The San Angelo Rotary Club’s history begins in 1926, when San Angelo was the epicenter of the Permian Basin oil boom. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Fort Worth, the club received its charter—Number 1919—on November 17th.
Original club members included San Angelo mayor Louis Farr; Robert Massie, builder of the historic Cactus Hotel; and Rupert Ricker, driving force behind Santa Rita, the discovery well of the Permian Basin. O. C. Fisher was among those who soon followed. He served as club president, then represented our area in Congress for 32 years, leaving his name on our city’s federal building and one of our lakes. Those are names that endure.
But our club’s history is not built only by those named on buildings and historical markers. It is built by members who sell tickets, cook fish and shrimp, work fundraisers, serve on committees, bring in new members, and show up on Friday, week after week, year after year.
That, too, is our legacy. And it is a proud one. We have long supported the Salvation Army. Sponsored exchange students. Beginning with our 75th anniversary, the club created a scholarship program worth more than a quarter-million dollars, helping a dozen at-risk students each year.
Those are just highlights.
In 1987, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled Rotary clubs must open membership to women. The San Angelo Rotary Club responded by admitting its first female member: Colonel Mary Felts, commanding officer at Goodfellow Air Force Base.
Nine years later, we elected our first female president, Lori Francks. The admission of women is one of the best things Rotary has ever done. Our club helped lead the way. As we mark our 100th year, the charge before us is simple to say, harder to do: Leave this club stronger than we found it—more useful, more welcoming, and always worthy of the words “Service Above Self.”