Members of the Marion Lions Club celebrated their 50th anniversary Saturday night with a dinner at the Marion Holiday Inn.
Clarior S. Johnson, of Joliet, a past director of Lions International, was the principal speaker on the program which included presentation of awards to the club by Larry Mehring of Red Bud, governor of District 1C, and a review of the club’s history by Attorney August L. Fowler.
Johnson said that Lions International, which is only six years older than the Marion club, has grown to be the largest service club in the world with a total of 1,118,000 members in 261,138 clubs in 146 countries.
Mehring presented the Marion organization plaques In recognition of its achievement as the winning club in a point contest in the fifth division and as top club in District 1C including 83 clubs.
Fowler, a member of the club 48 years, longer than other member, traced the development of the local organization which was formed in 1923, in a period when the area was suffering from the stigma of community violence. Its organization came shortly before an economic depression which at one time saw the club’s membership reduced to 13, and it was kept together as a local group without affiliation with Lions International.
The attorney lauded the Lions work on behalf of the blind and for the prevention of blindness as an outstanding achievement.
Fowler presented Owen J. Cox, a past president with a record of perfect attendance for all of his 34 years membership, with a plaque in recognition of his service to the club in sponsoring 122 new members down through the years. He had previously received the Key of Nations from Lions International for his work in obtaining new members.
Receiving the District governor’s presentations for the club was Dr. Earl Long, club president, who presided at the dinner, and introduced Al Henager as master ceremonies.
Charter member, Maurice Hayton, a retired automobile dealer, was honored. Hayton is the only charter member of the club now living in Marion. Hayton, who was an officer of the organization many years, was presented with a plaque expressing the club’s appreciation. The presentation was made by Dr. Earl Long, president, and Sam Stotlar, past president and a present director.
Jarrell Graham, secretary, presented Lions emblems to members maintaining perfect attendance.
The invocation was by the Rev. Wally Curlee, pastor of the Second Baptist Church.
Ron Ramsey, zone chairman, was chairman of the dinner committee which included R. Al Henager, Kenneth Sims, Mrs. Ray C. Carroll, A.L. Fowler, Jarrell Graham and Don Ridgley,
A dance followed the dinner program.
It was announced at the dinner that more than 400 persons visited the eye screening program which was sponsored by the club at the junior high school during the day.
(Extracted from 1973 Marion Daily Republican article and photo)