History Page

International

One of the first tasks of the Directors of Lions International was to divide the U.S.A. into Districts for their organization and administration, and to appoint a District Governor over each. In the first sectioning, there were nine districts, nationwide. Some parts of the country-where there were no Lions Clubs- had no districts at all. The first nine districts were created right along with the Association of Lions Clubs on June 7, 1917.

Lionism spread rapidly, to even include states not attached to any district, and in some areas the number of Lions Clubs was too great for any one Governor to handle. In 1921 our entire nation was redivided into seventeen districts and subsequently renumbered. The original (1917) plan had the districts numbered geographically from the Pacific coast, with ascending numbers eastward. But in 1921 the district numbering revision set Illinois as the Lion's "Home District" and numbered Illinois as District #1. Since then, numbers were granted on the basis of a region's membership ranking. Texas, having the most clubs and members became District #2. Closely behind was Oklahoma (District #3). This was the method that all seventeen districts were renumbered.

In general, the districts are organized along national, state and provincial lines.   Where warranted by the number of clubs and Lions, districts can be broken down into sub-districts.  In this case, the original district is called a multiple district.   In 1930 District 2 was sub-divided into five districts 2T, 2E, 2X, 2A, and 2S.   By 1959 District 2E was divided into two districts 2-E1 and 2-E2.  Currently there are 16 districts in the State of Texas: 2-T1, 2-T2, 2-T3, 2-E1, 2-E2, 2-X1, 2-X2, 2-X3, 2-A1, 2-A2, 2-A3, 2-S1, 2-S2, 2-S3, 2-S4, and 2-S5.  Each district is furthur broken down into Regions.  District 2-E1 has six (6) regions.  Each region is divided into two (2) zones.  The zones are the lowest level where the individual clubs reside.

The district governor is elected by delegates from the clubs in the district at the district convention. Because of the importance of this office, district governors-elect from around the world gather just prior to the international convention for a series of seminars designed to broaden their knowledge of the association and its programs. They then assume office at the close of the convention.

Expanded History: History Expanded

Texas Lions Hall of Fame
Members of District 2-E1