FOUNDING MEMBERS … Pictured here are officers for the newly organized Lions Club in Bryan. Seated, left to right: Robert Kerr, tail twister; Tom Johnston, president; Roy Kerr and Dr. D. S. Teters, directors. Standing, left to right: Robert Speck and Dr. Paul Meckstroth, directors; Harry Russell, secretary; NA Barnes, treasurer: Don Zeller, first vice-president; Ellsworth Gretors, lion tamer; D. G. Adams, second vice-president; Russell Kessen, third vice-president. The photo was captured by Don Reineke.
By: Anna Wozniak
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
anna@thevillagereporter.com
Chartered on February 23, 1949, the Bryan Lions Club just recently celebrated 75 years of existence, sharing at their ceremony that they have “provided hundreds of eyeglasses, over $35,000 in scholarships, performed countless community projects, and donated to many worthy causes while having fun and fellowship,” with plans to continue doing so in the future.
While originally chartered in 1940, World War II put the club into a 9-year hiatus. The club is centered around community involvement, and everyone was encouraged to do their part for the war.
Once life settled down, the club began again, and has since remained “an advocate for the blind and other-sighted.”
Current Lions Club President Denver Henderson III shared that they are always looking for ways to raise funds so that they can support their mission, like their Christmas tree sale and annual cheese sale.
He also shared that the “club’s history has been one of community involvement. There has been a volunteer baseball team, a city-wide clean-up effort in the 1950’s and 60’s (that included a special ‘rat extermination’ crew), talent shows hosted, and a recently added lion drinking fountain at Moore Park.”
“Many of our members have gone on to serve the Lions organization at the district level, and our club has produced several district governors, including Dr. John Moats and the late Arden ‘Ben” Pacey,” shared the proud current president.
“The current challenge facing our club is membership,” he shared, highlighting that “a change in the nature of community involvement and a lack of free time has led to a decline in service club membership.”
“As a club, we welcome anyone who wants to join, and give any amount of time they can to the community.”
The club has continued the tradition of helping the community the last 75 years, with Henderson sharing that they annually grant a “scholarship to a BHS student going into a field that will benefit those who have vision problems,” as well as “funded an ESight machine for club member and past president Ben Murray.”
Those interested in becoming members of the Bryan Lions Club should email bryanlionsclub@yahoo.com or call (419) 212-9284.
