Paul Percival Harris, a lawyer,the Founder of Rotary was born in Racine, Wisconsin, USA on 19th April, 1868. Paulwas the second of six children to mother Cornelia and father George Howard Harris. His boyhood was spent in the fields, forests and villages near Wallingford, Vermont, U.S.A. where he was raised by his paternalgrandparents.Though a lawyer, he worked as a newspaper reporter, a business teacher, stock company actor, cowboy and as a salesman for marble and granite concerns . In 1896, he settled down to practice law in Chicago. Lonely in the midst of the crowded city, he tried to recreate the family spirit of his youth and sense of community. He called toge ther three young businessmen and established on Thursday 23rd February 1905 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, the first Rotary Club based on the “simple plan of mutual cooperation and informalfriendship.Gustavus Loehr, a mining engineer in whose office the historic event took place. Hiram Shorey, a merchant tailor,Sylvester Schiele, a coal merchant,and PaulHarris, the lawyer himself became the first Rotarians.

Paulwas also prominent in other civic and professional works. He served as the first Chairman of the Boardof the National Easter Seal of Managers of the Chicago Bar Associationand its representative at the International Congress of Law at Hague and a committee member of the American Bar Assoc iation. He received the silver Buffalo Award from the Boy scouts of America for distinguished service to youth and was decorated by the governments of Brazil, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France and Peru.

Paulconsidered Rotary philosophy as a spiritualforce. He believed Rotary is neither a religion nora substitute for religion. It is the working out of religious impulse in modern life and especia lly in business and international relations. Paul Harriswas a prolific writer. He wrote about Rotary’s formation and philosophy. His Rotary travels • My Road to Rotary” speaks of his own life. Paul was active in Rotary until his death on 27th January 1947.Paulmarried Jean Thomas,a Scottish girl in 1910. The couple had no children.In the words of PRIP Angus S Mitchel (1948-49) ” Yes, the found er of Rotary was a simp le man but one with a grea t vision, peacefu l and a tru ly neighbo rly world.”