It was in this environment that Lester Mansfield, an automobile dealer in Fort Dodge initiated efforts to organize a Rotary Club here. During 1916 he had made many business trips to Des Moines and while there visited their Rotary Club. Lester was greatly impressed with the organization including the objects and purposes of Rotary International. At Noon on May 9, 1917, the charter members met at the Wahkonsa Hotel, and this became the first official meeting of the Fort Dodge Rotary Club. At the next meeting, May 16, 1917, the standard Rotary constitution was adopted, by-laws were established, and officers were elected.

During the past years, the history of our Rotary Club, to a great degree, parallels or mirrors the history of the City of Fort Dodge. We have had as members most of the outstanding men and more recently women – from our city. The activity, growth, and progress of our city has been to a large measure promoted and carried out by the members of the Rotary Club.