In April 1920, when our nation was recovering from World War I, five Pekin businessmen decided that a Rotary Club would be an asset to our community. They were: Harry Wilmot, Walton T. Conover, Frank Beyer, Carl E. Kraeger and Louis C. Moschel. With help from the Canton Rotary Club (founded one year earlier) as official organizer, 25 men signed on as charter members – names of which are still familiar in Pekin:
- Dr. W. A. Balcke
Physician - Frank W. Beyer
Investments - William E. Conkel
Landscape Gardening - Walton T. Conover
Men’s Clothing - L. Conklin
Lumber Retailing - W. Friederich
Theater - Bert Hardy
Hotel Mangagement - Carl G. Herget
Cooperage Industry
- Harry E. Hough
Yeast Industry - H. Jansen
Road Construction - Henry B. Koch
Ice Manufacturing - Carl E. Kraeger
Drugs Retailing - Paul H. Massey
News Bureau - Louis C. Moschel
Railroad Transportation - Arthur H. Siple
Farm Management - Phil H. Sipfle
Farm Management
- Phil H. Siple
Life Insurance - L. Spangenberger
Loans - Myron E. Tambling
Federal Government - Harry C. Wilmot
Funeral Director - R. Yocum
Central Light Co. - Vincent P. Turner
Grains - Dr. Arno Zimmerman
Protestant Pastor
The Charter presentation took place at the Tazewell Hotel on the evening of May 12, 1920. Louis Moschel was chosen as the first president and Phil H. Sipfle was elected secretary.