Club History
The Covington Rotary Club was chartered with 25 members on February 17, 1927 by the Rotary Club of Hammond. It was the 14th club established in what is now District 6840. At the time, Rotary International was only 22 years old.
The Club originally met at the M.C.B. Library and lunches were served by the Rotary Anns (spouses of Rotarians; women were not officially eligible for membership in Rotary in the United States until 1987 -- the first woman president of the Covington Rotary Club was Maurer Van Voorthuysen 1996-1997). For a time, the Club met at the Southern Hotel until it was sold in 1956 and the club met at Sid’s Place and then a succession of local restaurants that closed or changed ownership.
Rotarian Louis Ross was charged with chairing a committee to find a permanent home for the Covington Rotary Club. On June 18, 1962, The Covington Home, Inc. purchased the property and building on the corner of Tyler and 19th Avenue. On April 6, 1972, all of the bonds were paid and the building was named the Louis Ross Memorial Building to commemorate his efforts. (His granddaughter, Laura, joined the Covington Rotary Club in 2010.)
The Covington Rotary Home, Inc. still owns the building on Tyler and 19th Avenue, and the rental income subsidizes the Club efforts in the community.
The Club originally met at the M.C.B. Library and lunches were served by the Rotary Anns (spouses of Rotarians; women were not officially eligible for membership in Rotary in the United States until 1987 -- the first woman president of the Covington Rotary Club was Maurer Van Voorthuysen 1996-1997). For a time, the Club met at the Southern Hotel until it was sold in 1956 and the club met at Sid’s Place and then a succession of local restaurants that closed or changed ownership.
Rotarian Louis Ross was charged with chairing a committee to find a permanent home for the Covington Rotary Club. On June 18, 1962, The Covington Home, Inc. purchased the property and building on the corner of Tyler and 19th Avenue. On April 6, 1972, all of the bonds were paid and the building was named the Louis Ross Memorial Building to commemorate his efforts. (His granddaughter, Laura, joined the Covington Rotary Club in 2010.)
The Covington Rotary Home, Inc. still owns the building on Tyler and 19th Avenue, and the rental income subsidizes the Club efforts in the community.
Membership today (2022) is at 43 members.
