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GUS LOEHR IS DEAD
 (Gustavus
H. Loehr was one of the four men who met to
organize the first Rotary Club in Chicago in February
23, 1905, in Loehr's own office "Room
711." Loehr's
membership in Rotary terminated several years ago. His
death recently resulted in the following letter to THE
ROTARIAN from Paul Harris, President Emeritus of
Rotary.)
Gus Loehr, who was one of the four in attendance at the first
Rotary meeting, has been summoned to the Great Beyond.
His unusually reticent nature impeded his progress in Rotary and
absorption in business matters after a few years resulted in
termination of his membership.
The fact that he was one of the first group of Rotarians is a
matter of some general interest to Rotarians. Loehr was of very
special interest to his small circle of intimate friends. I do
not think that I have ever known a man of so few intimate
friends nor one more loved by those who knew him.
He
was capable of a degree of generosity toward the poor and
afflicted wonderful to behold. Gus could be depended upon at a
minute's notice at any time to literally turn his pockets inside
out and hand every cent in his possession to the first newsboy
or scrubwoman with a tale of distress. He never required proof.
Impetuous in the extreme, he would roar like a lion at friend or
foe but he would instantly capitulate on the very first
indication that his words hurt. He would do more than that, he
would melt, I have never seen rage more torrential than his, but
he couldn't bear the sight of a tear.
I
have known him to travel from poverty to affluence and back
again all within a period of a year or two. He could take the
worst blow fortune could deal him without the bat of an eye, or
its best favors as matters of course.
Level roads failed to interest him. His trail was always up hill
or down. He loved the hill tops for the views they gave him, the
valleys for the opportunity to climb.
Such was generous, impulsive, optimistic, lion‑hearted,
tender‑hearted Gus.
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