[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15608]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO THE COLUMBIA CLUB

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TODD ROKITA

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 12, 2014

  Mr. ROKITA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and salute an 
extraordinary Hoosier institution, The Columbia Club, which celebrates 
its 125th anniversary this year. I wish to express my admiration and 
appreciation for the Club and its members' service to our community, 
state, and country.
  The Columbia Club was originally formed in 1889 by local prominent 
Republicans as the Harrison Marching Society to support the 
presidential campaign of the last Hoosier president, Benjamin Harrison. 
After the election, the Society moved into a clubhouse on Monument 
Circle and changed its name to the Columbia Club to continue operating 
as a private club. As its membership grew, the Columbia Club became the 
premier private club in Indianapolis. No longer a partisan club; the 
Columbia Club welcomes Hoosiers of all political stripes and 
affiliations as members to share in fellowship.
  The Columbia Club's members can also join associations within the 
Club. It hosts the Columbian Business Network, Columbian Veteran's 
Association, Columbia Club Devine Dames--a chapter of the National Red 
Hat Society, and the Harrison Society--the Club's premier group for 
young professionals.
  In 1925, the current home of the Columbia Club was built on 
Indianapolis' famed Monument Circle on the very location that the 
original building was once located. In 1983, the current structure was 
added to the National Register of Historic Places. Legend indicates 
that the founders of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the 
Indianapolis 500, met at the club to discuss construction of the famed 
track. It also served as host to discussions that eventually brought 
the NFL's Colts to Indianapolis.
  The Columbia Club has hosted every Republican President since 
Benjamin Harrison while in office or as a candidate. Thousands of 
business leaders and politicians have been members of the Club as have 
famous Hoosiers like musician Hoagy Carmichael and Impressionist T.C. 
Steele. Each year the Club holds its annual Beefsteak Dinner, of which 
I had the honor to keynote on October 7, of this year.
  Congratulations to the Columbia Club and all of its current and 
former members for the 125 years of excellence in our Indianapolis 
community.

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