WAITSBURG – Waitsburg Lions Ken Miller and Brian Richards were selected as recipients of the Melvin Jones award and Lion of the Year, respectively, at the club's annual year-end ceremony on May 31.

Miller was nominated for the prestigious Melvin Jones Award by fellow Lion, close friend, and former award recipient Glynn Davis. Davis shared a brief history of the award, named after the founder of Lions Club International, and the highest award one can receive in Lions.

Davis explained that the Melvin Jones Foundation and award were established in 1973 to provide revenue for the Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF) fund to support sight, disaster relief, humanitarian efforts, youth and achievement.

Waitsburg was in the process of renovating the city pool when the flood of 1996 destroyed all the progress that had been made. The Waitsburg Lions applied to the LCIF fund and received a grant for more than $40,000 to repair the swimming pool.

To give the award locally, clubs contribute $1,000 to the foundation to recognize a fellow Lion for his outstanding contribution to the club and community. Waitsburg gave its first Melvin Jones Award to Jack McCaw and Cecil Webber in 1998, following the 1996 flood.

Davis said the club has not had enough liquid assets to give the award every year, but they do so when they can.

"The selection committee is made up of past recipients of the award. It's not an easy decision. Many others are presently being considered," Davis said.

Miller moved to Waitsburg with his wife, Sharon, and daughters, Kim and Kris, in early spring of 1974 and had joined the Lions Club by May of that year. Davis said Lion Ken has many, many names including Banker Miller, Tiny, Shorty, Leroy, and Dukie.

He was elected club treasurer in 1975, following Lion Sid Connover, and served in that position for 25 years.

"Budgets for many of those years were very conservative to say the least!" Davis said.

Miller assumed the responsibility of caring for the softball complex for many years: mowing, edging, spraying, and hoeing weeds for the regular season as well as the annual Lions Softball Bash weekends. Miller was selected Lion of the Year in 1992 and 1998.

Outgoing president Neil Carpenter named Brian Richards as Waitsburg's 2016 Lion of the Year. "I chose Brian because of all the outstanding work he has done in the community with things like Special Olympics and all the time he donates to fundraising musical events for people that need help," Carpenter said.

Carpenter said Richards and his wife, Wendy, also organize the club's annual Kid's Night, which is a special night for members and their kids and grandkids.

"Basically, he's just always there when we need him," Carpenter said.

Past Waitsburg Lions Club

Melvin Jones Award Recipients

1998-- -Jack McCaw & Cecil Webber

2001-- -Robert Danforth & John Gagnon

2003-- -Wayne Peterson

Courtesy Photo

Former Waitsburg Lions President Neil Carpenter names Brian Richards the 2016 Lion of the Year.

2005-- -John (Bill) Thompson

2006-- -Glynn Davis

2007-- -Robert Patton

2008-- -John Payne

2013-- -Thomas Baker

2014-- -Terry Jacoy

2015-- -Guy McCaw & JE McCaw