The Rotary Club of Santa Fe was chartered in 1924 with 20 founding members...

Since that time, the club has grown to over 94 members, welcoming both men and women and members of an increasingly diverse community.

‹ Photographed in 1974, original charter members,
from left: F.A. Koch, H.L. Pflueger, Bernard Spitz, C.L. Bowlds.

The Rotary Club of Santa Fe was chartered in 1924 with 20 founding members. Since that time, the club has grown to over 110 members, welcoming both men and women and members of an increasingly diverse community.

A Brief History of the Rotary Club of Santa Fe

By Dale Bullock* - Secretary, 1980
It has been a little difficult to remember to reconstruct the early years of Santa Fe Rotary since the early records have been lost. It has been 
necessary to rely on old newspaper clippings and some old correspondence, besides conversations with old-time members.
Apparently the organizational meeting was on November 1923 and the first official luncheon meeting was December 6, 1923. The charter was dated January 24, 1924 and was presented on March 1, 1924 by G.C. Martin, District Governor of El Paso at a banquet at Library Hall. El Paso was the sponsoring club and Charter MEMBERS were: F.A. Koch, H.L. Pflueger, Bernard Spitz, and C.L. Bowlds.

First President was Edward R. Wright, Dan Kelly was Vice President, Clarence Bowlds, Secretary and John Collins, Treasurer.

The Santa Fe New Mexican did a long article about the club on Monday March 3, 1924, said in part:

"SANTA FE ROTARY CLUB LAUNCHED AT DINNER WITH NOTABLE ECLAT"

Governor presents Charter at Brilliant Banquet;

"Santa Fe Rotary Club, with 20 members, was formally launched Saturday night at a beautifully appointed banquet at the Library served by the Women’s Board of Trade. (Early lists of Charter Members show only 19, but one list shows 20 with Guy Harrington included. The newspaper article said 20.)

Nearly 100 people including large delegations of Rotarians and Rotary Anns from Albuquerque and Las Vegas, heard a splendid and inspiring address by District Governor G.A. Martin of El Paso, who presented the charter; another by Past District Governor Charlie Christy, who talked to the new club like a father; by Charlie Barber of Albuquerque; prospective next Governor; by President Donald Stuart of the Las Vegas club; delegate Ben Naylor and President Kenneth Baldridge of Albuquerque Rotary. There were other speakers, witty and entertaining, rousing Rotarian songs, much laughter and repartee and a delicious dinner."

The article goes on describing the personalities, and the speeches stressing"Service the Keynote," and presentation of the charter and Rotary Code of Ethics.

It concludes: "President E. Dana Johnson of Santa Fe Kiwanis, responded with a welcome to Rotary on behalf of Kiwanis. Vice President Dendahl, Secretary Gerhart and Treasurer Lutz also being invited guests. Visiting Rotarians and their ladies were guests at an impromptu dance at La Fonda following the banquet and also at the Santa Fe Club."

Meeting places have been in the basement of the Baptist Church, Margery Brooks, DeVargas Hotel and La Fonda the Baptist Church at that time was at the corner of Don Gaspar and Manhattan, the corner now a parking lot and Manhattan now being Paseo de Peralta. The DeVargas restaurant is now the Steaksmith, after many changes in ownership and style, Margery Brooks is at present unidentified.

Santa Fe has furnished two District Governors, Guy Harrington in 1927-28 and John Chapman in 1937-38.

Rotary's beginning year was changed to July1st, at that time president Fred Koch 1927-28 served an additional six months during the transition. He also served as Sergeant-at-Arms at 19th Rotary International Convention in Minneapolis when Senator Clinton Anderson from the Albuquerque Rotary Club became 22nd President of Rotary International 1932-33

* Dale Bullock:
Joined Rotary 1950, Director and VP. 1954, President 1955-56 Secretary July 1973-? Bulletin Editor, Summer 1950-? Paul Harris Fellow 1979

Hobbies (PARTIAL FROM HIS LIST)
Girl watching
SF Chamber of Commerce president 2 terms 1962
Presbyterian church Moderator of Synod, President of General Council
Member of every committee of the church.
SF Fiesta council 16 years . Chair American Red Cross 2 years
Came to SF in 1940. Owner Rydal Press for 36 years Printing & Publishing. Union card for 40 years.

Santa Fe Rotary Club has been the source of four district governors:

1. The first was Guy B. Harrington elected at the district conference in Albuquerque in 1927. Pres. SF Club 1925-26.
Senator Clinton P. Anderson of Albuquerque was district governor before Guy Harrington.

2. John Chapman was elected from Santa Fe Club In 1937-38. Never president of SF Club Perhaps in Gallup Club. Earliest dues records are 1935 show he was a member of SF Club.

3. Henry Pick was elected at the 1979 district conference held in Santa Fe. Inducted Jan.1, 1972 into SF.Club. President in 1978-79
Conference chaired by Henry and was subsequently elected District Governor, 1981-82.

4. Richard S. Jones president in 2001-02 elected District Governor for year 2008-09. Inducted January 1, 1988 into SF Club.
He was elected District Governor at the district conference held in Taos May 10-13, 2007.

Timelines

Organizational meeting held Nov. 1923.

First official luncheon meeting Dec. 6,1923.

Charter dated Jan. 24, 1924 presented Mar. 1, 1924 at a banquet in Library Hall. Santa Fe Rotary Club, with 20 members, was formally launched Saturday night at a beautifully appointed banquet at the Library served by the Women’s Board of Trade.

Meeting places have been in the basement of the Baptist Church, Margery Brooks, DeVargas Hotel and La Fonda. The Baptist Church at that time was at the corner of Don Gaspar and Manhattan, the corner now a parking lot and Manhattan now being Paseo de Peralta. The DeVargas restaurant is now the Steaksmiths, after many changes in ownership and style, Margery Brooks is at present unidentified.

The Silver anniversary was observed on January 27, 1949 at La Fonda.

The Golden anniversary was observed January 24, 1974 at La Fonda.

Meeting place was moved to Inn of Loretto year of 1999-2000 after 75 years at La Fonda.

Celebrated the 75th anniversary on Feb. 6, 1999 at the Radisson Hotel.

On April 24, 2005 meeting place was moved to Inn to Radisson. Name changed to Lodge of Santa Fe.

People

Ned Wood 1945-46 was our first District Conference Chairman in 1951.

Henry Pick 1978-79 first District Conference in Santa Fe in 27 years with Charles Padilla as Chairman.

2002-03: The three Santa Fe clubs hosted the annual District 4110 and District 5520 Bi-District Conference. President John Crews.