Lions Club: On February 25, 2012 the Crosbyton Lions Club celebrated its 75th Anniversary in the Crosby County Pioneer Memorial Museum in Crosbyton. The occasion honored seventy-five years of service that the men and women of Lions have contributed to the community.
Today’s Crosbyton Lions are proud of their contributions to the community of Crosbyton. They include:
- The annual Christmas Goodfellow Project that gives grocery cards to food insecure individuals in the community.
- Place United States flags at the homes of subscribers for the flag holidays during the year.
- Regularly contributing to Crosbyton CISD-The most recent project gave funds to help set up a Kindergarten reading bookroom with extra books to supplement the curriculum for classroom use.
- Makes yearly donations to the Texas Lions Camp which runs several summer camps for children with disabilities or with diabetes.
- Collects discarded glasses for the Lions Eye Bank.
- Hosts a “Welcome to Crosbyton Lunch” for all the Crosbyton CISD staff during in-service days.
- Provides programs that entertain and educate all Lions.
If you are interested in becoming a Crosbyton Lion, contact Lion Boss Fran Koch at 214-458-8694 or V.P. Ruth Davis at 806-549-1116. Remember the Lion motto is “We Serve”.
CROSBYTON LIONS CLUB HISTORY
1937-2012
Written and presented as a speech for the Crosbyton Lions 75th Anniversary by Lion Joe Cargile.
The association of Lions was a dream of a Chicago businessman, Melvin Jones. He wanted to expand the horizons from purely business concerns to the betterment of the community and the world at large.
Mr. Jones met with other businessmen and as a result, an organizational meeting was held at a local hotel on June 7, 1917. Twelve men gathered and voted the “Association of Lions Clubs” into existence and called for a national convention in Dallas in October 1917.
Community leaders began to organize clubs throughout the United States and the association became “international” in 1920. As of November 2011, there were 46,000 clubs represented in 206 countries, with membership totaling some 1.35 million members.
The Crosbyton Lions club received its charter on February 16, 1937. The following men were to become charter members of the Crosbyton Lions Club of Crosbyton, Texas: J.L. Adams, Olen Littlefield, Fred Littlefield, Odie Karr, Russell McCurdy, Hubert Curry, F.A. Greene, J.L. Williams, Emzy Puratt (first President), D.A. Edwards, J.T. Cocanougher, Hugh Nation, H.C. Oldam, Joe W. Boles, H.W. Roberts, Robert M. (Bob) McKee, Clay Henry, Charles Brock, Ralph Howe, Tillman Reeves.
During the past 75 years, the club has had sixty-seven individuals serve as President.
Throughout the years, our club has had numerous members serve as zone and region chairmen, as well as members of the district cabinet. Perhaps the most notable achievement of the Crosbyton Lions Club was the Great honor of having one of our members to serve as District Governor in 2002/2003, that person being Lion Joe Hargrove, Thank you, Lion Joe, for serving so well in various capacities throughout the endeavors of Lionism.
According to the club records and the Record Administration Department of Lions International, the Crosbyton Lions Club has received some 736 members during these seventy-five years.
For many years, the Crosbyton Lions Club has achieved 100% participation in International, State and District Dues to promote Lions humanitarian projects.
The Crosbyton Lions Club elected its first club Sweetheart in 1943. Forty one young ladies have served as club sweetheart during these last sixty-nine years.
The “Motto” of Lionism is “WE SERVE”. In attempting to adhere to this motto, the Crosbyton Lions Club has, throughout these many years, supported our community and Lionism throughout the world.
Our primary fund raiser projects have included the following:
- Sale of light bulbs and roses.
- Caravan for the Blind Mop and Broom Sales.
- Flag service to our community.
- An annual “Birthday and Community Activity Calendar”
Among the projects which the club has supported are included the following:
- Camp Rio Blanco Girl Scouts.
- Friends of Public schools.
- Annual “CISD Teachers Appreciation Luncheon”.
- Purchase of eye glasses for students.
- Texas Boys Ranch.
- Red Ribbon Rally.
- Crosbyton Goodfellows.
- Sight First II Campaign.
- District 2-y2 Hearing Bank.
- Great Plains Eye Bank.
- Texas Lions Children’s Camp.
- CHS Project Graduation.
- Transportation to Lions Camp.
- Crosby County Food Bank.
- Provided Scholarships for club Sweethearts.
- Five year ad on CISD School Marque.
- Lockney Lions Club for Benefit to Lockney School in loss of High School Building to fire.
- District 2-T2 “Hope House”
- Greenhouse Project at Girl Scout Camp.
- Monthly utilities for scout building.
- CISD Elementary Field Project.
- Display U.S. flags at approximately 80 residences and businesses, six times per year.
- Crosbyton Senior Citizens.
- Purchased “Poetry Books” for Students.
- Crosbyton Little League.
- Provided electric fans for elderly.
- Crosbyton “Goes Pink” Project.
- Texas Lions Foundation project to build a Lions Museum
- CHS Year Book d numerous “Womanless Weddings” throughout the years.
- Loaves & Fishes food Program
- Friends of Crosbyton Technology for internship program.
- Crosbyton Volunteer Fire Department.
- Instrumental in construction of the first tennis courts at Crosbyton Schools.
- Participated in the construction of the “Les and Marge Treat Park”, located south of the Crosbyton Primary School Building. The Crosbyton Club contributed $5,000 toward the cost of the park.
In closing, I would like to, on behalf of the Crosbyton Lions Club, express our sincere and deepest appreciation to the citizens of Crosbyton and the surrounding area for their support of our service in the name of ‘Lionism”. When approached for help in our various projects, these fine people have always responded with a caring attitude in helping our club attain its goal of “WE SERVE”.
And last, may we say “Thanks” to each of you for being a part of this, our 75th anniversary celebration of the Crosbyton Lions Club.
