New institutions and movements get started as a result of new visions that individuals have.Thus Rotary International came forth out of a new idea that Paul Harris, a Chicago lawyer, conceived when he called together representatives of the various businesses and professions of that city on February 23, 1905, and organized them into a club, rotating their weekly meetings from one office to another, hence the name ‘Rotary’.

In the next few years, Rotary developed considerable missionary spirit.The United States being the center of this movement, Rotary was brought to Texas early in the history of the movement.So it was that the Rotary Club of Orange, Texas, in 1921, sent to Brenham Mr. Lutcher Stark, a native son of that city, philanthropist and prominent civic leader, to organize a Rotary club.

In late 2001, the president of the Brenham Rotary Club, Ms. Jo Yount, polled the club to see if there was interest in forming a new Rotary Club in the Brenham area.Some 41 members of the Brenham Rotary Club expressed an interest in forming a new club to be sponsored by the Brenham Rotary Club and Called the Rotary Club of Washington County.

The first meeting of this new club was held on February 7, 2002, and the club was chartered with a total of 58 members, 41 from the Brenham Club and 17 new members, in July, 2002.

 CHARTER MEMBERS