One of the oldest and largest civic clubs in Meridian celebrated a century of service to its community this week.

    Rotary Club of Meridian, organized Feb. 3, 1916, is one of 34,000 local clubs worldwide providing food, clothing, clean water, health services, children’s reading and literacy programs.

    On the occasion of its centennial anniversary, a special luncheon was held at Northwood Country Club Wednesday. Rotary Club of Meridian President Tom Tabereaux said in keeping with the Rotary’s motto “Service above Self”, the organization will establish a permanent scholarship endowment fund to Meridian Community College.

    “This is a fund that we intend to contribute to as time goes by,” Tabereaux said. “Both as a club and club members, we hope that will eventually result in several scholarships for young people to further their education.”

     Meridian Community College President Dr. Scott Elliot said MCC was  honored to be the recipient of the scholarship endowment.

    “As the years progress, the monies earned from the endowment will provide deserving students with support that will assist them in attaining their educational goals,” Elliott said. “MCC has long been associated with the Rotary Club through its annual gifts to our scholarship program, but this endowment takes that partnership to an even higher level.

    “I am confident that the investment they’ve made will be returned many fold in terms of the student recipients who will go on to enjoy productive careers and become the future leaders of our community.”

     Rotary District Governor Barbara Travis praised Rotary of Meridian for a century of service that helped build Meridian into a vibrant and thriving community.

    “This is a wonderful community. The people in this room and all the Rotarians who have gone before you have built this community,” Travis said. “Those early members had thoughts that led to actions, those actions led to service habits, and those service habits built organizational character, and the character of those Rotarians helped to build, and continue to build the destiny of Meridian.”

    Travis acknowledged Rotary Club of Meridian has produced seven district governors, with only the Jackson and Greenville organizations surpassing with eight.

    “I’m extremely optimistic about what lies ahead for this community because of what the Rotary Club of Meridian and its partnering organizations have to offer,” Travis said. “Even though your city is a welcoming place blessed with great education and healthcare institutions, is a wonderful place for families, is livable, affordable and a center for the arts, it’s equally important to note and perhaps even more significant that you are blessed with great community spirit, reflected so well in the activities of the Rotary Club of Meridian whose history we honor.”

    Past Rotary of Meridian presidents were recognized. In attendance were Nelson Hall, Wink Glover, Charles Roberts, Tom Maynor, Robert Ward, Bill Skaggs, Gene Damon, Bill Elliott, George T. (Bubba) Hampton, Sam Long, Manny Mitchell, Bob Coffin, Kent Davis, Fred Porter, Paul Bucurel, Roger Burke, Becky Farley, Andrew Covington, Arjen Lagendijk, Wanda Colviin, Will Simmons and Tom Tabereaux.