Now in its 65th year, the Tomball Rotary Club has grown both in its scope of service to the community, as well as its membership.

What began as a small group of local businessmen who worked mainly to improve city services has grown to one of the largest service-based organizations in the Tomball area with nearly 100 members who donate more than $50,000 annually to local charities and scholarships.

The Tomball Rotary Club was established in 1945 when the 23 founding members sought to create a community-based volunteer organization and opted to join Rotary International.

According to Rotarian Claire Mackey, the first Tomball club was sponsored by the Conroe Rotary Club. Among the founding members were longstanding Tomball family names such as William Holderrieth, Alex B. Klein and Roy C. Hohl.

“Rotary has become somewhat of a family tradition in Tomball,” Mackey said. “Several Rotarians follow in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents and you see names carried down in the club.”

Allen H. Keefer served as the club’s first president, who, according to Mackey, would hold meetings at his cabin and have his cook serve the club food during meetings.

While the club’s beginnings may have been humble, their service to Tomball certainly was not.

In the club’s early years, committees were created that focused on improving several aspects of the Tomball community. Those committees included Streets and Roads, City Services, Medical and Hospital, Recreational Needs, Traffic Safety and even Rabies Control.

“These committees reflect the club’s focus to improve our community and they were successful in that goal,” Mackey added.

Among the projects in which the Tomball Rotary Club had a central role was the construction of FM 149, which led to the expansion of SH 249.

Mackey explained that the establishment of those roadways helped open “many economic doors between Tomball and Houston,” as well as saved Tomball citizens tax money.

 The club also aided in the construction of local swimming pools, Little League fields, a golf course and tennis courts. One of its most significant contributions was its role in helping to build Tomball Regional Hospital.

The club has recently returned to its civic roots when it announced it would be one of the contributing groups towards the renovation of MLK Park in Tomball.

According to Rotarian and Tomball Mayor Gretchen Fagan, the Tomball Rotary Club has donated $1,000 towards the park’s renovation. Also contributing funds to the project are the Tomball Business Association, Shop Tomball, Fagan and her business, Farmer’s Insurance.

The Tomball Rotary Club has also been a primary donor, $10,000 worth, towards the creation and dedication of the City of Tomball’s newest Depot statue, that of Elmer Beckendorf.

Beckendorf, himself a Rotarian who attends the club’s meetings each week, is being honored for his numerous contributions to the Tomball community, as well as for his impact on the agriculture of the area.

The Elmer Beckendorf statue will be revealed on Dec. 11 at 5 p.m. Also donating to the funding of the project are Tomball ISD, Tomball Regional Medical Center and the Lone Star College Foundation.

Beckendorf and the Tomball Rotary Club have had lasting impacts on the education of Tomball students. One of the club’s longest lasting traditions is its Student of the Month campaign, in which two students are recognized by the club each month and given a $1,000 scholarship.

Other recent charitable efforts by the club have included donations to Haiti to help in the recent earthquake recovery effort, donations to organizations that aid both current and former members of the U.S. armed forces and contributions to local charities to assist in food drives.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed