History: a study of the club archives

“Paul Harris, as remembered by Auburn Rotarian Thomas Vaughn”

Our acquaintance with Paul Harris and his wife, Jean, came through a mutual friendship with Col. Cummings who was stationed at the U.S. Army Air Base in Tuskegee during World War II. Paul was in poor health and Col. Cummings invited him and Jean to winter in the more benevolent climate of central Alabama. They came in 1943 and stayed in the Harris Hotel, which was also the meeting place for the Tuskegee Rotary Club of which my father was president.

A close friendship with our family followed and the Harrises returned in 1944 and again in 1945. The Harrises corresponded with us during these years, and I still have in my possession letters and photographs they exchanged. Also three books: (1) This Rotarian Age, (personally inscribed) first edition, 1935; Paul Harris’ own story of Rotary and how it came to be. (2) My Road to Rotary, 1948 edition; Paul Harris’ autobiography, published posthumously, and (3) The Emperor’s Physician by J.R. Perkins, which had been given to Paul by Algernon Blair of Montgomery at Christmas in 1945. Paul, thereafter, gave it to my mother.

In summary, although described variously by his biographer in both generous and sparing assessment, I remember Paul Harris as many have described him in his latter years—a gentle man, kindly and unassuming, grateful for small favors, appreciative of warm friendships, and of life’s special blessings that come disguised in ordinary garb as commonplace events. He had lived long enough and seen enough to reach that wonderful stage of maturity that realizes happiness is found in a state of mind and not in a set of circumstances. This is the Paul Harris I remember and the enduring legacy that he leaves us to this day.

Report of the History Committee of the Auburn Rotary Club for February 2005