The History of CKI

It all began with a helping-minded Kiwanian named Jay N. Emerson.  In 1936, he presented to the Pullman Washington Kiwanis Club the idea that they should purchase a house that could be rented to young men in need of assistance in order to attend the local college. The plan became a reality as the Kiwanians established the "Circle K House" at Washington State College.  It took eleven years and a little evolution for the idea of the “Circle K House” becoming a service club like those we know today that promote fellowship, leadership, and service. This first club was chartered at Carthage College in Carthage, Illinois. 

            Circle K continued to rapidly grow.  Soon, there was need for a distinct structure. The first four unofficial districts were California-Nevada-Hawaii, Michigan, Texas-Oklahoma, and Missouri-Arkansas. In 1957, Texas-Oklahoma District became the first officially chartered district. The Carolinas District jumped on the bandwagon soon after, chartering in 1961.

             In 1953, Circle Kers decided it was time to celebrate.  They converged on New York City, New York, for the first ever International Convention.

But it is not only where Circle K came from that is important…what it stands for is even more meaningful.  Circle Kers live heroically by their creed, “I pledge to uphold the Objects of Circle K International, to foster compassion and goodwill toward others through service and leadership, to develop my abilities and the abilities of all people, and to dedicate myself to the realization of mankind’s potential.”