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 Bonadonna
*Dr. Willard Chapin
*George Krauss
*Dr. Paul Sternberg
*Vince Cali
*Gordon McGuire
*#Benjamine Green
*Harold Popp
*#Jerry Moberg
*#Kevin Bohn
*#Nicholas Dovolas
Rodney Eaton
#David Hauck
#Eileen Witherel
#Eleanor Kruetter
*Russell Kenney
*#Clark Rice
Richard Betts
*#Thomas Rice
*Ed Rechberger,III
*Michael Serventi
*#Ann Page
*J.N. White
*#June Bauer
*Douglas Bliss
Thomas Hendrickson
Terrence Murphy
*Philip Parsons
Michael Kelly
Anne Humphrey
*Arnie Dueppengiesser
*#Edwin Wojtowicz
#Esther Dake
#Kathy Balus
Douglas Seeber
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
*Dr. Marshall Deeney
Howard Wood
Roy Humberstone
Sharon Holtz
*Ruth Gibson
Jeff Fitch
*Frederick E. Reed
Judy Milhollen
Denis Berwanger
Dr. Timothy J. DeRuyter
Nancy Meissel
Donna Francis
Jeff Rase
Betsy Degroff
Don O'Geen
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
1998
1998
1999
1999
1999
2000
2001
2001
2001
2001
2001
2003
2004
2005
2007
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
2004, 2016
2005, 2015
2008, 2021
2014, 2020
2017, 2020
2016, 2021
2009, 2022
2012, 2023
2018, 2023
2017, 2024
Single Time
PHF Recipients
#Margaret Parker
#Rick Hauser
*Robert McClurg
*#Ruth Parker
Dr. Eric Bryant
*#Roger Kelly
#Dr. Rodney Logan
*Mike Hughes
Dr. Leslie DeGroff
*#Betty Rice
#Merle Webster
Donald Reiman
Amanda Parker
#Renee Koziel
Cindy Hendrickson
Ann Burlingham
Tim VonSanden
*Don Felix
*Anita Billings
#Dorothy Regis
#Eric Kelly
Joe Gozelski
Randy White
#Meghan Hauser
#Barbara Cowie
James Brick
Daryl McLaughlin
*Dr. Paul Schneible
Kim Brown-Webster
Robert Scott
Jane Kelly
Devon Kelly
Tara Harding
Mike Fitch
Kevin Herbek
Leslie Kunze
Denise Macaluso
Three Time
PHF Recipients
*Donald Butler
Michele Rechberger-Kline
John McClurg
Dr. Ralph Field
*Sally Bliss
Daryl Heiby
Dr. Bill Stavisky
Dr. Leslie DeGroff
Four Time
PHF Recipient
*Philip Cowie
Hans Kunze
Wesley Kline Jr
Betty Emerling
Eleanor Jacobs
Randy White
Five Time
PHF Recipient
Sam Gullo
Six Time
PHF Recipient
Hans Kunze
Nine Time
PHF Recipient
Eric Parker
Major Donors
Jeff & Nancy Fitch
*Deceased
#Non-Rotarian
Year of
Award
2007
2007
2009
2009
2010
2010
2010
2011
2012
2012
2012
2013
2013
2014
2014
2015
2016
2016
2016
2017
2017
2017
2017
2018
2018
2019
2020
2021
2021
2021
2023
2023
2023
2024
2024
2024
2024
Year of
Award
1988, 2006, 2010
2006, 2017, 2021
2003, 2009, 2020
2003, 2019, 2022
2018, 2020, 2022
1997, 2022, 2023
2001, 2023, 2024
2012, 2021, 2024
Year of
Award
1990, 1998, 2008, 2012
2006, 2018, 2019, 2021
2003, 2019, 2022, 2023
2014, 2017, 2020, 2023
2015, 2019, 2022, 2024
2017, 2021, 2023, 2024
Year of
Award
2003, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024
Year of
Award
2006, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024
Year of
Award
2001, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2023