Rotary Club of Tyrone: This Has Been Your Life
You were first planned at a meeting on October 31, 1938 at the Arlington Hotel, in Tyrone, by a group of nineteen men meeting with William Johnson, of Chicago, and Harry L. Saul, secretary of the Rotary Club of Altoona. These men subsequently requested a charter from Rotary International, with you to be sponsored by the Altoona Club. Following a series of organizational meetings, you were chartered on January 11, 1939 with twenty-three charter members.
The night you received your charter certainly was memorable. The program started with a banquet in the Moose Hall, with Rev. Harry Saul presiding. More than 170 Rotarians from all over the 180th District were in attendance. You were presented with your charter by PDG M. Ward Fleming, of Bellefonte. The principal speaker was PDG C. Howard Witmer, of Lancaster. Among those present were John Dewey, president of the Kiwanis Club of Tyrone and General Ben C. Jones. On behalf the Rotary Club of Altoona, President George Sheraw presented you with the bronze bell and the gavel still in use.
Through the years you have met regularly on Monday evenings at 5:45 p.m., first at the Pennsylvania Hotel, then at the YMCA, The Villa, the Community Restaurant, the Bull Pen, Joe’s Place, and now at Burley’s.
In the field of Community Service, you have been a booster of every worthwhile activity for the improvement of Tyrone and its surrounding areas. You have spearheaded many local projects and activities too numerous to mention on this page.
You have made an effort to establish and maintain close relationships between Tyrone Borough and the surrounding rural area with the establishment of Farmers’ Night, where the community members and the neighboring farmers got to know one another better in a carnival atmosphere. Over the years Farmers' Night evolved into Rural Urban Day and now Farm/City Day.
In the field of International Service, you entered into the Youth Exchange Program in 1967 when you sent Katrina Martin, of Warriors Mark, to Sweden. In 1968, Lyndall March, of Australia, was your first exchange student from overseas. You have hosted group study teams and have supported many other projects, again, too numerous to mention.
But, above and beyond the work of your club as a whole, is the work of Rotarians as individuals. Rotarians put their motto, “Service above self,” into actual practice in their daily lives. Your Rotarians have been active on Borough Council, School Board, Community Chest, Chamber of Commerce, YMCA, Hospital Board, Salvation Army, various church activities, and many other aspects in the community.
Three members have gone on to become district governors: Harry R. Miller, Dr. John M. Dollar, and Kelly C. Wike.
Your membership now consists of twenty-six active members and comprises a cross-section of business, rural, profession, and industry in the Tyrone area.
— Updated from an article by Club President Paul D. Schroeder in the 1988 Club Membership Directory (50th Anniversary Year).
