Early Crooked River Ranch Lions Club History
EARLY CLUB HISTORY: The Charter for the Terrebonne Lions Club was signed on June 28th, 1979, with the Madras Lions Club serving as sponsor. Twenty men were the original signers of the charter, with seventeen additional men joining at that time. Altogether, forty-six members originated the beginnings of the Terrebonne Lions Club. No living members at this time were a part of this group. In February, 1981, a request was made from the members of the club to change their name from the Terrebonne Lions Club to the Crooked River Ranch Lions Club. This request was approved by Field Representative, Harvey Calome.
EARLY FUNDRAISING PROJECTS: The traditional Buffalo Feed, which continues today, was first held in 1979. The difference being the feed was held behind the General Store, which was owned and run by Kittie Pullen, and which we know now as the Sandbagger Restaurant. The menu consisted not only of buffalo burgers, but buffalo Steak. The meat was donated by Bill MacPherson, who raised his own buffalo on the ranch. Several buffalo were taken to the local slaughter house where they were slaughtered and halved. The Lions members picked up the halves and took the meat to members’ homes. The buffalo was cut into steaks and then served at the buffalo feed.
The Lions Club purchased an old trailer for $100.00, the balance being donated by Country Estates Mobile Home. The trailer was restored and was used for the sale of fireworks during the 4th of July celebration and also as a concession stand located on the golf course. The Lions Club donated time serving at crab feeds and local restaurants, for a fee. White canes were distributed for donations. Money earned from the white cane project was donated to the Sight and Hearing Program. Lions cut wood for the elderly living on the Ranch; they presented flags to school age children, delivered Christmas Food Baskets to needy families, and build a Community Park located across from the Rodeo Grounds. (This park no longer exists. It is now the second 9 holes of the golf course, built in 1995). Eye glasses were distributed locally.
THE MCPHERSON PARK AND PAVILLION: Members of the CRR Lions Club layed the concrete and built the pavilion and all of its storage buildings.
THE CRR BALL PARK: Lions members provided all of the physical work on the baseball Diamond which involved moving dirt and clearing rocks.
THE LIONS TRAIN: Lions Lloyd and Louise McKenny, obtained food barrels from the Holly Company. Using these barrels, Lions Lloyd and Marty Forsman designed and built the Lions Train. Lion’s members built the structure which houses the train.
CANS: Lions Lucky Matson and Charlie McCarthy were responsible for the origination of the can collection and recycling project. They collected the cans themselves and Lucky rea the project for the first two years. Lion Bill Heisler took over the program while the other vacationed in Arizona. Several years later Bill took over the project. Bill joined the Lions in 1994. At that time the meetings were held in an restaurant about the Club house. When the restaurant closed, the meeting were transferred to the Sandbagger Restaurant.
COMMUNITY GARDEN: There was a community garden just north of the Old Ranch House on Horny Hollow…which is now the Senior Center. The Ranch plowed the area and owners could rent their own garden plot. Water was furnished. Anita and Shorty Takacs owned their own garden plot at that time.
LIONS MEMORIAL PARK: Under the supervision of CRR Lions President, Rawlins Apperson (who had the vision for this project), the club built what is now known as the Lions memorial Park. Our good Friends, Lloyd and Louise McKenny, Wayne and Ruthie Ferguson, Ralph and Jan Putman, and Bill Heisler were all instrumental in the development of the park. A professional design for the park was submitted to the club. After much consideration, the design was simplified and the park enlarged. Lions members provided much of the physical labor, moving dirt, rocks, and installing a simple sprinker system. At a later date, Lion Lloyd McKenny provided a plot plan for Vern Samples, who installed a new, updated sprinkler system. In its origination, the park had only a few juniper trees. Quite a comparison to the many beautiful trees growing there now
