HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT ROTARY CLUB

The Humboldt Rotary Club was chartered on February 12, 1925 and the charter meeting was held on March 19, 1925 with 23 members forming the club.  The club was sponsored by the Eagle Grove Rotary Club.  The Rotary Club has served the Humboldt area for 89 years and perhaps is the oldest service club in Humboldt and Dakota City.

 

Humboldt Rotary Club is a part of Rotary District 5970 and Rotary International.  Rotay International is composed of over 1.2 million members in 34,000 clubs in 200 countries.  The motto for Rotary is "Service Above Self".

 

Over the years, the Rotary Club has been very active in the community.  Proceeds from our fund raisers have supported the Humboldt High School Athletic Field entrance, Frank Gotch Memorial Statue, Liberty Fountain, Humboldt Fire Department, Taft Park Ball Diamond Renovation now known as Rotary Field, Drill Team, Spanish Club, Aquatic Center and Humboldt County Memorial Hospital projects. The club also supports the Rotary International program to eradicate polio in the world. 

 

Student recognition, scholarships and low interest loans have been provided by the Humboldt Rotary Club for many years.  Annual scholarships totaling $1,500 have been awarded to four seniors based on their school and community involvement, academic achievement, leadership, citizenship, character, service, and financial need.  The late Rotarian Harold Grebe has also added two $1,000 scholarships.  In 1962 the Top 20 Honors Banquet began through the leadership of the late Rotarians Del Cram and Dr. James Coddington.  This banquet honors the top 20 Humboldt High School graduates for academic achievement.  The late Rotarian Ray Lindhart started the Lindhart Education Trust in 1972.  In addition memorial gifts have been added by the late Rotarians Lester Moffitt and Del Cram.  Low interest loans are provided to Humboldt County graduates seeking to continue their education.  Through 2013 approximately 311 students have borrowed $481,175 from this program. 

 

Currently the Humboldt Rotary Club sponsors two fundraisers.  In June we serve a chicken or pork dinner with all the fixings.  Then in August we host the Fly In/Drive In Breakfast at the Humboldt Municipal Airport.  This breakfast is prepared by Gronbach's Firefighter Crew and plane rides are provided by the Humboldt Flying Wildcats.  Pilots from all over the midwest join us for Sunday morning breakfast.