Paul Percy Harris was born on April 19, 1868, in Racine, Wis. When he was 13, he and his brother were sent to live with his grandparents because of the financial instability in his parents.

He attended and eventually graduated from law school at the University of Iowa in 1891.

After graduating, Harris traveled the United States before practicing law. He worked as a reporter, cowboy, hotel clerk, seaman, granite salesman, and fruit picker. Five years later, he settled in Chicago and opened a law practice. He became one of Chicago's most outstanding lawyers.

Such was the personal history of the man who founded Rotary.

On Feb. 23, 1905, in Chicago, Harris led the first meeting of the group that would become Rotary. He wanted to create an organization in which men could gather in fellowship.

Inspired by his grandfather, Howard Harris, he brought the ideals of good will and tolerance with him.

Several weeks later, Silvester Schiele was elected the first president, and the name "Rotary" was given to the club.

Rotary means to rotate, like a wheel on an axis. The significance behind the name comes from the original plan of the club, which was to rotate locations for meetings, for chairmanships, and for memberships, which then lasted only a year.

The symbol of Rotary is a wheel with six spokes, 24 cogs, and a keyway.

Here is a timeline of the history of Rotary, as taken from Rotary's Global History Fellowship Web site:1907 - First community service project of donating a horse to a doctor. That was followed by creating a public bathroom.1908 - The second club was formed in San Francisco.1910 - The first Rotary convention was held, at which The National Association of Rotary Clubs was formed, and Paul Harris was elected president.1912 - The Rotary Club of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, becomes the first club outside the United States to be chartered.1913 - Rotary contributes $25,000 to help flood victims in Ohio and Indiana.1914 - 100th club was formed in Phoenix, Ariz.1917 - The Rotary Endowment Fund was created.1922 - The International Association of Rotary Clubs is shortened to Rotary International.1932 - The 4-Way Test of Rotary is created to ask: "Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build good will and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?"1942 - Gen. Douglas MacArthur receives an honorary membership from seven members in a tunnel with wounded soldiers just before the fall of Corregidor during World War II.1943 - The 4-Way Test is adopted by Rotary International.1945 - 49 members of Rotary are among those who help draft the United Nations Charter.1947 - On Jan. 27, Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary, dies. The first 18 Rotary Foundation scholarships are granted.1955 - Rotary's Golden Jubilee, the 50th anniversary, is celebrated in Chicago.1965 - The Matching Grants and Group Study Exchange programs are started.1985 - The PolioPlus program is announced.1987 - The U.S. Supreme Court rules women can be members of Rotary.1989 - Rotary changes its constitution to include women.1990-1991 - Rotary starts an environmental project, Preserve Planet Earth.1994 - Western Hemisphere is declared polio-free.1999 - Rotary Centers for International Studies in Peace and Conflict Resolution is created.2000 - Western Pacific is declared polio-free.2001 - The 30,000th Rotary club is chartered.2002 - Europe is declared polio-free.2003 - Rotary's Global History Project is recognized as the newest fellowship called "Rotary's Global History Fellowship, an Internet project."2005 - Feb. 23, The Rotary Club of Chicago and Rotary International will celebrate the organization's centennial.For information about Rotary's history, visit www.rotary.org/aboutrotary/milestones.html.