Rotary Club of Osceola History

The Provisional Rotary Club of Osceola listed closed on April 20, 1937 to the Secretary of Rotary International with 23 charter members. The following were duly elected and accepted charter membership in the club.

The Blytheville Rotary Club was the sponsoring club. The charter was presented to the Rotary Club of Osceola on June 1, 1937 with 100% attendance from the parent club. Charlie Lemons was the official Rotary Representative and John Brunner was District Governor of District 138.

It was an enthusiastic beginning of a vigorous organization. Minutes of the Charter Night read as follows:

“The Osceola Rotary Club met Tuesday evening at the Osceola Community House. President Harwell called the meeting to order with a genial welcome to all, after which he turned the gavel over to Professor George H. Deer, who was Master of Ceremonies for the occasion. The club engaged in group singing led by E. W. Packard, accompanied by Miss Catherine Harwell. A very excellent diner was served, after which vocal selections were rendered by the Marked Tree Trio, composed of Miss Frances Brigance, Miss Margaret Lee Yancy and Mrs. Sam Ashley, Jr. and accompanied by Miss Mary Bates.

Mr. Deer called for the introduction of guests and visiting Rotarians. Guests of honor for the occasion were Mayor A. S. Rogers, Judge S. L. Gladish, Mr. A. W. Young and Mr. Bruce Ivy. The entire Blytheville Rotary Club attended along with a large number of guests from Marked Tree, Marion and Jonesboro.

Mr. Packard, a visitor, led the club in further group singing after which Dr. Fred Keller, of Conway, Arkansas delivered the principal address on the subject ‘Rotary and what it means to the community’. All present agreed that Dr. Keller’s address was one of the most interesting and enjoyable ever heard by them.

A feature of the evening was the presentation of the Charter by District Governor John Brunner of Marked Tree. The response was given by Dr. Carl M. Harwell, president of the Osceola Club.”

During the first year, a rotary club quartette composed of Dave Laney, Louis Saunders, Hartsill Banks and Jop Hale furnished special music for many weekly meetings. Most of the programs dealt with Rotary information and the functions of the various committees.

The first Rotary Ann Night was held at 6:00 pm Tuesday, August 10, 1937 in the Court House Club Room. Dr. Alfred Loaring Clark, Rector of St. Johns Episcopal Church, Memphis was the guest speaker. His subject was “International Relations”.