The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of US$1,000 to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.
It was established in 1957 to show appreciation for and encourage substantial contributions to what was then the Foundation’s only program, Rotary Foundation Fellowships for Advanced Study, the precursor to Ambassadorial Scholarships.
The first Paul Harris Fellows include 1937-38 RI Director Allison G. Brush and longtime RI Treasurer Rufus F. Chapin, both for donations made in 1946. Mrs. Adan Vargas was the first woman to receive the recognition, for a gift made in 1953. Mrs. Harry L. Jones was the second, and one of only five people recognized for contributions made in 1957.
Early Paul Harris Fellows received a certificate of recognition. In 1969, the Foundation unveiled the first Paul Harris Fellow medallion at the RI Convention in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Japanese metal artist Fiju Tsuda created the piece under the direction of then-past Foundation Trustee Kyozo Yuasa. Today, Paul Harris Fellows receive a certificate and pin. They are also eligible to purchase a Paul Harris Fellow medallion.
Rotarians have a tradition of supporting the Foundation by honoring others. Ida LeTulle Taylor became a Paul Harris Fellow in 1978 when her husband, then-District Governor Vann Taylor, made a donation in her name in honor of their 34th wedding anniversary. The gift also made her the 25,000th Paul Harris Fellow.
At the International Assembly in 1979, then-RI President-elect James Bomar challenged each Rotary club to make one non-Rotarian a Paul Harris Fellow. The Rotary Club of Pikesville, Maryland, USA, responded by making a donation in the name of Mother Teresa in 1980. The entertainer Pearl Bailey also became a Paul Harris Fellow through a joint effort of the Rotary clubs in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Many other notable figures have been named as Paul Harris Fellows, including U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Russian President Boris Yeltsin, U.S. astronaut James Lovell, UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, and Jonas Salk.
The number of Paul Harris Fellows reached the one million mark in 2006.
Single Time
PHF Recipients
*Donald Grieve
*Robert Good
*Robert Brooks
*Russel Clark
*Myron Stamp
*Alton Hauck
*George Blodgett
*Anthony Bonadona
*Willard Chapin
*George Krauss
*Paul Sternberg
*Vince Cali
*Gordon McGuire
*#Benjamine Green
*Harold Popp
*#Jerry Moberg
#Kevin Bohn
*#Nicholas Dovolas
Rodney Eaton
#David Hauck
#Eileen Witheral
#Eleanor Kruetter
*Russell Kenney
*#Clark Rice
Richard Betts
*#Thomas Rice
Ed Rechberger,III
Daryl Heiby
*Michael Serventi
#Ann Page
*J.N. White
*#June Bauer
*Douglas Bliss
Thomas Hendrickson
Terrence Murphy
*Philip Parsons
Two Time
PHF Recipients
*Nelson Carney
*Ross Roberts
*Donald Hughes
*Harold Parker
*Lewis Serventi
*William Vickers
*Dr. Jack Spellicy
*John Matson
*Norm McIntyre
*Paul Gibson
*Roger Paddock
*Marshall Deeney
Howard Wood
Roy Humberstone
Sharon Holtz
*Ruth Gibson
John McClurg
Sam Gullo
Wesley Kline Jr
Dr. Ralph Field
Jeff Fitch
*Frederick E. Reed
Judy Milhollen
Denis Berwanger
Nancy Meissel
Sally Bliss
Year of
Award
1978
1984
1985
1985
1985
1986
1988
1988
1988
1988
1988
1989
1989
1991
1991
1992
1993
1993
1993
1993
1993
1995
1996
1996
1997
1997
1997
1997
1998
1998
1999
1999
1999
2000
2001
2001
Year of
Award
1981, 1997
1982, 1997
1986, 2001
1987, 2001
1988, 1997
1988, 2001
1989, 1997
1990, 2007
1992, 2001
1993, 2003
1995, 2009
1993, 1997
1997, 2007
1999, 2011
2001, 2016
2002, 2006
2003, 2009
2003, 2019
2003, 2019
2003, 2019
2004, 2016
2005, 2015
2008, 2021
2014, 2020
2016, 2021
2018, 2020
Single Time
PHF Recipients
Michael Kelly
Anne Humphrey
Arnie Dueppengiesser
*#Edwin Wojtowicz
#Esther Dake
#Kathy Balus
Douglas Seeber
#Margaret Parker
#Rick Hauser
Donna Francis
*Robert McClurg
#Ruth Parker
Dr. Bill Stavisky
Dr. Eric Bryant
#Roger Kelly
#Dr. Rodney Logan
*Mike Hughes
Jeff Rase
Dr. Leslie DeGroff
#Betty Rice
#Merle Webster
Donald Reiman
Amanda Parker
#Renee Koziel
Cindy Hendrickson
Ann Burlingham
Eleanor Jacobs
Tim VonSanden
Don Felix
*Anita Billings
Dr. Timothy J. DeRuyter
Don O'Geen
Dorothy Regis
Eric Kelly
Joe Gozelski
Randy White
Meghan Hauser
Barbara Cowie
Betsy Degroff
James Brick
Daryl McLaughlin
Three Time
PHF Recipients
*Donald Butler
Michele Rechberger-Kline
Betty Emerling
Four Time
PHF Recipient
*Philip Cowie
Hans Kunze
Eight Time
PHF Recipient
Eric Parker
*Deceased
#Non-Rotarian
Year of
Award
2001
2001
2001
2003
2004
2005
2007
2007
2007
2009
2009
2009
2001
2010
2010
2010
2011
2012
2012
2012
2012
2013
2013
2014
2014
2015
2015
2016
2016
2016
2017
2017
2017
2017
2017
2017
2018
2018
2018
2019
2020
Year of
Award
1988, 2006, 2010
2006, 2017, 2021
2014, 2014, 2017
Year of
Award
1990, 1998, 2008, 2012
2006, 2018, 2019, 2021
Year of
Award
2001, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2020