In The Beginning …
by Pam Harpster, President, 2024/2025

The early 1920s were a transformative time for Lake County. With large tracts of land being subdivided, the area saw a surge in population as newcomers—many of them Rotarians—flocked to the region. These individuals sought a space for fellowship and service but quickly discovered a challenge: there was no Rotary Club in the County. Determined to establish a Rotary presence, a group of former Rotarians and local business leaders banded together. On April 11, 1925, they held an organizational meeting at the Lakeport Christian Church. Attended by Harry Pulse of the Richmond club and members of the Calistoga club, the meeting laid the groundwork for a century-long tradition of service, fellowship, and community engagement.

The first official meeting followed shortly after on April 17, 1925, with 23 charter members in attendance. These founding members were pillars of the community, united by the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self.”

Charter Members of the Lakeport Rotary Club

 Chester A. Anderson
 J. Lowell Annette
 John Charles Anton
 Clarence W. Beck
 Dr. Charles Alfred Craig
 Howard Graham Crawford
 William Ferrilf Davis
 John A. Deadrich, Jr.
 James F. Hill
 H. Vincent Keeling
 Robert A. Kinleyside
 Lorenzo Berton Lawrence
 Oscar E. Meddaugh
 John Millet
 Daniel B. Morrison
 Perry Q. Robison
 William K. Reynolds
 Edward Percy Sailor
 Charles A. Sanborn
 Leonard Herbert Stone
 Clarence E. Tindall
 Mark Hatfield Wright
 John Arthur Youngreen

These 23 individuals were visionaries who laid the foundation for what would become one of the most enduring and impactful organizations in Lakeport’s history.