Rotary Club of North Ridgeville
Club Chartered April 10, 1981

     Paul Harris found himself in the crime-ridden city of Chicago in the early 1900's. Harris had lived in the New England area prior to his move to Chicago and found his new location quite different from that to which he had been accustomed.

      Paul Harris soon found a friend whom he had much in common. The two men decided to lunch together on a regular basis. Soon, each man found other carefully chosen friends and business associates who were interested in meeting regularly.

      A plan began to emerge. They would pack a lunch and meet at alternate offices on a rotational basis. Hence the name Rotary Club was born.

      The concept has since developed into very definite guidelines, such as limited members from a given profession or line of business, thus enabling a free flow of varied ideas.

      By the year 1910 there were 16 Rotary clubs, which linked up as an organization called the National Association of Rotary Clubs. Two years later the name was changed to the International Association of Rotary Clubs, as Rotary was organized in Winnipeg, Canada, and then in England, Ireland and Scotland. In 1922 the name was shortened to Rotary International.

      In the mid 1970's three members of the Rotary Club of North Olmsted began talking about starting a club in North Ridgeville. Attorney Dan Stringer, CPA Chris Costin, and insurance agent Chuck Sword Sr. needed an existing club to act as a sponsor for the club in North Ridgeville, and asked their North Olmsted Club to help.

      However, North Olmsted was in old Rotary District 330, while North Ridgeville was located in old Rotary District 331. Therefore, the three requested and received permission from Rotary International to have the new North Ridgeville Club released from District 331 since North Olmsted was located in District 330. Unfortunately, the North Olmsted Club was unsuccessful in getting the new club going.

      A few years later, the North Ridgeville group was able to get then District Governor Jack Glick from the Lorain Club of District 331 to agree to help. He and members of the Elyria Club would be our sponsoring club. Jack Glick and Attorney Ray Muzella from the Elyria Club began to assist in forming the new club, and the Rotary Club of North Ridgeville was finally chartered on April 10, 1981.

      Chuck Sword was the first President, with Jeff Brown, Chris Costin, Bob Kirkpatrick, Miklos Kis, Tom Klear, Dick Noll, Al Retay, and George Stokes as Charter Members who are still members of the club.

      We have come full circle, from old District 330 to old District 331, and back to District 330 in 1994, which is now known as District 6630. Our club has a storied history in District 6630, even though we have only been a part of the District for the past twelve years. Not only are we the home club of Assistant District Governor Warren Blakely, but we are also one of the few "singing" clubs that remain in the District. Group singing, originating with Harry Ruggles who was the fifth man to join Paul Harris in the conversations that led to the formation of the first Rotary club, became a traditional part of each Rotary meeting early in Rotary's history. Our club was recognized at the 2003 District Conference of Clubs for our singing tradition.

      In addition, our club has earned the A.Z. Baker Service Award, which is an award given in District 6630 only, every year since we have been a member of the district. The A.Z. Baker Award was established in 1978 at the recommendation of District Governor James P. Banks, and by action of the District Board of Trustees, to encourage a reaching out in total service and the "development of resources" on the part of all clubs in our District. This award honors our own "Mr. Rotary," A.Z. Baker, from the Rotary Club of Cleveland who served as Rotary International President in 1955-56. His dedication and commitment to Rotary truly exemplified Service Above Self and this award was designed to honor his memory by encouraging all clubs in the district to participate in each of the Four Avenues of Service.

Charter Members of the Rotary Club of North Ridgeville

(Current Members Highlighted)

          Jeff Brown                   Chris Costin                James Dresser

          George Fundak          David Hintz                   William Holley

          James Hummel         Robert Kirkpatrick     Miklos Kis

          Thomas Klear            David Longwell            James McVeigh

          Richard Noll                Thomas Perez             John Rapolec

          Edward Ratusz           Stephen Reiss            Allen Retay

          George Stokes           Daniel Stringer            Ihor Suszko

          Charles Sword           Russell Watson          Lynn Westphal

          Douglas Wilbur           David Wood

Honorary Members

Larry Bowersox 

Terri Eckenfels

Richard Noll

Paul Harris Fellows

          Patricia Blakely             Warren Blakely             Dennis Boose

          Chuck Bowman            Robert Bunsey             Douglas Charboneau

          Eugene Eckenfels        Arthur Gibbs, Jr.           David Gillock

          Robert Kirkpatrick         Miklos Kis                      Warren H. Knox, Sr.

          Kerry Mueller *               Richard Noll                  Giles Norrington *

          Casey O'Conor              Allen Retay                    L. Jack Smith

          George Stokes              Chuck Sword                Hyacinth Williams

          Regis Holland               Dottie Alberto

          * Multiple Award Holders

Benefactors

           Warren Blakely              Richard Backman       Giles Norrington