Submitted by: PDG Tom Riley
This picture is of Chesley R. Perry, the longest serving General Secretary of Rotary International.
Perry started as Part time Secretary of the nascent organization in 1910 and became full time Secretary in 1912. During his 32 year tenure as Secretary, he started and edited the Rotary magazine, opened Rotary’s offices in Geneva, Switzerland, and oversaw the growth of Rotary from a few dozen clubs to over 5000 at his retirement in 1942. In the last year of his tenure he was made General Secretary of the organization, the highest staff position in Rotary International.
There have been 11 General Secretaries since Perry.
Phillip C. Lovejoy 1942-1952
George R. Means 1952-1972
Harry A. Stewart 1972-1978
Herbert A. Pigman 1979-1986;1993-1995
Phillip H. Lindsey 1986-1989
Hugh M. Archer 1989-1990
Spencer Robinson Jr. 1990-1993
Geoffrey S. large 1995-1997
S. Aaron Hyatt 1997-2000
Edwin H. Futa 2000-2011
John P. Hewko 2011-present
John Hewko was named CEO as well as General Secretary of the organization by an enactment at the 2016 Council on Legislation, and is the Highest ranking permanent Officer in Rotary International, since Presidents of Rotary serve only for one year.
Tom Riley
PDG