The History of Circle K
In 1936, Jay N. Emerson, a member of the Pullman Washington Kiwanis Club, presented a plan to his club proposing that the Pullman Kiwanis Club purchase a house that could be rented to young men in need of assistance to attend the local college. The plan became a reality as the Kiwanians established the "Circle K House" at Washington State College. For 10 years, the "Circle K House" became affiliated with a Greek letter organization, although it continued to be sponsored by the Pullman Kiwanis Club.
Eleven years later in 1947, Donald T. Forsythe, Trustee of Kiwanis International, aided in transitioning Circle K from a fraternity to a service-oriented organization. That year, during September, the first Circle K club similar to the present day organization was chartered at Carthage College in Carthage, Illinois.
In 1955, Circle K officially became an international organization, and by 1964, CKI had become the largest collegiate service organization on American and Canadian college campuses. Currently, there are over 12,000 members in 30 different districts across the globe.
The Ohio District was chartered in 1958 as the 5th district in Circle K International.
