A Rotary Club in Waukegan had first been discussed by Garfield A. Bowden, W.I. Lyon and a group of friends as they hiked along the Dead River. Bowden had seen and admired the civic work of a Rotary Club in Manikato, MN and thought their conservation efforts would interest Lyon, a well known real estate professional and internationally known ornithologist. On November 15, 1916, a week after an organization meeting, the charter was presented to the club at the Hotel Washburn on Water Street. The presentation was made by Herbert Angster, Lake Bluff resident and member of the Chicago Rotary Club. Since 1967, the Rotary Club of Waukegan has been involved in youth exchange activities, hosting students from Argentina, Austria, Germany, Australia, Japan, Brazil, Equador, Finland, and India. Other youth activities have included recognition luncheons honoring academic and athletic achievers from area high schools.
