Sometime in the later part of the 1920's Mr. Lacy Goodrich,Manager of the States Shipping Line, first talked about Rotary to a afew residents in Cebu at the time when Rotary was unheard of to most people in this country. However, the interest in Rotary which he generated in this community failed to take roots.
Five years later, Stanton Turner, a prominent Manila Rotarian, met with better success since Rotary by that time had become more known due to the outstanding civic activities of the Rotary Club of Manila.
Hence, on October 8, 1932 the Rotary Club of Cebu was organized with 24 charter members. The sponsoring club was the Rotary Club of Manila, the first Rotary Club in Asia (1919), thru its special representative E.S. Turner who arrived in Cebu City on October 5, 1932. In a luncheon meeting, the Provisional Rotary Club of Cebu was organized.
On February 16, 1933 the charter of the Rotary Club of Cebu was presented by Theodore "Ted" Hall, a prominent Manila Rotarian who later became the first district governor of the Philippine Rotary district. Officially, the Rotary Club of Cebu was elected to membership to Rotary International on November 29, 1932 with Charter NO. 3559. Thus, the Rotary Club of Cebu was born.
The officers and members of the board were:
| C. J. Martin | President |
| Harold M. Power | Vice - President |
| Stephen M. Pronko | Secretary - Treasurer |
| H. U. Umstad | Sergeant-at-arms |
| Ramon Aboitiz,Guillermo Fancisco | Directors |
| Manuel Gotianuy, Robert Landon | Directors |
| Valeriano Segura, Edward Taylor Steele | Directors |
According to Henry Gasser the club was 26 charter members as recorded at the head office in Chicago. However, AL Reyes listed 27 names as charter memebers including the name of Tio Tiam which does not appear at Henry Gasser's list.
As Al Reyes listed, the 27 charter members are: Ramon Aboitiz, Isabelo V. Binamira, Guillermo Francisco,Henry Gasser, Henry Gilhouser, Go Chan, Go Siong Mit, Virgilio R. Gonzales (listed by Al Reyes as Manuel Gonzales), Manuel Gotianuy, Agustin Jereza, E.H. Johnson, Robert R. Landon, Harold M. Power, C. J. Martin, Nagahide Mori, Crispin M. Ocampo, Carlos E. Olsen (listed by Henry Gasser as Carl Olaen- probably the correct name is Carl Olsen), Steven Pronko (listed by Al Reyes as Stephen Pronko), Henry Renner (listed by Al Reyes as John Renner), VAleriano Segura, Geoffrey Whitefield Sinclair, Edward Taylor Steele, N. Albert Terry, Tio Tiam, Itsunji Umewaza, H.M. Umstad (listed by Al Reyes as H. U. Umstad), and Agusto P. Villalon.
This club slowly grow in membership until it reached to about 50 members. Fellowship and harmonious relationship among fellow Rotarians was outstanding inspte of difference in nationality, creed and culture. Club activities were focused on community service adn during the presidency of H.M. Power the club donated to the city the first traffic signs some of which were still in use until he outbreak of World War II. In 1935-36 the club also printed come-on brochures to "sell" Cebu to the tourists.
Regular weekly meetings were held, initially at Casino Espanol Colon Street and later transferred to Club Filipino until the war broke out on December 8, 1941. The last meeting was held on December 4, 1941 and the speaker was a Japanese Rotarian Noya of Mitsui,Chairman of International Service Committee, who then left shortly for Japan, The Japanese invaded Cebu on April 10, 1942 and know what, Rotarian Noya emerged a Major in the Japanese army. Two Rotarians, both in the USAFFE, (United States Armed Forces in the Far East), Valeriano Segura in Bataan and Fitz Reed in Davao were both killed in action.
No meeting were held during the dark days of the Japanese occupation. After Cebu was liberated by the Americans a small number of Rotarians got in touch with each other and planned to revived Rotary. the "Back to Rotary" movement started immediately. Joined by some Rotarians in the U.S Army the first meeting was held in September 1945. With 15 Rotarians, the army provided quarters and most of the speakers for the meetings. Henry Gasser was elected president. He was unable to serve his full term for health reason, and he was succeeded by Alfredo Deen.
According to the records of Rotary Internationa, the Rotary club of Cebu was readmitted on June 21, 1946 with Alfredo P. Deen as president and Vicente L. Faelnar as the secretary.
The post-war charter members were: Jose Agustines, Jose Avila, Isabelo Binamira, H.P. Byrd, Jose Castillo, Jose Chavarria, Narciso P. Cinco, Manuel Cuenco, Alfred Deen, Nicolas Escario, Vicente I. Faelnar, Henry Gasser, Go Siong Mit, Agustin Jereza, Simeon Miranda, Jesus Nolasco, Rafael Ramos, Salvador Sala, Jose Sevilla, O.R. Squillantini, Tio Tiam, Pio Valencia, Tura Veloso and Dart Williams.
The Rotary Club of Cebu sponsored the organization of five Rotary clubs in the area: R.C. Cebu West on October 31, 1961; R.C Dumaguete(1939); R.C. Tacloban (1947).
The club produced the five district governors: Vicente L. Faelnar, Joaquin Panis, Vicente Lozada, Federico Reyes and Manuel De Veyra.
The Rotary Club of Cebu had various acommunity projects like donation of traffic signs, establishment of the Cebu Boys Town,waiting sheds, welcome arch, mobile medical clinic, donationof bookds to needy schools, medical indigency program which undertook the operation of some 186 harelip and goiter cases as of 1981, scholarships, support to the boys and girls scouts, and many others.
Membership in the club enjoyed a steady growth until it reached a record high of 105 active Rotarians during the terms of Silvio Santos and Claro Cinco(1970 to 1972). The club prides itself in the quality of its members and the excellent fellowship which characterizes its meetings. With the exception, perhaps, of the Rotary Club of Manila, it is th eonly of the country who enjoys the continued membership of a few elder Rotarians which have been referred to as the "jewels" of the club.
