Tri-City Press Club
The Tri-City Press Club is an organization representing some sixty odd
working news-paper men of the Cities of Rock Island, Moline and Davenport.
The condition of active membership is identical with the editorial or
business departments of the papers and other reputable journals of the
three cities. Two other classes of membership are honorary and
non-resident. The Club was organized at a banquet tendered representatives
of the press of the three cities at Black Hawk Inn by Charles McHugh and
J. F. Lardner, in September, 1898. The Club at its first meeting elected
Mr. McHugh and Mr. Lardner honorary members, and since that time has added
the names of H. E. Downer, of Davenport; J. T. McCutcheon, George Ade, H.
B. Chamberlain, R. E. Little, W. J. Bryan, Captain W. T. Thompson, Rabbi
W. H. Fineschriber, Henry Watterson, James Whitcomb Riley and Sir Robert
Ball to that list.
The following have served as presidents : 1898, Walter Johnson, Rock
Island; 1899, J. E. Calkins, Davenport, 1900; P. S. Mc-Glynn, Moline;
1901, H. P. Simpson, Rock Island; 1902, L. P. McClarrien, Davenport; 1903,
J. H. McKeever, Moline; 1904, Robert Rexdale, Rock Island; 1905, B. F.
Tillinghast, Davenport; 1906, John Sundine, Moline; 1907, Val. J. Peter,
Rock Island.
The Club meets alternately in Moline, Rock Island and Davenport, each
business meeting being supplemented by an entertaining and instructive
program and dinner. Each year the Club becomes sponsor for a high class,
intellectual public entertainment. The Club is affiliated with the
National Association of Press Clubs.
Source: Historic Rock Island County, pub. Kramer & Company, Rock Island, Illinois, 1908