Rotary Club of Saginaw Charter Members

and Their Occupations

... club was founded on Feb. 1, 1914

Frank Bastain -- owner of Bastian Bros. Printing (catalogs, books, job printing).

William Biles -- manager of Saginaw Milling Company.

Sidney D. Bolton -- secretary/manager of Bolton Auto Company (repairs and sales).

John A. Cimmerer -- owner of Oakland Vinegar and Pickle Company; two terms as president of Saginaw Board of Trade.

Dr. Walter L. Crego -- dentist; one of the first members of the University of Michigan Marching Band and was class president, graduating in 1902.

Frank A. Ferguson -- head of A. Ferguson & Sons Insurance Agency (founded by his father in 1880).

William J. Grant -- proprietor of Grant Transfer Line (freight). 

Max P. Heavenrich Sr. -- president of Heavenrich Bros. & Co. clothing company; president of Saginaw Community Chest 1919-1951; member of the Hoyt Library Board of Trustees. In 1961 an elementary school was named in his honor.

Robert T. Holland -- attorney. Entered practice in 1893; served as prosecuting attorney of Saginaw County and City of Saginaw attorney; appointed circuit judge in 1944.

John J. Ladd -- president of J. W. Ladd Company (dairy supplies).

Gustav Oppermann -- founder of The Oppermann Fur Company;  president of Saginaw Board of Education (1916-1917); charter member of Germania Society; great grandfather of current Rotary Club of Saginaw member Dave Oppermann.

John J. Rupp -- first president of People’s Savings Bank (1887).

Edward Schust -- general manager/secretary/treasurer of Schust Baking Company (crackers, cookies, confections).

Arthur Seeley -- owner of A. W. Seeley Lumber Company; co-founder of Diamond Lumber Company operating in Green Bay, Wis.

John W. Smart -- manager of Michigan Drug Company.

Wallis Craig Smith -- attorney; fostered Rotary’s interest of scouting while president of Saginaw Boy Scout Council; president of Pit and Balcony Community Theatre (1938-1941); president of Saginaw Development Company which explored for gas; second president of Rotary Club of Saginaw.

Charles W. Stiver -- mass producer of lightweight boats and Dow metal canoes.

John W. Symons -- associated with twin brother, Sam, and James S. Smart in firm of James S. Smart and Company (wholesale groceries); Smart withdrew from the business in 1886 and name of firm changed to Symons Bros. & Co.; president of the Saginaw Board of Commerce.

Martin W. Tanner -- president of M. W. Tanner Company (dry goods, carpets, clothing).

Dr. Eugene Clarence Warriner -- superintendent of Saginaw Public Schools.

Hamilton Watson -- president of H. Watson Company (crockery, glass, china).

George B. Willcox -- attorney; mechanical engineer and patent attorney; president and manager of Willox Engineering Company; Rotary Club of Saginaw’s first president.

Merrill W. Wilcox  -- president/general manager of Wilcox-McKim Company (auto parts of boat motors).