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 |
| Robert R. Yeatman | 2023 |
| John Manley | 2024 |
| Jack Weber | 2025 |
| Eric Hansen | 2026 |
| George Steele | 2026 |
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.
AVON GROVE LIONS CLUB PAST PRESIDENTS
| Paul Strode | 1950 | Michael Alft | 2010-11 |
| Dr. Agnew R Ewing | 1950-51 | Mike Reynolds | 2011-12 |
| Edwin Mackey | 1951-52 | Richard Goss | 2012-13 |
| Hynson H. Marvel | 1952-53 | E. Jane Frank | 2013-14 |
| Earl Hall | 1953-54 | Jack W. Weber | 2014-15 |
| Charles G. Halsey | 1954-55 | David Priebe | 2015-16 |
| Swithin C. Shortlidge | 1955-56 | John Manley | 2016-17 |
| W. Lee McNamar | 1956-57 | Eric Hansen | 2017-18 |
| Clair I. Beyer | 1957-58 | David Graham | 2018-19 |
| James W. Mackey | 1958-59 | Dwayne Degler | 2019-21 |
| Austin E. Pyle | 1959-60 | David Graham | 2021-22 |
| Edwin P. Woodward | 1960-61 | Fran Thomson | 2022-23 |
| Ray C. Cole | 1961-62 | George Steele | 2023-24 |
| Dr. Wm. J. Turkington | 1962-63 | Jack Weber | 2024-25 |
| George Ohihus | 1963-64 | Debbie Bollenbach | 2025-26 |
| Luman Beitler | 1964-65 | ||
| J. Gilbert Adamson | 1965-66 | ||
| Cassimer Beck | 1966-67 | ||
| John P. Gray | 1967-68 | ||
| Donald B. Needham | 1968-69 | ||
| C. James Yeatman | 1969-70 | ||
| Marvin Blake | 1970-71 | ||
| Elmer Young | 1971-72 | ||
| Robert L. Davis | 1972-73 | ||
| E. Harvey Chase | 1973-74 | ||
| John W. Needham | 1974-75 | ||
| Philip C. Pusey | 1975-76 | ||
| Guido J. Fecondo | 1976-77 | ||
| Paul C. Rarrick | 1977-78 | ||
| Robert R. Yeatman | 1978-79 | ||
| David Mackey | 1979-80 | ||
| James H. Paxson | 1980-81 | ||
| C. Richard Morton | 1981-82 | ||
| Frank R. McBerty | 1982-83 | ||
| Jacob Dudkewitz | 1983-84 | ||
| Raymond Walker | 1984-85 | ||
| Steve Mack | 1985-86 | ||
| Charles Vetter | 1986-87 | ||
| Ssamuel Goodwin | 1987-88 | ||
| Eugene G. McDowell | 1988-89 | ||
| John Call | 1989-90 | ||
| Walter B Bercaw | 1990-91 | ||
| Alan C Jones | 1991-92 | ||
| Thomas J. Foulk | 1992-93 | ||
| John Astell | 1993-94 | ||
| Dr. Michael Pushkarewicz | 1994-95 | ||
| W. Frank Steele | 1995-96 | ||
| David G. Connery | 1996-97 | ||
| Albert E. Frank | 1997-98 | ||
| Samuel E. Dunn | 1998-99 | ||
| Buford Wilcox | 1999-00 | ||
| Edward H. Acorn | 2000-01 | ||
| Benjamin H. Keller | 2001-02 | ||
| John Call | 2002-03 | ||
| E. Jane Frank | 2003-04 | ||
| John L. Needham | 2004-05 | ||
| John R. Thompson | 2005-06 | ||
| Jack E. Weber | 2006-07 | ||
| David Sampson | 2007-08 | ||
| Linda Sampson | 2008-09 | ||
| Brian Coe | 2009-10 |
In Memorium
2025
Francis C. Thomson
2024
Mike Reynolds
2022
Lisa Long Kowalski
Jane Frank
Rich Goss
2021
John W. "Willie" Needham
Edwin Jackson Cook
2018
David G. Connery
W. Frank Steele
2017
Albert E. "Al" Frank
John St. John, Jr.
2016
C. Richard "Dick" Morton
Gerard D "Bib" Troilo
2015
C. James "Jim" Yeatman
2014
John Herr
Caroline Lang
Philip C. Pusey
2010
Thomas J. Foulk
2009
E. Harvey Chase
Frank Robert McBerty
2008
John P. Gray
2006
Eugene G. "Gene" McDowell
2005
Clair Beyer
John L. Needham
2001
James H. Paxson
2000
Jacob Dudkewitz
Dr. Agnew R. "Hank" Ewing
1995
Lumen Beitler
1988
Hynson H. Marvel
1977
Swithin C. Shortlidge
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