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Our Club charter, number 1601 for the Rotary Club of Los Gatos, was formally presented to and accepted by the Club on February 16, 1924, at the initial luncheon meeting.

Edwin H. Melvin, young funeral director, and Ernest F. (Abe) Colvin, D.D.S., became acquainted with Rotarians in another city, and determined that a Rotary Club was needed in Los Gatos. Ed and Abe talked with their friends, who were receptive to a Rotary Club for Los Gatos.

In 1922, Ed corresponded with the Rotary International secretariat in Chicago, and with the District Governor, John Williams, of Rotary for District No. 2. John thought Los Gatos too small to support a club, and too close to San Jose, which already had a flourishing club. Ed and Abe however persisted in their strong desire for a Rotary Club for Los Gatos.

The 1920 census for Los Gatos was only 2,317 residents. However, this did not take into consideration the unincorporated sections, which was then, as now, a part of Los Gatos. The population of metropolitan Los Gatos was estimated at 6,000. The proximity of Los Gatos to San Jose did not appear to be a material factor for a Los Gatos club, because Los Gatos was a distinct separate community, with its own business and professional group of 60 to 80.

We received an offer from the Rotary Club of San Jose to. sponsor our Club. The Palo Alto Rotary Club, organized in May, 1923, offered their best wishes and information about forming a club.

A meeting was held on December 10, 1923, in the office of Dr. Louis Frary to discuss the formation of our Club and to decide whether to proceed. The group decided to proceed1 and the process of organization began. Ed Melvin was elected chairman. The 17 men present signed applications and paid initiation fees, as required by Rotary International. James A. Case, George A. Green, Edwin H. Melvin, Forrest H. Meyers and Professor Ernest A. Rogers formed the first Board of Directors. These first elected officers were: president, Edwin H. Melvin; vice president, Ernest A. Rogers; secretary, Forrest H. Meyers; treasurer, James A. Case; and, sergeant-at-arms, J. Walter Crider.

The chance to be a founding charter member was available for a few days. The founding 25 members are Dr. Paul Alexander, Arch H. Bell, Richard R. Bell (father), Fred Berryman, Sr., James A. Case, Dr. Ernest F. Colvin, J. Walter Crider, George D Curtis, Paul E. Curtis, William H. Davies, Carroll G. Ford, Dr. Louis A. Frary, Delmar W. Hulen, George A. Green, John H. Kelley, Martin L. LeFevre, Edwin H. Melvin, Forrest H. Meyers, George S. McMurtry, Prof. Ernest A. Rogers, Dr. Hubert E. Smith, Howard Tyson, Frank F. Watkins, and Rev. Henry H. Wintler.

The next major event for our Club was the meeting at which the Rotary International charter was formally presented to our Club.

This was the final official act which completed the formation and acceptance into Rotary International of the Rotary Club of Los Gatos.

This was an important occasion attended by many prominent people from Los Gatos, San Jose, Palo Alto and Oakland. This meeting took place at Hotel Lyndon in downtown Los Gatos on February 16, 1924. Eighty-eight Rotarians and guests were present.

[Edited from a reprint of the 50th Anniversary Roster by Howard Perry, President, The Rotary Club of Los Gatos] – 1949 -1950.