Shelbyville Rotary Club celebrated 100 years of existence this month. A celebration and dinner event was recently held at River Bend Country Club. Shelbyville Rotary Club President Dawn Hobbs presided over the evening’s program. 

Past presidents were recognized and several members received Paul Harris Fellows as part of the festivities.  

Rotary District Governor Cindy Gammons addressed the membership, calling the club “a small, but mighty” force for Rotary International.  

She praised the longevity of the club. Paul Harris Fellows, named for the founder of Rotary International, represent $1,000 donated in the person’s name.  

Barbara Blanton received her sixth award followed by Maleah Claxton (second), Jay Davis (second), Finney Edwards (third), Darin Hasty (third), Dawn Hobbs (second), Ivan Jones (third) and Mark McGee (second.) First-time Paul Harris Fellows were Ashley House, Jared Jones, Scott Spence and Warren Wells. 

The club has 100 percent of its membership with at least one Paul Harris Fellow. Hobbs read a proclamation from the Tennessee General Assembly which recognized the work of the Shelbyville club through the years. State Rep. Pat Marsh of Shelbyville sponsored the proclamation.  

Each member attending the recent celebration received an etched glass provided by Heritage Jewelers to commemorate the 100 year anniversary.  

Hobbs closed out the evening by saying she was proud of the local club and its history. She reminded everyone to live by the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self” and led everyone in a recitation of Rotary’s Four-Way Test of what members think, say and do.  

Rotary and community Shelbyville Rotary Club works with the Adult Education Center. It also oversees and distributes dictionaries to local students. In addition, the club sponsors Rotary Career Day for high school students at Motlow State Community College.  

Shelbyville Rotary history The Rotary Club and the Shelbyville Lions Club were the first sponsors of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.  

James Bomar, Jr. of Shelbyville served as Rotary International president from 1979-80 and was responsible for the development of a 5-year program to administer the polio vaccine around the world.  

The initiative eventually became known as Polio Plus with Rotary International the largest private sector contributor to the World Health Organization (WHO), according to the proclamation.  

Former district governors from the Shelbyville Club include: Webb Folin, James L. Bomar, Jr., Franklin Yates, Morgan Lorance and William Hackemann.  

The Shelbyville club has also sponsored four Rotary Clubs in the district—Fayetteville, Lynchburg, Eagleville and Shelbyville Breakfast Club.