Clubs/Organizations: Winnfield Rotary Club, 1977, Winn Parish, LA. Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From" March 2, 1977 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American Winnfield Rotary Club 1927-1977 (Following is a resume of a talk given by Rotarian Russell Terry on the history of the Winnfield Rotary Club, which celebrated its 50th birthday Saturday night). The Winnfield Rotary club is now observing the 50th year of its existence as a viable force in the area of Winn Parish. Composed of community leaders in noncompeting professions and businesses, the Club was organized April 22, 1927, just 22 years after the parent club was formed in Chicago by Paul Harris, a young lawyer at the time who found that he was lonely. The idea of Rotary spread rapidly from that time until today. It is found all over the world in countries not under Communist domination. The first mention of Rotary in Winnfield that was recorded was found in the March 4, 1927 edition of the Winnfield News-American. The News-American files are the only known source of written information about the early days of Rotary in Winnfield. The March 4 report stated that four Alexandria, La. Rotarians had been in Winnfield to discuss the possibility of forming a Rotary Club in Winnfield. The visiting Rotarians were Dr. Claybrook Cottingham, President of La. College; Albert Peat, Albert Lanier, and W. P. Harp. They organized the Winnfield club April 22, 1927. The first officers of the new club were: Rev. A. H. Cullen, pastor, First Baptist Church; Judge R. W. Oglesby, vice-president; M. L. Branch, treasurer; Ovey Trahan, secretary; E. P. Heard, sergeant-at-arms; J. E. Carter, A. L. Smith, Dr. J. R. McCartney, board of directors. The charter for the Winnfield club is dated May 13 and was presented to the new club June 4, 1927 by 20 of the Alexandria group and two Rotarians from Leesville. The news story reported that the Winnfield club had 18 charter members. A previous story had reported 17 chapter members. There is no known complete list of the charter members of the club. News stories contained 23 names of persons who were either Rotarians of associated with the club in some of its projects during the first year of its existence. Not including the officers already named, first year members were Tracy L. Harrel, Dr. C. B. McDonald, Julian Bernstein, Perry K. Abel, J. M. Jenkins, W. T. Norman, A. T. Drewett, J. V. Scott, J. N. Sowers, Dr. J. F. Faith, R. S. Walsh, C. L. Smith, B. M. Stovall, and W. M. Wiggins. R. D. Bevill, Jr., joined June 16, 1928. The first meetings were on Thursdays at the Colvin Hotel, later named the Winnfield Hotel. In September, 1927 the meeting day was changed to Wednesday as it is today. Other meeting places have been in the Masonic Lodge, Lone Star Caf‚, City Hall, Methodist Church, Mercer's Goat Castle, and the present location at the Huey P. Long Motel. In June 1927, the club launched its first project, securing an airport for Winnfield. During its first year the Club worked to secure a creamery for Winnfield, gave cash prizes to stimulate farm production, started a movement to get a federal building for Winnfield and sponsored the Boy Scout movement. The Winnfield Club was in the 17th district composed of Louisiana and the southern part of Mississippi. The district governor was Hugh White, who spoke to the Winnfield Club September 30, 1927. White was later Governor of Mississippi. Harvey Couch, a former resident of Winnfield and a Rotarian, spoke to the Club April 13. Couch was chairman of the board of the L. & A. Railroad and had run a special train to Winnfield with his private car, "The Magnolia", for the occasion. The membership reached 25 during the first year. The accomplishments of Rotary in Winnfield attracted favorable editorial comment during its first year and still does. The club has departed from its Chamber of Commerce activities of its early days. Instead, it started a move to have a Chamber organized. This type procedure has marked the work of Rotary over the years. The Club recognizes a need of the community and refers it to the proper agency to get the job done. If such an agency is not available then members help form an agency to accomplish the purpose. In such a manner the First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Winnfield was begun. The Winnfield Club is one of the leading clubs of the District in its contributions to the Rotary Foundation which sponsors students who wish to study in foreign countries. In Winnfield this program is funded each year by a Christmas auction through which the members make contributions for this purpose. Such activities as Scouting, boys' and girls' state, fairs and forestry festivals have been supported over the years with numerous special projects to meet a special need. One such special project occurred soon after Crown Zellerbach bought Tremont Lumber Company. Rotary felt that this new to Winnfield major company along with the other industries of Winn Parish should be informed that they were welcome in Winn Parish. Rotary called on all of the other civic clubs to join in giving a banquet called the industry appreciation banquet. The clubs cooperated and were successful in conveying to industry the message that industry is welcome in Winn Parish. New projects will come and Rotary will continue with its two mottos, "Service above self," and "He profits most, who serves the best."