Our Club was founded in August 1946 and chartered by
Lions International on September 24, 1946. The original members numbered 35 with Burke
I. Burke as the first president.
Some of us would remember Dr. Walter Briggs, a
veterinarian, who was one of our founders and a Lion to his core. I could spend
the entire evening on his service to the Club.
Dr. Briggs was responsible for many new members and was very active
until his death.
Some also might recall that in 1964 a traveling circus
lost it’s home. Our Lions Club, especially Lion Norm Yossie, helped the circus by sponsoring the event located
in the employee parking lot at Fisher Price. Because of our Club’s support the
circus had a show each year for 4 – 5 years on Saturday & Sunday with our
community’s response of 300 – 500 people per show.
How many remember when in 1972 a massive flooding
happened in the southern tier especially around Portville.
The
Our Club received in 1972-73 a Lions International
Outstanding Club award for our efforts on behalf of our activity in the
Portville community.
Because of our involvement, the
In 1972-73 our club initiated the “New Eyes for Needy”
eyeglass collection program. Lion Al
Dorsey was the first to head this program for our club. The program continues
to distribute thousands of used eyeglasses to the needy in third World
countries.
Lion Al Dorsey
was also a leader in the CROP WALK for the hungry. He raised a great deal of
money during the walk selling sponsorships. Lion Al championed this cause for
many years.
In 1978-79 we published our first
On
The
Also
on our banner are two names at the bottom.
Russell Corser, 1961-62, who
was principal of
There are many more bits of history I have not
mentioned because of time but be it known the East Aurora Lions Club has been
for 60 years, is, and will be, a presence of service in our community for many
years to come.
-Submitted by Lion Paul Waggoner, November 2006, on
the occasion of the Lions Sixtieth Anniversary