Expanded District History

Lionism in District 2-E1 began before the present International Association was founded. There were thirteen Lions clubs in Texas, including the Abilene club, which were represented by Dr. W. P. Woods of Evansville, Indiana, at the meeting in Chicago on July 7, 1917, which was called by Melvin Jones, secretary of the Business Circle of Chicago. Representatives of Lions clubs, Optimist clubs, Vortex clubs, and Business and Professional Men's Association met with the Business Circle to discuss the formation of an international service organization. After much discussion, representatives of the Vortex clubs, Business and Professional Men's Association, and the Business Circle agreed to accept charters in the International Association of Lions Clubs which had been chartered October 24, 1916, by Dr. Woods in Indiana.

On July 31, 1917, Dr. Woods, as president of the International Association of Lions Clubs, issued the first official convention call from his Evansville office which called for "the first convention of Lions Clubs, to be held in the city of Dallas, Texas, on October 8, 1917."

There were eleven Texas Lions clubs among the twenty-three clubs represented at this first convention at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas on October 8-10, 1917. Among these Founder Clubs of   Lionism were Abilene and Wichita Falls, which are now included in District 2-El. (The original Wichita Falls club was short lived, but was soon reorganized and received a new charter in January, 1922.)

The delegates to this first convention officially adopted the name, "The International Association of Lions Clubs," a constitution and by-laws, and an emblem - a lion's head with a club in its mouth. Dr. W. P. Woods was elected president and Melvin Jones was elected secretary-treasurer of the association. St. Louis, Missouri, was selected as the site for the second annual convention.

The association was reorganized at the third convention in Chicago in 1919 and incorporated under a new charter from the State of Illinois on August 25, 1919, naming Melvin Jones as the official founder of the organization. New charters from the Illinois corporation were issued to thirty-four previously established clubs which were active at the time. The Abilene club is the only District 2-El club listed among the nine Texas clubs which received the new charters at that time.

In 1918-19, Texas was included in what was known as District 4 along with Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida on the east, and New Mexico and Arizona on the west. The next year the district was split on a line from Dallas to Houston with these cities included in the western part which retained the District 4 designation and the eastern part became District 5. George Cunningham of Houston was named the first district governor for District 4 at the 1918 International Convention and was reappointed in 1919 after the district was divided. A. E. Booth of Beaumont was named governor in 1920. The fifth International Convention in Oakland, California, in 1921, revised the districts and designated the State of  Texas as District 2.  A. F. Booth was re-elected District Governor of  Texas for 1921-22.

Later governors of  District 2 included: Clyde A. Sweeton of Greenville, Col. Louis C. Perry of  Terrell, R. D. Greene of Abilene, E. P. Cravens of Austin, Fred R. Newman of Greenville, N. N. Rosenquist of Eastland, John Erhard of Dallas, and A. C. Kater of Houston.

The 1930 State Convention was held in the Senate Chamber in Austin and divided the state into five sub-districts to be known as T, E, X, A, S - each to have its own governor, and a Governor General to be elected by the convention. Dr. R. H. Graham of  Wichita Falls was chosen Governor General of Texas and Rollo Davidson of  Electra was named the first governor of  District 2E, but later resigned and Graham assumed his duties. The five governors, meeting on September 2, 1930, formed the District Governors Council, electing Graham as council president.

District 2E was divided in 1959 into 2-El and 2-E2 when the state was redistricted into fifteen sub-districts, but still retaining the original T-E-X-A-S major divisions.

Governor Jack McCullough of Stephenville was district governor in 1967-68 as Lion Hyer closed out his history from which the preceding excerpts were taken. Two new clubs were chartered in District 2-El by Governor Jack in July, 1967:

Mineral Wells Evening, sponsored by Mineral Wells Noon, and Jacksboro Evening, sponsored by Jacksboro Noon.

