Wallingford native Paul Harris founded Rotary, one of the world’s most successful humanitarian organizations. After college and law school, Harris settled in Chicago. Longing for the kind of camaraderie he enjoyed in Rutland County, he started the first Rotary club in 1905 so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Rotary quickly developed a focus on service. From working to eradicate polio to taking action to improve local communities, today 1.2 million members of Rotary clubs worldwide live by two mottoes: Service Above Self and One Profits Most Who Serves Best.