Foundations and First Convictions
Organized in 1919 as Asia's first Rotary club, the Club spent its first decade building habits meant to last. It launched The Rotary Balita in April 1919, helped introduce Boy Scouting to the Philippines and organize the Manila Boy Scout Council in 1923, and joined relief efforts after Japan's 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake.
- 1919
PresidentLeon J. Lambert
Leon J. Lambert, a prominent American businessman and president of Lambert Sales Company, founded the Rotary Club of Manila with 38 charter members, becoming its first president. During his term, Asia’s first Rotary club received Charter No. 478 on June 1, 1919, established weekly luncheon meetings at the Manila Hotel, and launched Rotary Balita to chronicle its projects and activities.
- 1919–1920
PresidentJames C. Rockwell
James C. Rockwell, a charter member and utilities executive who helped electrify Manila and later became MERALCO’s first president, led the Rotary Club of Manila through its first full Rotary year. Succeeding founding president Leon J. Lambert, he served during Rotary’s early expansion in Asia; internationally, his term coincided with the first “Boys Week,” organized by the Rotary Club of New York in May 1920.
- 1920–1921
PresidentFrederick H. Stevens
Frederick H. Stevens, a businessman who spent 47 years in the Philippines and later authored Santo Tomas Internment Camp, served as the club’s third president. His presidency formed part of the club’s early efforts, continued under E. E. Elser, to establish Boy Scouting in the Philippines. His longstanding contributions earned him the club’s Distinguished Member Award in 1952 and Special Award in 1969.
- 1921–1922
PresidentRay W. Berdeau
Ray W. Berdeau, a Cornell University graduate and engineer experienced in canal construction and dredging, served as the Rotary Club of Manila’s fourth president. His term coincided with major international reforms: Rotary’s constitution and bylaws were comprehensively revised, a standard constitution became mandatory for newly organized clubs, and the International Association of Rotary Clubs adopted the shorter name “Rotary International.”
- 1922–1923
PresidentEdwin E. Elser
Edwin E. Elser, an insurance executive and charter member, served as the Rotary Club of Manila’s fifth president. He championed Boy Scouting in the Philippines, with the club seeking assistance from the Boy Scouts of America in December 1922 to establish a national council. His term also coincided with Rotary’s adoption of Resolution 34, which clarified its approach to community service.
- 1923–1924
PresidentCharles Russell Zeininger
Charles Russell Zeininger, an advertising executive and scholar of Greek history who later served with distinction in World War II, was the club’s sixth president. In October 1923, he convened prominent Manila residents to establish the Manila Boy Scout Council. On December 27, the Boy Scouts of America recognized it as Philippine Islands Council No. 545, with jurisdiction throughout the archipelago.
- 1924–1925
PresidentJohn P. Wade
John P. Wade served as the Rotary Club of Manila’s seventh president during a period of international expansion. His term coincided with Rotary issuing its 2,000th charter, establishing a secretariat branch in Zurich, and extending into five additional countries. The Philippines also made its Olympic debut at the 1924 Paris Games, represented by sprinter David Nepomuceno.
- 1925–1926
PresidentWilliam J. Shaw
William J. Shaw, an industrialist associated with Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific Company (AG&P), served as the Rotary Club of Manila’s eighth president. He had worked as a ship’s busboy to finance his passage to Manila before building a career in engineering, manufacturing, and steel fabrication. Beyond his Rotary presidency, he founded Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in 1931; Shaw Boulevard commemorates his legacy.
- 1926–1927
PresidentEwald E. Selph
Ewald E. Selph, a prominent American attorney and senior partner of Ross, Lawrence, Selph & Carrascoso, served as the Rotary Club of Manila’s ninth president. His term coincided with Rotary’s 1927 convention in Ostend, Belgium, where King Albert I affirmed international friendship and brotherhood. The convention also adopted the Aims and Objects plan as recommended practice for club administration and activities.
- 1928–1929
PresidentEugene A. Perkins
Eugene Arthur Perkins, a prominent American attorney and Siamese consul in the Philippines, served two consecutive terms as president of the Rotary Club of Manila. He led the club during its tenth founding anniversary, when membership numbered 112 and included Filipino, American, British, Spanish, Chinese, German, and Japanese members. His presidency marked a decade of Rotary service and international fellowship in Manila.
Presidents and term notes from the Past presidents roll, drawn from “The Work That Endures” (2026) and the Balita archive.