On Friday the 17th, President of Methodist Hospital Foundation, Michael Driebe, proved to us what we’ve suspected for years – Arcadia Rotary and Methodist Hospital have been closely connected since both organizations’ beginning years in Arcadia.

Methodist Hospital was founded in 1903 in downtown Los Angeles by a small group of Methodist Deaconesses. With the Women’s Home Missionary Society, they acquired a humble two-story house on Hewitt Street, equipped it with 5 beds and began serving those who struggled to afford medical care.

Recognizing many more needed to be served, it moved to Hope Street with a 100-bed structure in 1915, and later doubled its size. The hospital’s finances, mission and future plans were impacted by the Great Depression, but the hospital made it through the difficult time with a strong board and unrelenting focus on its mission.

The 1940’s brought a change in American demographics. Families moved to the suburbs. Methodist saw the trend and, with the help of its then visionary administrator, Walter R. Hoefflin, its board investigated moving out of the city.

Simultaneously, in 1944, the board of Arcadia Rotary was instrumental in purchasing a 22-acre parcel in its city for the purpose of building a hospital. Walter Hoefflin read in the papers about Arcadia – and its Rotary Club’s – hospital plans.

Gordon Eberly, one of Arcadia Rotary’s board members at the time, chronicled the Club’s integral part in bringing Methodist to Arcadia. Starting in the mid-1940’s, Rotarians worked with the city and businesses, sat on countless planning committees and councils, and proposed their dream to the community. Many Arcadia Rotarians worked together to bring the hospital to its city, including Robert O. Wilson, Cot Ambler M.D.,Leo Meeker, Dwight Hulse, Al Perkins, Bill Dorsett, H.T. “Mick Michler” and countless others. After several years of persistence, countless meetings with the city and raising funds, both Rotary and the city dedicated a beautiful, modern hospital for its community on April 7th of 1957.

The new hospital had 138 beds and it was said there was no finer institution in all Southern California. Its first board consisted of nineteen members, five of which were Arcadia Rotarians. Several doctors and administrators from the hospital were also active members of Rotary. The Rotarians funded four of the rooms in the hospital.

Arcadia Rotary and the hospital continued to be closely connected through the years, and to present day. Dr. Jimmy Chinn, the first physician of Chinese heritage at Methodist became a member of Arcadia Rotary in 1958. Hospital chaplain Paul Johenk was also an active and beloved member of Rotary in the hospital’s early years, having served 26 years with the Club. Dr. Julian Love a leading physician with the hospital faithfully served with Rotary for years.

Since the hospital’s opening in 1957, every Methodist Hospital Chief Executive Officer has served with Rotary.

Today, we look back to Rotary’s invaluable investment in the hospital with contributions in the tens of thousands of volunteer and leadership hours and in excess of $3.35 million in documented financial support.

Gordon Eberly aptly said, “A community measures the worth of its service clubs by what they contribute to community betterment. Arcadia Rotary has a moment in the heart of the city that for generations to come will be a reminder to its citizens that Rotary conceived an idea to fill its city’s greatest need and then worked long and tirelessly for its fulfillment.”

Well said, Gordon. So, the connectedness with Rotary and Methodist continue. Without a doubt, Rotary will continue to have an influential role in the hospital’s future. And, Methodist is glad to have such a loyal partner.