Abilene Texas - Lions Club Brief History

Abilene Cactus Lions Club

** A Brief History *

The Early Years

On October 21, 1952, Marlowe Fisher, Texas State Secretary of the International Association of Lions Clubs, presided over a meeting of sixty-two prospective members of the second Lions Club to be chartered in Abilene. They met in the Alta Vista elementary school cafeteria, with Clyde Penrod and Joe Williamson, president and secretary, respectively, of the Abilene (Downtown) Lions Club.

Hugh E. Cosby was elected Charter President and Sterling Childers was elected Charter Secretary of the new "Evenings Lions Club", which was officially Chartered on November 25, 1952. The club is a member of District 2-E1, Region 6, Zone 6A. Dr. Ed Dressen served as club president during 1954-55, when the club's name was changed to the "Cactus Lions Club".

Constitution, By-Laws, Policies and Other Documentation

Cactus Lions Constitution and By-laws - cactusconst02.pdf 43Kb

Cactus Lions Policies - CactusLionsPolicies111605.pdf 74Kb

PAST LION OF THE YEAR RECIPIENTS
Burl Hambrick	1989
John W. Massey	1990
Ray Gill	1991
David H. Miller	1992
Louis Voit	1993
Judson Hardy	1994
Bernie Whaley	1995
Fannie Mae Massey	1996
Hal Griffin	1997
Burl Hambrick	1998
John W. Massey	1999
Tena Andrews	2000
J. L. Edwards	2000
Sandy Griffin	2001
Bob Nelson	2003

EyeSight Conservation Projects

Glasses

Since its inception, the club has been very active in Abilene and the surrounding area. The club follows the Lions International motto We Serve, and has also adopted the Lions Clubs International leading project of EyeSight Conservation. The Abilene Cactus Lions Club has provided thousands of dollars for eye examinations, treatment, eyeglasses, and related eyesight service to area residents who need assistance.

Other organizations which have received financial help from the Abilene Cactus Lions Club are the World Service for the Blind, District 2-E1 Eye Bank and the Leader Dog School for the Blind.

The club has also assisted individuals who required travel for eye surgery and to the Leader Dog School in Michigan. The Abilene Lions Clubs also purchase eye glasses for needy children and for needy adults (limited by funding). The Abilene Cactus Lions Club has joined Lions Clubs International in an effort to eradicate preventable blindness.

Other Programs

The club has been active in local programs such as Drug Awareness, purchasing a wheelchair lift for a needy adult, purchasing TeleCaption Decoders for the hearing impaired to the Abilene Independent School District and needy children and purchasing Glucometers for diabetic testing for the Abilene Independent School District.

Sock

For many years, the club has assisted the Salvation Army during the Christmas season through donations for food baskets and by ringing the kettle bells at various locations. The club has also sponsored annual Christmas Party's for the handicapped residents of the Abilene State School.