Pennant
Hotel in honor of the forming of the Club.
Judge Byrne Bigger of Hannibal, Missouri, District
Governor of the 14th Rotary District including Rolla,
made the Charter presentation.
For a number of years, regular luncheon meetings were held on
Friday noon at the College Inn of the Hotel Edwin Long.
In 1969 the club moved to the Crystal Room of the Manor
Inn and since 1981, Zeno’s Steak House has been used as the
meeting location.
Friday has continued as the regular meeting day.
CHARTER MEMBERS of the Rotary Club of
Rolla were: John E. Aston, H.A. Buehler, W.R. Brown, James B.
Bronson, Louis H. Breuer, Will H. Coghill, Daniel F. Donahoe,
Avery A. Drake, Dexter B. Followill, Charles H. Fulton, Elmer R.
Haymes, DeVere Joslin, Howard M. Katz, M.O. Martin, C.E. Rice,
and E.D. Williams.
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I am Brad Belk, Historian of the Joplin
Noon Day Rotary Club, and was asked to
do
an overview of Mr. Bruce William's remarkable life. I also wish
all members of the Rotary
Club
of Rolla a Happy Birthday and congratulate you on seven decades
of success. At this
commemorative time it is appropriate to take a moment and
reminisce about the seventy years of friendships, conversations,
associations and goodwill that have occurred through those years
at
the Rotary Club of Rolla.
Although I never had the pleasure of
knowing Bruce Williams, I am honored to provide a little
bit
of information on this extraordinary man. From my research I
quickly observed that
Williams was an extremely successful businessman, an outstanding
community leader, and a passionate Rotarian that had a long and
distinguished association with Rotary International and
our Joplin Rotary Club.
Bruce
Williams was born on August 30, 1883 in Chanute, Kansas, and
graduated from the University of Kansas in 1906 with a B. S. in
mining engineering.
With his mining engineering background he
eventually came to the Joplin area, which had
already been established as the zinc mining capitol of the
world. He moved to our region in
1909
and began working at George Waring Laboratories in Webb City,
Missouri. Williams
purchased Waring Lab in 1915, moved his
lab headquarters to Joplin in 1918, and later renamed it Bruce
Williams Laboratories. Williams sold his Joplin business in
1960.
During his stay in Joplin, Williams
belonged to numerous national and regional science
associations. He was a member of the Institute of Chemical
Engineers, the National Society of
Mining Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers, the American
Chemical Society, the Engineers Club of St. Louis, and held the
office of president of both the Missouri Society of Professional
Engineers for the term 1942-1943 and president of the National
Council of State Boards of
Engineering Examiners for the term 1955-1956. William's career
in science was ultimately
recognized when he became listed in the
lst edition of American Men of Science.
He was also an honorary 33d degree Mason
and received the honorary degree of the Red Cross of Constantine
in York Rite of Free Masonry. Serving the community
of Joplin, Williams was a thirty year member of the board of
directors for the YMCA and devoted many hours of service on the
Joplin Chamber board of directors. However, Bruce Williams would
leave a lasting impression as a longtime member of the Joplin
Rotary Club. His affiliation with our club would last 54 years.
He was the club's first secretary
serving from 1924 to 1933, and became president of the club in
1932. During his tenure as
president, Joplin became the designated local host for the 15th
District Conference. One year later Williams was elected the
district governor while attending the yearly conference in
Wichita,
Kansas. Until that time he became only the second district
governor to represent the Joplin club
in that capacity.
During this time businessmen of Rolla
contacted the already established Joplin Rotary Club to
help organize a Rotary Club in Rolla. As a
sponsor in 1935, Joplin took the leadership role and Williams
was instrumental in the formation process.
Williams received additional notoriety by
being elected to the board of directors of Rotary
International in 1937. That same year he was further honored by
being chosen as first vice
president of the international organization while attending the
international conference in Nice,
France.
In 1953 the district conference was held
in Joplin again. Thirty-eight members from the seventeen
represented clubs in the district were honored at the
conference's final banquet. These
thirty-eight men became members of the newly formed Thousand
Club. The Thousand Club
recognized club members who had attended 1,000 consecutive
meetings. This astonishing record took over nineteen years to
accumulate. Bruce Williams became one of the dedicated
members in this celebrated club.
Williams passed on November 28, 1976.
Today, Bruce Williams can be seen as the
quintessential Rotarian. A man who devoted a
substantial portion of his life to
Rotarian principals as well as practicing those sacred ideals.
His dedication to the Rotary is not only astounding, but
extremely inspiring.
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November 30, 1935
Left to right:
Will Coghill,
Wilford Via, DeVere Joslin, Avery Drake, Guy Toyne, Jack
Aston,Walter Stubblefield, B.R. Conyers, Clarence Via, Dave
Rush, Lou Breuer, Harold Grant, M.O. Martin,Dan Donahoe,
Howard Katz, Dexter Followill, Robert Wilkins, H.A. Buehler,
James Bronson, W.R. Brown, E.D. Williams, Charles Fulton.
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