THE INTERESTING LIFE OF SAM WINE
The 1st President of the Rotary Club of Arlington
Sam Wine, the first president of the Rotary Club of Arlington, moved to Arlington in 1915 as an employee of the Northern Texas Traction Company, which operated the electric trolley from Fort Worth to Dallas. The Interurban was powered by electricity generated at the plant on Lake Erie (later submerged by Lake Arlington) in Handley. As the public transportation side of the business rapidly waned with the widespread adoption of the automobile, the electricity side took off. In time, it became a part of the Texas Electric Service Company. Wine was general manager of the Arlington District for about fifty years.
Education was always an important priority throughout our club’s history. Many members either served with the school district or with NTAC (ASC, UTA). Wine served as school board trustee in 1923-31. In fact, he was involved in the affairs of the community in many different ways over the decades. He was the Arlington Masonic Lodge’s Worshipful Master for the 1933-34 year. He was also involved in the creation of the Chamber of Commerce and was one of its numerous active boosters. Many older citizens remember playing on the Reddy Kilowatts youth baseball team. The entire Wine family was active in Scouting. Sam’s wife, Hettie, with teacher Alice Mulkey started the first Girl Scout Troop in Tarrant County. Through it all, Sam stayed active in Rotary, serving many years as secretary.
Sam Wine was an Arlington booster, being involved in virtually all aspects of the community’s life for five decades. He died in 1965.