Rotary Club of Lebanon

Lebanon Rotary was chartered as Club Number 1042, on December 28, 1921. It was the first civic club organized to serve our community. Many others have followed.

That December, 23 Lebanon businessmen decided to invest their time and talents to create a local Rotary Club. They followed the lead of Dr. James Robert Bone and became charter members. Six of them would eventually serve as President of the club.

The club was, and is, motivated and guided by the international charge, “Service above self. He profits most who serves best.”

Below are samples of documents and records from 1921 to 1929, the first decade of the new club’s existence.

The members of the Rotary Club of Lebanon wish to acknowledge with grateful appreciation the documents, letters and records saved and preserved over the past 100+ years by the Bone family of Wilson County, notably Dr. James Robert Bone, Sam Stratton Bone, Dr. Robert Carver Bone, Harold Gordon Bone, S. Stratton Bone, Jr. and Suanne Bone Leeper. Rotarians all.

Even before the club was officially chartered in December 1921, the members had already launched its first service project, annual Christmas Baskets. This tradition continues 104+ years later!

September 1, 1922 letter to Lebanon boys urging them to stay in school.

1991 Lebanon Democrat article about our beginning in 1921.

Membership application of Dr. James Robert Bone, November 30, 1921.

January 21, 1929 letter to Rotary International requesting a duplicate charter. Original was lost in fire at the Chamber of Commerce (club's meeting space) in the Arcade on the Square. See response below.

Response from Rotary International regarding the request for a replacement charter.

The Rotary Club of Lebanon, with the Exchange Club, the local American Legion post and the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce sponsor/charter the first Boy Scout troop in Lebanon and Wilson County (July 23, 1927).

Sam S. Bone's application for membership, September 15, 1926.

In 1928 and 1929, the club sponsored a Spring Festival to benefit the "Boys of Wilson County". This is 1928's flyer.

The Lebanon Board of Commisioners' resolution that all business shall cease in order to celebrate the 1929 Spring Festival.