The story about Dr. Ralf Smedley
Ralph C. Smedley, Feb.22 1878 – Sept.11, 1965 was the founder of Toastmasters International, a speaking organization with more than 235,000 members in 106 countries and more than individual 12,000 clubs.

Smedley was born in Waverly, Illinois. After his graduation from the University in 1903, he started working at the local YMCA.

As Educational Director of the "Y" he discovered there was a need for training in speech because many young men were tongue-tied and awkward in their presentations. To help them improve, he created a club where they could practice public speaking in an atmosphere of acceptance and assistance. The idea was a success – the young men’s skills improved. However, the club was not self-sustaining. 


Four times, Dr. Smedley was transferred by his employer, and each time a club he left behind eventually died. After 16 years, he was finally transferred to Santa Ana, California, where his concept of self-sustaining clubs for the practice and improvement of public speech grew into reality.


Dr. Smedley established Toastmasters as “a nonprofit, noncommercial movement, for the benefit of its members,” and never made a penny from his creation. 
He worked for the YMCA until retirement at the age of 63 and then volunteered his services to Toastmasters until shortly before his death at 87.


The Club in Santa Ana is fluorishing nowadays and still bears the #1.

Dr. Ralph C. Smedley Citation:

"The unprepared speaker has a right to be afraid."