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| Lions Club An Osawatomie Institution |
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| Opinion | |||
| Written by Grady Atwater | |||
| Tuesday, 10 November 2009 08:00 | |||
The Osawatomie Lions Club was organized on Jan. 4, 1938. The Osawatomie Graphic-News reported in the Feb. 24, 1938 issue that “although in existence but a few weeks, the Osawatomie Lions Club is already taking its place as an active civic organization.”  The Graphic-News went on to report that the club was organized by C.P. Manion, a representative of Lions International. The newspaper further reported that “Doctor James T. Fowler was elected to head the club, with Dr. O.H. Riggs and Joe McClay as vice presidents and Leslie Kellogg secretary-treasurer. Kellogg has since resigned and Rodman L. Henry appointed to his position. The club has 32 members.” The Graphic-News reported in the same edition on the organization’s first project: “The Lions Club is at present making plans for the construction of tennis courts in the city park as its first civic undertaking.” The issue also reported that the club had a charter-night banquet on Feb. 23, 1938, and “a crowd of over 100 attended ... last night in Booster Hall. In addition to the members of the local club and their wives, delegations from the Ottawa, Coffeyville, Topeka, Clay Center and Kansas City clubs attended.” The evening featured entertainment from WHB radio artists from Kansas City, Kan. Doctor Fowler introduced the evening’s toastmaster, Rodman L. Henry, and McClay welcomed the guests for the evening. Jack Torbet, of the Kansas City, Kan., Lions Club, gave the response. Representatives from Osawatomie’s civic organizations welcomed the Lions Club to the community, and the Graphic-News reported, “Brief addresses of welcome to the Lions Club were made by Mrs. T.T. Solander, representing the B.P.W. Club; W.W. Eddy for the Rotary Club, and W.H. Weber for the Chamber of Commerce.” A.R. Lamb, governor of the Lions International District 17A, gave an address on “Lionism,” and the Osawatomie Lions Club charter was presented to Fowler by Lions International District Gov. V.E. Vergades. The club began working to serve the citizens of Osawatomie on Jan. 4, 1938, and the community has benefited from its service projects and positive effects on the community since. The club-built tennis courts no longer exist, but the club established a tradition it still carries on when it started an Easter egg hunt in 1938. The club also provided hot lunches for children in the community from 1939 to 1944, and today, it continues to help feed the community by providing supplies for local food pantries. The Osawatomie Lions Club has been responsible for organization of the John Brown Jamboree parade since 1967. The club also serves the Osawatomie area by helping to provide glasses and eye exams, as well as in many other ways. This community benefits from the vision of the Osawatomie Lions Club founders and its present members. They serve the community with a caring spirit.
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