The 1968 District Convention in Mineral Wells adopted a resolution instituting a district convention fund to eliminate registration fees for future conventions. M. E. Carothers of Anson Noon was elected district governor for 1968-69 and W. L. McDonald served as his cabinet secretary.

Nine new clubs were organized this year by Governor Carothers and his able extension chairman, PDG Bill Longley of Stamford. One of these new clubs had the honor of being the 1,000th Lions club in Texas - the Graham Evening club, sponsored by Graham Noon. International President Dave Evans of Texas City was the speaker for their charter night banquet. Other new clubs chartered this year were Weinert, sponsored by Munday; Perrin, sponsored by Jacksboro Noon and Jacksboro Evening; Possum Kingdom, sponsored by Mineral Wells Noon; Moran, sponsored by Cisco; and Benjamin, sponsored by Knox City. Clubs were also organized at Graford, Palo Pinto, and Santo, but these three never did get off the ground. The Moran club disbanded two years later.

Governor Carothers was a hard-working dedicated Lion and was honored by the Anson Chamber of Commerce as "Outstanding Man of the Year" in 1968. He and Mrs. Carothers celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary during his year and attended the 1969 International Convention in Tokyo. Fellow Lions were grieved by his death in May, 1971.

One of the youngest district governors in history was elected at the 1969 convention in Graham as Jerry K. Vandiver of Wichita Falls Southwest took over the reins. P. I. Eastlake served as his cabinet secretary. Governor Vandiver stressed youth work and saw the district's first Leo club organized at Graham. He also presented charters to three new Lions clubs: Wichita Falls Northside and Henrietta, sponsored by Wichita Falls Southwest; and Burkburnett Boomtown, sponsored by Burkburnett. Also the Aspermont club, which was organized in 1968 in District 2-T2 by PDG Bill Longley and PDG M. E. Carothers, was transferred into 2-El.

Governor Jerry and his cabinet sponsored a chartered bus trip to Monterrey, Mexico, with forty-five Lions and wives of the district attending the Monterrey Lions Club's 35th anniversary celebration, as the opening activity of "District Convention Week" in May, 1970. The convention in Wichita Falls made two significant policy changes: (1) use of twenty-percent of the annual district convention fund was authorized for a mid-winter conference; and (2) provisions were made for the election, rather than appointment, of the two Deputy District Governors-at-Large. E. B. "Tex" Mayer of LaGrange was endorsed by the convention delegates and was elected International Director at the 53rd International Convention in Atlantic City.

Also in 1971, PDG James P. McCracken of Cisco moved into the presidency of the Texas Lions League for Crippled Children at Kerrville, where he served so admirably for the next two years. He has remained on the executive committee of the Camp as immediate past president.

District 2-E1 was guided by a Lion from Wichita Falls again in 1970-71 as R. Lloyd Neelley of Wichita Falls Downtown served as district governor, with Arvil E. Davis as cabinet secretary. Governor Neelley chartered a new club in Comanche as the Comanche Noon club was sponsored by Comanche Evening.

The Texas Council of Governors proposed a redistricting plan this year which would have reshuffled the state into twenty-two districts rather than the current fifteen. Delegates to the District Convention in Vernon rejected the plan and it failed to receive enough favorable votes in the other districts to pass.

James H. Wheeler, Jr., of Abilene Elmwood West, a veteran of six years as a director of the Texas Lions League for Crippled Children, was elected district governor for 1971-72. Irvin D. Hiler of Abilene Downtown served as his cabinet secretary. One new Lions club was organized during the year at Rochester, sponsored by Knox City, and a new Leo club was organized at Hirschi High School in Wichita Falls, sponsored by Wichita Falls Downtown.

Delegates to the 1972 District Convention in Abilene unanimously adopted for the first time a set of District 2-E1 By-Laws to bring some order and continuity to the various resolutions and policy changes passed by previous conventions through the years. District 2-El Lions also enthusiastically endorsed Everett J. Grindstaff of Ballinger as a candidate for International Director and worked for his election in Mexico City where he received more votes than any other U. S. candidate for director in history.

