[ Home ] [ What's New in the Caulder Collection? ] [ Foreword by PRIVP Wilf Wilkinson ] [ Foreword by PRIT Tibor Gregor ] [ Joseph A. Caulder Biography ] [ Caulder's Combined Books Index ] [ Introduction, Book 1 ] [ Rotary Information, Book 1 ] [ Rotary Information, Book  2 ] [ Rotary Information, Book 3 ] [ Rotary Information, Book 4 ] [ Album 1-Table of Contents ] [ Album 1-Caulder's Foreword ] [ Album 1- RI Presidents ] [ Album 1-RI Gen. Secretaries ] [ Album 1-Early Notables ] [ Album 1-RI Treasurers ] [ Album 2 - Table of Contents ] [ Album 2 - Early RI Boards ] [ Album 2 - Canadian Area Vice Presidents ] [ Album 2 - Canadian R.I. Directors ] [ Album 2 - Notable Canadian Rotarians ] [ Album 2 - R.I.B.I. Presidents ] [ Album 2 - R.I.B.I. Secretaries ] [ Album 2 -  50th Anniversary of R.I. ] [ Album 2 - Caulder Articles on Early Rotary ] [ Quotes from Past RI Presidents ] [ Links to Other Important Rotary Sites ]

RICHARD H. WELLS - RICH IN FRIENDS

By Tom J. Davis - President

Rotary International 1941-42;

Attorney, Butte, Montana.

From-The Rotarian

February 1947

That's the memory thousands will cherish of Richard H. Wells, Rotary's 34th President.

Here amidst the mountains where for more than a quarter of a century he had made his home, our "Dick" Wells has been laid to rest. What he has meant to all who knew him is difficult to phrase. But I recall words from the Shakespeare he so loved to quote which sum up the personality of the man: "I am wealthy in my friends."

They start in Pocatello. His employees were almost like members of his family. His customers sought his advice with confidence that was refreshing to observe. His business competitors liked him. Throughout Idaho, and over the State line into Montana, where I live, Dick Wells has been known as a friendly man, always ready to help a worthy cause.

"I speak in every gathering where they cannot afford to pay for a good speaker," he once told me. The truth underlying the whimsey of that remark reveals the man. People liked to hear this broad-shouldered, red headed, quick-witted Westerner, for he read widely, thought deeply, and spoke with great sincerity.

He was active on the Selective Service Board, in war-loan drives, in Y.M.C.A. and Boy Scout work, and in numerous other civic, literary and religious activities. As president of the Idaho Society for Crippled Children, he found another outlet for the deep passion to help the less fortunate.

Once I asked Dick why he gave so freely of his time and effort. It was a banal question, but his answer is worth noting.

"I have a belief," he said, "that it's every man's duty to serve according to his talents."

Unquestionably, one of Dick's great talents was business. He came from Salt Lake City to Pocatello as a young man without friends and without capital. Agent for an insulation company, he went to work and sales piled up. He learned of a local business concern tottering into bankruptcy, investigated, and saw possibilities. Soon he had persuaded creditors to permit him to reorganize amd pay debts out of profits. Before long he owned a thriving enterprise, the Idaho Coal and Ice Company.

Dick's business interests expanded rapidly after that. They included a lumberyard, a farm implement store, a repair shop for trucks and farm machinery, a hardware store, several banks, and other lines. It surprises no one who knew him that at 28 he became the youngest man ever to be president of the Pocatello Chamber of Commerce.

But it was in Rotary that Dick really found himself. He was dubious of it at first, didn't want to be "a joiner", he said. Once in the Club he discovered that Rotary offered an outlet for his altruism and enthusiasm. In due course he became President of the Club, then District Governor. Soon he was serving Rotary International as a Committeeman. I recall that the year I was President, Dick made a great contribution to Rotary through his painstaking studies on the techniques and mechanics of Rotary.

It was at the "austerity" Convention of 1944 in Chicago that Dick became President, you will remember. The war was at its height, but our new President looked ahead realistically. Here is a characteristic comment, chiselled out of his message relayed to the Rotary World in the July, 1944, issue of The Rotarian.

"But are we ready for victory? Have we prepared ourselves for the peace which is to follow?. Can we carry on this unfinished work? If not, then the sacrifice of our sons and daughters will mock us. Will freedom have a new birth? If not, then unborn generations will scorn our fine words and history will record our ignominy."

Dick matched his words with his deeds. He flew to Britain with General Secretary Philip Lovejoy, then to Latin America, fearlessly posing the challenge of the peace to come. Future historians of Rotary cannot overlook the strong leadership Dick gave to Rotary in those stirring months. When his year was up, he still served Rotary - and has continued to do so .

And back in Pocatello he took up where he had left off - as friend of all. Devoted husband of Vilate, father of Gail and Anne, he found new joy as a grandfather. His family circle will miss him sorely, but so, in degree, will all who have ever come within the orbit of dynamic, friendly, smiling Dick Wells.

[Return to Richard H. Wells Page]

Rotary^® and Rotary International^® are registered trademarks of Rotary International

Webmaster:  dwm@mooers-law.com