History of the West Little Rock Rotary Club
(The following was published in a West Little Rock Rotary Telephone Directory from 1985-1986.)
The Little Rock Rotary Club, known as Club 99, in their effort to further share the ideals of Service, as in the Four Avenues of Service, formed a committee to seek charter members for a new Rotary Club. This club was to be located in the fast-growing western side of Little Rock.
There were some 20 members who were the original charter members, but before the charter was presented, some 8 or 9 additional members were inducted and became charter members. The charter banquet was held at the Riverdale Country Club on November 8, 1958.
Dr. John McCollough Smith was the charter President, having been a Rotarian at another location. The Little Rock, Downtown, Club, the Jacksonville Club and the North Little Rock Club all presented things like the Club Banner, the Meeting Bell, and a Badge Box, for use by the newly-formed West Little Rock Rotary Club.
The first meeting place was Charlie Brown’s Steak House, located on Highway #10, known as Cantrell Road. From that location the next move was to Morrison’s Cafeteria, now known as the Golden Host Cafeteria, located in the Park Plaza Shopping Center. The club grew steadily, filling the meeting room and making for long lines for the regular customers of the cafeteria.
During the 1973-74 year the Club meeting place was changed to Paul’s
Lamplighter Restaurant, then to the Magnolia Inn, the Pulaski Heights Methodist
Church, St. Vincent’s Cafeteria, back to Golden Host, then back to St. Vincent’s
Cafeteria in 1986.
During the years of 1966-67-68, then Carol Burns, later Mrs. Walter Smelly, was trying to set up homes for emotionally disturbed children that had no place to go. Her appeal to our West Little Rock Rotary Club started a District-wide effort to help her and the children. That is one of the reasons the West Little Rock Rotary Club, by the year 1986, had given $25,000 US funds to Youth Home. One of our club members, Paul Meers, was so touched by the efforts to help the disturbed youth that he gave a house, the first Youth Home at 2400 Battery Street.
Later our club started giving to Camp Aldersgate. Ray Trible was the director of the Camp at the time and was also club President. West Little Rock Rotarian Kelsey Caplinger is still carrying on the spirit of giving to Camp Aldersgate. He started summer camps for handicapped children at Aldersgate.
These two gift giving projects are among several that the West Little Rock Rotary Club has been involved with over the many years.
The first District Governor from the West Little Rock Rotary Club, for District #615; was John McCollough Smith. Our second District Governor was James S. Scott, Sr.
The West Little Rock Rotary Club exceeded the 100 member barrier in 1985, under then President Vernon Deas. The club continues to grow and serve its community.
In this short space it is not possible to name all the Rotarians of the West Little Rock Club that have given of their time and money. But Louis Bona brought student guests to our club for many years. Harry Wanger, a Past President, kept all of the club records for many years. Walter Warden donated a Volkswagen automobile that was auctioned off for one of our money raising projects, and many others have donated funds or their or time for the club projects.
The West Little Rock Rotary Club made its first Paul Harris Fellow in the 1980-81 year. It was given to James S. Scott Sr , the then District Governor Nominee. Since that time several members have been made Paul Harris Fellows.
The West Little Rock Rotary Club continues to grow, to prosper, and to sponsor the slogan of Paul Harris, “Service Above Self.”
For more information about Rotary, see the Rotary Membership section.