District governor for 1972-73 was Loren Maples of Graham Noon, with Bill Frazier as cabinet secretary. Governor Maples was the district's first youth exchange chairman in 1966-68 and later served as state youth exchange chairman in 1968-70.

A new club was chartered at Cross Plains, sponsored by Cisco, and delegates to the district convention in Graham voted to proceed with the organization of a District 2-El Lions Eye Bank. Dr. Tom Lindsey of Vernon was elected district governor for 1973-74 and Stephenville was selected to host the 1974 convention.

Ed Skypala of Hereford, who has been active in extension work in our district for several years as special representative, was named State Secretary by the Texas Council of Governors. Lion Skypala moved with his wife to Austin in 1972, but continues his extension work in addition to his duties as State Secretary.

Governor Tom Lindsey selected Curtis Nichols for his cabinet secretary in 1974. The organizational meeting for the District 2-El Lions Eye Bank, Inc., was held during the Mid-Winter Conference in Vernon on January 12, 1974. District Contest winners announced at the Stephenville convention were Abilene Evening, Nocona, and Abilene Downtown. District 2-El had its first trading pin this year and at the International Convention in San Francisco, the District 2-E1 trading pin was named Best District Pin in the international pin contest. Texas Lions were successful in getting Don Buckalew of Conroe elected International Director at the San Francisco convention.

The years of 1974-75 ushered in a period of growth for Lionism in District 2-El. Lion Irvin D. Hiler, an Abilene Lion who had served many years in the various cabinet offices including cabinet secretary for James Wheeler in 1971-72, was elected District Governor. He selected John Herod as his cabinet secretary.

A new area of Lions clubs came into view with the organization of clubs at Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene Christian College, McMurry College, and Ranger Junior College. Owing to the continual turnover in enrollment at the colleges, membership in these clubs has eroded until only the one at McMurry is still active.

Governor Hiler held his Mid-Winter Conference in Graham with the normal program of work being processed.

Governor Hiler's year as Governor was a busy one, as he was also chairman of the Texas Council of Governors, and on the executive committee of the Texas Lions Camp. One point of interest and controversy (may I say) was the continuance of the Texas Lions Hall of Fame. This will be covered further, separately.

The 1975 District Convention was held in Abilene. This was also the State Convention and was very successful with an impressive group of speakers namely: Congressman Omar Burleson, Senator Lloyd Bentsen, Past International President Herb Petry, International President Johnny Balbo, and International Director Don Buckalew.

Convention results were: Sharon Mathiews, representing the Abilene Christian Lions Club was elected District Queen; the Graham Noon club, the Nocona club, and the Possum Kingdom club were winners in the District Contest; and James Wheeler won the golf tournament. PDG Pete Shotwell and Past International Director Randy Watkins were inducted into the Texas Lions Hall of Fame. Dr. William Gruby of Graham was elected District Governor for 1975-76. He selected Lion James Smith as cabinet secretary. Graham was selected as the site for the 1975-76 District Convention.

District 2-E1 was a working group at the International Convention in Dallas in June. Trading pins was a daily pastime and our good Lion Darwin Willis of Graham emerged as the swappingest pin trader of all. He ended up with pins from most foreign countries and all the states. It took five state vests to hold the loot. Lion Willis caught the spirit and has been recognized for his zeal and ability to the extent of serving on the District Cabinet for a number of years.

Two new clubs were added during Governor Gruby's tenure: De Leon and Wichita Falls Midwestern. Another Texas Lion, Ed Flood of Amarillo, was elected International Director at the Honolulu convention.

At the 1976 District Convention in Graham, Abilene Elmwood West, Nocona, and Wichita Falls Downtown claimed the prizes for the District Contest. Lion H. A. Owens of the Abilene Evening club was elected to guide District 2-E1 during the ensuing year. He selected Marshall Wright as his cabinet secretary. Governor Owens used his ability as a school administrator to get his work organized and began functioning in the capacity of Governor in short order. His cabinet was selected and began meeting at an early date. Plans were made and goals were set for securing new clubs and the increase of membership with the District. As a result, new clubs were organized at Eula, Gustine, and Wylie (Abilene).

