In 1983, 77 years after the founding of the first Rotary Club in Chicago, Illinois by Paul Harris, a number of prominent Round Rock citizens, including Carlton Hornbeck, Jon Sloan, Sidney Gervais, Guy Olsen, and Scott Evans, met and agreed to organize themselves into the first Rotary Club in the history of Round Rock, Texas, with Carlton taking on the duties of the Club's first President. The formation of the Club was made possible by the sponsorship of the Rotary Club of Mexia, Texas. In recognition of the coming growth in population and industry in the Round Rock area, they decided that a community service club of business and professional leaders in their respective fields would facilitate the community in enhancing these growth opportunities and addressing the concomitant responsibilities associated with rapid growth. Designated as Club Number 1958 by Rotary International and District 5870, these founders and the members who have elected to follow their leadership and commitment to Service Above Self, have met weekly to discuss their collective interests and observations on Round Rock and the state of the world. Throughout its history, the Club has marched at the forefront, as the community of Round Rock has progressed from a rural farming community of 13,186 in 1983 to one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the United States with an estimated and growing population of over 100,000. Service Above Self
The Club has been active in Round Rock and its immediate surrounding area since its inception, contributing the time, talent, and resources of its membership to a number of worthy projects, including the annual Round Rock Special Olympics track and field meet, the clean-up of community retirement homes project, providing partial financial college assistance scholarships to worthy Round Rock students, hosting an annual Christmas Party for the benefit and joy of the children at the Texas Children's Baptist Home, and donating funds to worthy community charities. The Club formed a partnership with the Club Rotario Monterrey Industrial Rotary Club of Monterrey, Mexico. The joint projects between the Club and Monterrey Industrial included matching grant projects establishing water wells and upgrading a nursing home in Mexico and renovation of the YMCA Teen Center in Round Rock. In 1997, in recognition of the relationship between the Clubs and a gesture of appreciation, Monterrey Industrial provided Paul Harris Fellows to Club members William Myers, Elbert David, Eric Whitfield, and Scott Swindell. The Club has also partnered with Club Rotario Tampico Chairel of Tampico, Mexico. The partnership was initially established for the purpose of working collectively with and through our respective Rotary Districts and Rotary International to raise the funds necessary to furnish essential refurbished equipment for a surgical room in Tampico's General Hospital, known as "Dr. Carlos Canseco." Since the initial matching grant project, the Club and Tampico Chairel have worked together to provide additional hospital beds, provide equipment for a retirement home, and to purchase a refrigerated truck to deliver food to needy residents of Tampico. Further, the Club and Tampico Chariel participated in a matching grant program which provide $12,000 for the construction of a community garden at the Round Rock Serving Center. Growing the World of Rotary
The Club has also grown the impact of Rotary through the chartering and sponsorship of other area clubs:
In 1996, the Club sponsored the formation of the Rotary Club of Pflugerville. In 2000, the Club sponsored the formation of the Rotary Club of Round Rock - Sunrise. In 2005, the Club sponsored the formation of the Rotary Club of Hutto. In addition to the sponsoring of three other Rotary clubs, the Club sponsors the Round Rock High School Rotaract Club.
