After coming down from Cedar City, UT. Dr. M. J McFarlane organized the Rotary Club of St. George in the old Liberty Hotel. The Club was admitted on January 29, 2007 under Charter No. 1079 and has changed the southern Utah community in many positive ways over the past 76 years.

As one of the oldest, most respected, and fastest growing service clubs in Washington County this club is well known for the service they provide to our community, nation, and world.

Over the years, St. George Rotary project have included:

• Collecting 500 glasses for the visually impaired in the Philippines.
• Purchasing dozens of wheelchairs for men, women, and children with disabilities in third world countries
• Gathering shoes for those in need at Mexico
• Sending money and representatives to build homes for families in Guatemala
• Purchasing a school bus to transport young men to a special school in Thailand
• Built Kiosks at hiking and biking trailhead throughout Washington County
• Founded Safety Town for area preschools
• Provided financial support for the celebration and recognition of sterling scholar in all high schools in the Washington County School District.

Even before the Constitution and Bylaws of Rotary International were sanctioned from “men only” to include women into membership, the Rotary Club of St. George welcomed two of its very first women into full membership: Linda Sappington, a public relations consultant and Lillian Smith as the Postmaster. From there the club has had many outstanding woman Rotarians many of whom were honored in the Rotary’s Centennial Celebration. The percentage of women in membership in the Rotary Club of St. George is slightly higher than in other clubs, due in part to the inclusive attitude among male members.

Although the club’s focus center is upon the betterment of both our community, nation, and the world, another focus that is starting to be brought about is that of Rotary-sponsored service club’s for young men and women ages 14-18 and 18-30 called the Interact Club and Rotaract Club.

Interact Clubs have been organized by the Rotary Club of St. George at Snow Canyon, Dixie, and Pine View High School helping to give these teenagers ages 14-18 a chance to participate in fun, meaningful service projects while developing leadership skills and meeting new friends. Interact has contributed too much of the success and growth in these teenagers.

Rotaract Club was initiated on the Dixie State College campus in an effort to “Partner in service” while developing future Rotarians. The numbers are small, but the enthusiasm for the ideals of Rotary is growing daily among this new population.

Linda Sappington stated it perfectly in her writing of the history of our club “As the community grows and new young leaders are recruited for membership, all Rotarians—no matter their age of length of time in the club—can look back proudly at this club’s outstanding accomplishments, the quality of leadership among its members, and at the same time, can look forward to Rotary’s bright future in southwestern Utah.”