Paul Harris worked as a newspaper reporter, a business teacher, stock company actor, cowboy, and travelled extensively in the U.S.A. and Europe selling marble and granite. In 1896, he went to Chicago to practice law. One evening Paul visited the suburban home of a professional friend. After dinner,
as they strolled through the neighbourhood, Paul's friend introduced him to various tradesmen in their stores. It was here Paul conceived the idea of a club that could recapture some of the friendly spirit among businessmen in small communities.
On 23 February, 1905, Paul Harris formed the first club with three other businessmen: Silvester Schiele, a coal merchant; Gustavus Loehr, a mining engineer; and Hiram Shorey, a merchant tailor. Paul Harris named the new club
"Rotary" because members met in rotation at their various places of business. Club membership grew rapidly. Soon after the club name was agreed on one of the new members suggested a wagon wheel design as the club emblem. It was the precursor of the familiar cogwheel emblem now worn by Rotarians around the world. By the end of 1905 the club had 30 members.
The second Rotary club was formed in 1908 in San Francisco and a third opened in Oakland just across San Francisco Bay.
Others followed in Seattle, Washington, Los Angeles and New York City. Rotary then went International when, in 1910, a club formed in Winnipeg, Ontario.
By 1921 the organisation was represented on every continent and the name Rotary International was adopted in 1922 Soon Paul became convinced that the Rotary club could be developed into an important service movement and strove to extend Rotary to other cities.
Paul was also prominent in other civic and professional work. He served as
the first chairman of the board of the national Easter Seal Society of Crippled Children and Adults in the U.S.A. and of the International Society for Crippled Children. He was a member of the board of managers of the Chicago Bar Association and its representative at the International Congress of Law at the Hague, and a committee member of the American Bar Association. He received the Silver Buffalo Award from the Boy Scouts of America for distinguished service to youth, and was decorated by
the governments of Brazil, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France and Peru.
Paul maintained his law office for most of his life. He spent much time travelling and was invited to speak to Rotarians at annual conventions, district and regional meetings, and other functions. When President emeritus Paul Harris passed away on 27 January, 1947, his dream had grown from an informal meeting of four men to some 6,000 clubs. In the past five decades, the organization has grown to more than
27,500 clubs with 1.2 million members brought together through Paul Harris' vision of service and fellowship. Now the Paul Harris Fellowship recognition is The Rotary Foundation's way of expressing its appreciation for a substantial contribution to its humanitarian and educational programs. | 
