President Stiles said it was one of the highlights of his year to have at the Speakers Table today Pioneer Veteran Member Harry L. Ruggles of the Class of 1905 who a few minutes ago led us in the singing of the Star Spangled Banner - one of the founders of this Club and the man who introduced community singing into Rotary. He then said he was going to ask Ches Perry, another early member, a past president of our Club, and Secretary of Rotary International from 1910 to 1942, to present Harry to the audience.

Ches Perry: President "Jerry", Mayor Kennelly and other distinguished guests, and Fellow Rotarians! It is indeed a pleasure to have the privilege of presenting to you Harry Ruggles whose contribution of song to Rotary was in fact only a minor phase of our indebtedness to him.

Harry was the fourth man to whom Paul Harris spoke about the organizing of this Club and he at once became an enthusiastic and energetic supporter of the idea. He was the Club's first Treasurer and succeeded Paul as President of the Club.

Paul has written that he planted a sapling in Chicago which eventually grew into the great forest of Rotary International. Well, there was a time in the earliest days when that sapling needed attention and support and Harry Ruggles was there to give it what it needed.

There isn't time today to say all that could and should be said about Harry who built up the membership of this Club, who later assisted in the organization of Clubs in Minneapolis and St. Paul and Indianapolis and Peoria and other places, who served as a Director of Rotary International in 1912-13, and who today is No.1 of all living Rotarians.

You will understand my pleasure in presenting Harry to you when I tell you it was he who brought me into the Chicago Rotary Club and thus made it possible for me later on to serve Rotary International as its Secretary for 32 years.

Harry Ruggles!

The audience arose and gave an ovation of applause to Harry.

Joe:

Here is a copy of something about Harry Ruggles out of which you probably can get what you want. His classification was Commercial Printing now held by his son, who is carrying on the business.

Ches.