The "77" Convention was held in Abilene in May, with Abilene Elmwood West and Nocona repeating as District Contest winners and Abilene Downtown capturing the third division. Another good Lion had appeared on the hosizon. Very active for two or three years, Lion Dr. Bill Auvenshine had been a Cabinet member for a few Governors and the Ranger club realized the potential in Dr. Bill and offered him for Governor. He was elected without opposition.

Lion Bill returned from the International Convention at New Orleans running and kept up the pace all year. He set up a combined Cabinet meeting and training school for presidents and club secretaries at Jacksboro in the early fall. The session was well attended and discussions relative to all phases of Lionism were held. Finances in the District were discussed in a Cabinet meeting in Ranger in December. It was agreed that District dues would need to be raised and a resolution was passed authorizing this action at the District Convention. At the Mid-Winter Conference in Graham in January, 1978, Mr. "Pin Man" Darwin Willis of Graham was announced as a candidate for Governor.

Two new clubs were added this year, Rising Star and Moran, and Governor Bill's wife, Anna, presented him with a bouncing baby boy on November 10, 1977. Delegates to the District Convention in Wichita Falls approved a $1.00 per year increase in dues and amended the District 2E-1 By Laws to allow Past District Governors delegate status independent of their club's allotted quota.

PDG John W. Longley of Stamford, in the position of Extension Chairman for many District Governors, has been very effective in his work in organizing new clubs. He has been recognized by Lions International for 20 new clubs and received the award for excellence in this area from Lions International. He was presented the Ambassador of Goodwill Award, Lionism's highest award, by International President Joe McLoughlin in Kerrville on August 5, 1977.

Miscellaneous items of importance need to be mentioned in this history. District 2-El has lost some top leadership in the past two or three years. Past District Governors D. T. Bowles of Breckenridge, James McCracken of Cisco, Jack D. McCullough of Stephenville, Cub Culbertson of Vernon, and Ross Covey of Abilene, and Joe Williamson, secretary of the Abilene Downtown club for 38 years, are names that we cherish in the realms of Lionism. Each man gave of his time and talent in the process of developing the spirit of Lionism among their communities.

The Texas Lions Hall of Fame was established in 1972 in order to honor selected Lions for their service to this organization. Lion PDG Pete Shotwell was elected to this shrine by his peers. Lions Randy Watkins and Joe E. Childers of Abilene were placed in the Hall of Fame by virtue of having been International Directors in previous years.

The Texas Lions Hall of Fame has been continued from year to year by the Council of Governors, and currently lists twenty-nine honorees, eleven of which are past international officers. Several attempts have been made to have the Hall of Fame included in our State Constititution and By Laws, but the required favorable vote of two-thirds of the delegates to all district conventions has never been attained.

The 1974-75 Council prepared and approved a set of By Laws for the Hall of Fame which remain in effect until some future Council decides to change them. These By Laws provide minimum standards for qualification of nominees to the Hall of Fame and set up a rotation schedule with three districts scheduled to name a nominee each year, allowing each district to select a nominee every five years. Provision is also made for all Texas Lions who have served as an International Director or higher to be inducted in addition to the district quotas and without fee.

