AVON GROVE LIONS CLUB MELVIN JONES FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

The Melvin Jones Fellowship Program was established by Lions Club International in 1973 in honor of Melvin Jones, founder of Lions Club International. Lions are honored for their work and committment to the Lions Club and its mission. The contribution to LCIF that accompanies this award allows Lions International to foster its humanitarian service by working to preserve sight, combat disability, promote health and provide disaster relief.

The following individuals have been recognized by the Avon Grove Lions Club for their achievement in promoting and enacting the goals of the club. 

W. Lee McNemar 1986

Elmer Young 1991

Michael J. Pushkarewicz 1997

John Astell 1997

O. Edward Hamilton 1998

John L. Needham 2005

Eugene G. McDowell 2006

Samuel E. Goodwin 2007

Robert R. Yeatman 2008

C. James Yeatman 2008

Thomas J. Foulk 2009

E. Jane Frank 2009

John W. Needham 2009

Gerard D. Troilo 2010

David H. Sampson 2011

Benjamin H. Keller 2012

Donald B. Needham 2013

Wm. Frank Steele 2014

Michael W. Alft 2015

Albert Frank 2016

Brian Coe 2016

Barry Marteny 2017

David Priebe 2018

John Manley 2018

Rich Goss 2019

John Call 2020

Dwayne Degler 2021

Eric Miller 2022

Bob Yeatman 2023

John Manley 2024

AVON GROVE LIONS CLUB HISTORY

The Avon Grove Lions Club was founded on March 7, 1950, in the West Grove Methodist Church Social Room, primarily through the efforts of Monroe Nute of Kennett Square. The Club was sponsored by the Kennett Square Lions Club. There were 43 charter members. Most of the original members were contacted by Paul Strode and Arthur Trimble, who became respectively the president and first vice-president. Monroe Nute installed the officers on March 21, 1950. The first program chairman was Earl Hall. Cy Thomas of Kennett Square was the club's first speaker - the title of his talk was Gemology. The first nominating committee consisted of Chairman Gus Speakman, Matson Dougherty, Austin Pyle and George Collette.

The first Charter Night celebration of the Avon Grove Lions Club was held on May 9, 1950 at the Avondale Fire Hall. The banquet was served  by the Ladies Society of the West Grove Methodist Church. This activity was perhaps our best attended Charter Night, 145 members and guests being present. Nearby Lions Clubs were represented as follows: Kennett Square 30, Hockessin 2, Oxford 3, Coatesville 6, Honeybrook 6, Paradise 8 and Frederickburg 5. Entertainment was provided by a three-piece musical trio, a hillbilly singer and an elocutionist. Duer Pierce of Kennett Square served as Toastmaster. Monty Nute gave a splendid and inspiring talk on the privilege of being a Lion and the duties of being a good Lion. District Governor Paul Hoffer spoke on Lionism and presented the International Charter to President Paul Strode. District Secretary Jim Barr presented the State Charter to First vice-President Arthur Trimble. Max Pierce of the Kennett Square Club extended greetings and presented the club with its original Gavel and Gong as a gift from the Kennett Square Lions Club.