Brief History

In 1913, the Rotary Club of Nashville was chartered, the first in Tennessee. This was only eight years after Paul Harris founded Rotary in Chicago. The Memphis and Chattanooga clubs were chartered in 1914. The Knoxville Rotary Club was chartered in 1915 following a trade visit to that city by a group of businessmen from Louisville, Kentucky; one of the businessmen was a Rotarian. Harriman, chartered in 1919, was the fifth Rotary Club chartered in Tennessee and the first outside the major cities.

The area that presently comprises District 6780 is defined as follows: "Tennessee, that portion east of western boundaries of the counties of Macon, Trousdale, Wilson, Cannon, Coffee, Bedford, and Lincoln, and west of the western boundaries of the counties of Sullivan and Greene." This boundary has been in effect since July 1, 1950.

This geographical area has been a part of many Rotary Districts over the years. Here are some of the Districts of which the present 6780 area was once a part:

• 1915 - District 6: Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Arkansas.
  
• 1918 - District 13: Kentucky and Tennessee.
  
• 1922 - District 23: Kentucky, Tennessee (except Shelby County), and Virginia (that portion west of the eastern boundaries of the counties of Tazewell, Smyth, and Washington).
  
• 1925 - District 52: Tennessee (except Shelby County) and Virginia (that portion west of the eastern boundaries of the counties of Tazewell, Smyth, and Washington).
  
• 1937 - District 163: Tennessee (except Shelby County and that portion east of the western boundaries of the counties of Hancock, Hawkins, and Greene).
  
• 1949 - District 236: Tennessee, that portion west of the western boundaries of the counties of Sullivan and Greene, except Shelby County.
  
• 1950 - District 237: Tennessee, that portion east of the western boundaries of Macon, Trousdale, Wilson, Cannon, Coffee, Bedford, and Lincoln, and west of the western boundaries of the counties of Sullivan and Greene.
  
• 1957 - District 678: Same as District 237 except number was changed.
  
• 1991 - District 6780: Same as District 678 except number was changed.

Distinguished Rotarians of District 6780

District 6780 holds the rare distinction of having six of its past district governors serve as directors of Rotary International and two to serve as president. They have brought honor and recognition to themselves and this district through individual distinguished leadership.

John F. Germ Member: Rotary Club of Chattanooga Governor, District 6780, 1996-97 Director, Rotary International 2003-05 2007 - 2008 Presidential Aide
James L. Lacy Member: Rotary Club of Cookeville Governor, District 6780, 1980-1981 National Polio Plus Coordinator, 1986-1988 Director, Rotary International, 1988-1990 Moderator, International Assembly, 1992 Trustee, Rotary Foundation, 1994-1997 President, Rotary International, 1998-1999
William T. Sergeant Member: Rotary Club of Oak Ridge Governor, District 678, 1964-1965 Director, Rotary International, 1980-1981 Vice President, Rotary International, 1981-1982 Moderator, International Assembly, 1984 Chairman, International Convention, 1990 Chairman, International Convention, 1990 Chairman, Council on Legislation, 1989, 1995 Chairman, International PolioPlus Committee, 1994-2001
James L. Bomar, Jr. (Deceased) Member: Rotary Club of Shelbyville Governor, District 678, 1969-1970 Director, Rotary International, 1974-1975 3rd Vice President, Rotary International, 1975-1976 Chairman, Council on Legislation, 1977 President, Rotary International, 1979-1980 Trustee, Rotary Foundation, 1980-1986
Charles H. Miller (Deceased) Member: Rotary Club of Knoxville Governor, District 678, 1960-1961 Director, Rotary International, 1966-1968 Trustee, Rotary Foundation, Two Terms Moderator, International Assembly, 1969 Chairman, International Convention, 1975
G. Webb Follin (Deceased) Member, Rotary Club of Shelbyville Governor, District 236, 1949-1950 Director, Rotary International, 1956-1958 Member, Committee on Re-Districting which resulted in District 236 being divided into Districts 676 and 678 effective July 1, 1950