The Rotary Club
The Second Part of the
Decade The 1920’s
The second part of the decade of the 1920’s saw W. Thornton "Speedy"
Estes as our president in 1926-1927. Thornton Estes was followed by James H.
Eddy, the manager of the Kaul Lumber Company in 1927-1928; Dr. Charles
B. Glenn, Superintendent of the Birmingham Public School System in
1928-1929; and Darius A. Thomas, president of Montevallo Coal Mining
Company in 1929-1930.
It was March 7th of 1927 that marked the occasion of the death of J.
Frank Rushton, president of this club in 1916-1917 and the first president of this
club to pass away. Frank Rushton was born in November of 1876 in Columbia,
Maury County, Tennessee. He was the son of William J. and Louise (Chaffin)
Rushton. His father, William J. Rushton, was also a member of this club. Frank
Rushton married Willis Roberts in 1899 and had been educated at local
schools here in Birmingham. He worked with his father at Birmingham Ice & Cold
Storage, at one time known as Birmingham Ice Company, and succeeded him as
president.
Frank and Willis Rushton had eight children including William J. Rushton,
our own Billy Rushton’s father and Allen Rushton, our own Allen D. Rushton’s
father. All were or are members of this club. Frank Rushton was a
member and long-time president and Elder of First Presbyterian Church and
was a member of many other Birmingham clubs. Widely beloved throughout
the community, Rushton presided over our club during the trying years which
saw America’s entry into World War One. The government recruited our club
to mobilize national morale and home resources. Dubbed "Allied Armies"
with Frank Rushton as "Field Marshall," the organization was effective in
establishing a pattern for civic campaigns, including several Liberty Bond
Drives. Frank Rushton also served as a director and board member of the
Community Chest Drive in 1925. The Rushton family has long been an
important part of the community and of Rotary’s leadership; and Frank
Rushton, as president, served this club well.