Paul Percival Harris, the founder of Rotary was born in Racine, Wisconsin Second od six children to George N. Harris and Cornelia Bryan Harris. A man with varied knowledge and experience, he received Bachelor of Physical Culture and honorary LL D Degree from the University of Vermont and LL B from the University of LOWA.

Paul Harris worked as a newspaper reporter, a business teacher, stock company actor, cowboy and as a salesman for marble and granite concern from finally setting in Chicago in 1896 to practice law.

In July 1910, he married Jean Thomson Harris, a Scottish girl and a co-member in Chicago Praiee Club.

One evening Paul went with a professional friends to his suburban home. After dinner, a they strolled though the neighborhood, Paul's fiend greeted by name various tradesmen at their stores. This reminded Paul of this New England village and I occurred to him why not in Chicago have a fellowship composed of just one man from each of man different occupations, without restrictions as to their politics and religion, with broad tolerance of each other's opinion? In such a fellowship could there not be mutual helpfulness?

One 23 February 1905, Paul Harris formed the first club with three young businessmen, Silvester Schiele, a coal merchant; Gustavus Loehr, a mining engineer and engineer and Hiram Shorly, a merchant tailor.

Paul Harris was the first President of the National Association of Rotary Clubs (in 1910) and also of the International Association of Rotary Clubs (the name later changed to Rotary international) in the year 1912. Paul was active in Rotary until his death on 27 January 1947.

Today the seed he sowed in 1905 has blossomed into a large tree covering 160 countries and geographical regions with more than 35,000 clubs having a membership of nearly 1.35 million Rotarians.