The Texas Lions Camp for Crippled Children has experienced much growth in the past few years. A Lions club is called a 100% Club if and when it contributes the equivalent of $10.00 per member in active memberships, memorial gifts, or special donations to the Camp during the fiscal year. Approximately half of the clubs in 2-E1 are 100% Clubs. Some have had this standing for five or ten years. There is also the Life Membership, obtained by paying in $100.00. We have more than 100 Life Members in 2-El. Many members have given years of service to the Camp as directors, committeemen, and workers. PDG James P. McCracken of Cisco served two terms as president of the board of directors. He and his wife, Kitty, were both Life Members of the Camp. PDG James Wheeler of Abilene has been a valuable member of the board. His training as an architect and his willingness to serve has been of great value in the building, repair, and upkeep of the facilities. James is now serving as first vice president of the board. Others serving long terms on the board of directors or as committee members include: PDG 0. L. Stamey of Cisco, PDG Joe Weaver of Olney (ten years on the board, twenty years on committees), and PDG Bill Longley of Stamford who has been an elected board member for fifteen years. Lion Bill resigned his membership on the board to accept appointment to the State Commission for the Blind. Lion Preston Parker of Abilene Downtown was elected to take his place as Camp Director. PDG Pete Shotwell of Abilene served many years as chairman of the program committee. Pete was particularly effective in this phase due to his training and experience in physical education and his experience in operating his own camp. PDG Loren Maples of Graham is an experienced director, having served several years.

LEO CLUBS. Since Lions International originated Leo Clubs for boys and girls, several Leo Clubs have been organized in this District. Taking the lead for 2-El was the Leo Club at Graham under the direction of Darwin Willis. Willis was appointed District Chairman for Leo Clubs and succeeded in establishing clubs at Hirshi High School in Wichita Falls, Nocona, and Possum Kingdom.

LIONESS CLUBS. Several Lions Clubs had Lady Auxiliary Clubs for a few years, but in 1975 the International Association authorized officially the Lioness Clubs and those already organized auxiliaries were authorized to receive official charters as Lioness Clubs. One of the first to receive a charter was the club at Stamford, originally organized October 16, 1964. A Lioness Club was organized in Abilene in 1977. Governor Bill Auvenshine appointed Lion Bill King of Abilene as coordinator of Lioness Clubs for District 2-El.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS have been numerous in this District. At Abilene on February 28, 1974, the Abilene Lions hosted an appreciation dinner for eighteen Past District Governors of 2-E1. Past International Director Ebb Grindstaff of Ballinger was the guest speaker for the evening.

On March 4,1974, the Cisco Lions Club honored PDG James McCracken with an appreciation dinner. Speaker for the occasion was Past International Director Ebb Grindstaff, who incidentally is a candidate for International Third Vice President at the convention in Montreal, Canada, in June, 1979. Many facets of  McCracken's life were enumerated as McCracken the man, the citizen, and the Lion.

Lion Roy Keaton, former State Secretary for Texas Lions and Director General of Lions International, was the speaker for the 60th anniversary celebration of the Abilene Downtown Lions Club on March 24, 1977, with a large delegation of visiting dignitaries from this and neighboring districts.

EYE BANK. The District 2-El Lions Eye Bank, Inc., was approved by the Lions at the Mid-Winter Conference in Vernon. Under the guidance, direction, and hard work of two Lions -PDG Charlie Davis and PDG James Wheeler - this phase has progressed. Several meetings were needed in order to get all details worked out. The Eye Bank began operation on August 10, 1974, in Stamford when District Governor Irvin D. Hiler signed the first eye will card. Charlie Davis has served as executive director since inception of the program.

By-laws of the Eye Bank state that every Lion in the District is a voting member. Six directors are elected each year for a two-year term at the annual meeting during the District Convention. Directors for even-numbered zones are elected in even-numbered years and directors for odd-numbered zones are elected in odd-numbered years. Each Lions Club in the district is urged to support the Eye Bank on the basis of $1.00 per member each year.

The Eye Bank has over a thousand eye-will cards on file and has arranged a number of enucleations in our district since its organization. It has also arranged for eye tissue to be used in two cornea transplant operations in our district.

Charter president of the Eye Bank was the late Lion James D. Taylor of Burkburnett. Other presidents have been Lion Cleddie Palmer of Vernon, Lion Chan Hughes of  Munday, and Lion Al Comstock of Wichita Falls. Medical director is Dr. James T. Walker of Abilene.

-June, 1978