Lions Celebrate 50 Years of Service

WAITSBURG - If you've been a spectator at a local football or softball game, taken a swim in the City Pool, or have children who use Waitsburg's track or playground equipment, you've benefitted from the endeavors of the Waits- burg Lion's Club. If you've ordered a locally-smoked turkey for the holidays, at- tended the annual Salmon Bake or Rib Feed, or recall enjoying buffalo burgers at the Fall Festivals of years past, you've supported the fundraisers that have fu- eled an impressive array of service projects in our community.

The Waitsburg Lions, one of the most active service or- ganizations in town, has just celebrated its 50th anniver- sary and, by all appearances, shows no signs of slowing down. From sponsoring Little League teams to tackling a $70,000 restoration of the softball fields, the Lions Club steps forward to meet the needs of the community, both large and small.

Sponsored by the Prescott Lions, the club was orga- nized in March 1963. Ac- cording to the March 1, issue of The Times that year, "Fifteen members have registered for membership which is the required num- ber to form an organization . . . The purpose of the organi- zation is primarily a service club operated for community betterment." Today, the club boasts a membership roster of 68.

The club was of- ficially chartered on April 6th, 1963. Char- ter members includ- ed: Ben Bloor, Henry V. Zuger, George Fisher, Ervin Ely, Jack Clodius, Robert Sickles, Ernest Ro- hde, Lee Mantz, Jr., Kermit Jones, Clint Donley, John Ander- son, Cecil Webber, Richard Harper, Glenn Hofer Del- bert Mock, David McCon- nell, Kenneth Jantz, Robert Patton, Don Gagnon, Carl Henze, John Gagnon, Stanley Pierson, James Swanger, Fred Sprankel, Kenneth Zuger, Glynn Davis Fred Zuger and Don Thomas.

Founding officers were: Robert Sickles, president; Ervin Ely, secretary; Henry V. Zuger, treasurer; Ben Bloor, Lion Tamer; Richard Harper, tail twister.

By the May 10 meeting that year the Lions had successfully run a concession booth at the Junior Livestock Show - a tradition that con- tinues to this day. The profits were donated to the Junior Livestock Association to be put toward installing rest- room facilities at the stock grounds.

One of the early service projects of the group was seatbelt installation. "When seatbelts first came out in cars, we obtained a bunch of them and set up shop at the gas station," said longtime Lion, Tom Baker. "For $5 people could drive into the station and we'd drill holes and put seatbelts in their cars for them."

The list of projects the group has completed todate is extensive. Several members have access to equipment and materials resources, either through their farms or businesses that allow them to tackle projects other groups might find too daunting.

The Lions made major repairs to the City Pool after both the '64 and '96 floods. In 1996, they not only re- paired the flood damage, but redesigned the pool, bringing it up to new codes. The group resurfaced the high school track, added lights and scoreboards to the football fields, developed the softball and Little League fields, put tennis courts in at the high school and installed playground equipment both at Preston Hall and the City Park.

The Lions even accepted the challenge of scraping and painting the once-dilapidated Bruce House when it was taken over by the Historical Society. "That job wasn't for me," said Baker. "When you get 35 feet in the air, with both hands holding on, it's pretty hard to paint with your teeth! But those guys got in there and we got it done."

Most recently, the group built the Lions Memorial Building at the race track, which they then deeded over to the city. They also redesigned and replaced the unattractive and difficult-to- store, plank-and-bucket seat- ing used at the annual Salmon Bakes and Rib Feeds.

In addition to service projects, the group provides significant financial support. "We try to keep the money in the community as much as we can," said club secretary, Mike Bergevin. Most recent- ly, the club donated funds to the Waitsburg Celebration Days royalty, the Waits- burg Schools' Cardinal's Nest after-school program, a preschool/kindergarten pro- gram, and the Junior Live- stock Show. The group also steps in, as needed, to help cover costs incurred by ath- letes traveling when selected for state teams or teams attending summer camps.

The Lions Club has played a big part in local anecdotal trivia, as well. Most who knew the late Bill Thompson, have heard him referred to as "Buffalo Bill Thompson" but may not have realized that nickname originated from his involve- ment in the buffalo feed that was once part of Septem- ber's Fall Festival.

In another note of inter- est, the Waitsburg Quartet was originally the Lions Quartet, with Bob Sickles, Lee Mantz, Jr., Jack McCaw and Bob Patton winning competitions at the Multiple- District level for many years.

As The Times goes to press this first Tuesday of June, 2013, the Waitsburg Lion's Club is celebrating their 50th anniversary with a dinner and award ceremony at their own Lions Memorial Building.

Recipient of the 2013 Lion of the Year award will be Joe McMillen. "Joe designed and shepherded the revision and building of the new benches and supports for the Rib Feed. It was a ton of work," said Lion Presi- dent Larry Johnson.

The Melvin Jones Award, also known as the Lifetime Achievement Award and the highest award a Lion can receive, will be awarded to Tom Baker. Baker moved to Waitsburg shortly after the group was chartered, became a member in the fall of 1963, and has remained active since.

For those interested in some anecdotes "not fit for print," he'll likely oblige.