Melvin Jones Fellowship Recipients
Almost every year, we gather to bestow the highest form of recognition conferred by the Lions Club International Foundation, the Melvin Jones Fellowship. The fellowship is named as a tribute to the founder of Lions Club International, Melvin Jones. Designated as LCIF’s highest honor, the fellowship symbolizes those attributes characteristic of individuals who are dedicated to humanitarian service. Attributes such as as generosity, compassion, and concern for others. Following is a list of past recipients of this award.
2023: Melvin Jones Recipient: Chip Day
Fort Atkinson Lions Club congratulates Gordon “Chip” Day as 2023 Melvin Jones Fellowship Award recipient. Chip could be described as a Lion before he officially became a member. As a high schooler, his father Gordon Day (a Lion) would recruit his son, Chip, to assist with manually shucking corn for the annual Corn and Chicken Dinner. He even was part of the building team that constructed the Fort Stockade.
As a Lion, Day has been through many leadership roles, beginning as Tail Twister, then serving as 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Vice President, and as the Lions Club president in 1992-93. His father, Gordon, also served as club President in 1957-58. The younger Day also served as Zone and Region Chairman. His community contributions earned him the 2011 Fort Atkinson Lions Club Distinguished Community Service Award.
Like any good Lion, he always said yes, and volunteered for many projects. He chaired the Distinguished Community Service Award Committee and still sits on the committee today. The club’s major fundraisers of the past, the Corn and Chicken Dinner and the Smelt Fry found the recipient at the helm, chairing these events. He has been a friendly face selling concessions at Ralph Park and picking up a shovel for our park cleanups.
2022 Melvin Jones Recipient: Bill Roberts
Roberts extensive community leadership parallels his involvement in the Fort Atkinson Lions Club. He has been a Fort Atkinson Lion for over 40 years, serving in numerous club officer positions including president from 1989 to 1990. He has an active interest in civic, cultural, and social organizations in Fort Atkinson and beyond. He is a great ambassador for our community and promotes the spirit of volunteerism.
In the Fort Atkinson community, he was a founding member of the Fort Atkinson Generals baseball team, playing for five years. As a sports enthusiast, Roberts was a founding member of the Fort Atkinson Blackhawk sports booster club, serving on the board of directors. Currently, he is serving a 2-year term on the Koshkonong Mounds Country Club Board of Directors.
Not only is his involvement impressive, but the length of his commitment is admirable, as demonstrated by his 47 years as a member of the Wisconsin Inter-scholastic Athletic Association as a sports official in four sports – basketball, volleyball, softball, and baseball.
As a 12-year member of the St. Vincent De Paul Conference Board of Directors, Roberts is currently serving as President. He serves as the on-site coordinator for the Catholic Charities/Second Harvest Mobile Food Pantry. As an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson for over 50 years.
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“Whenever recognition takes place, it is always accomplished with the understanding that there are many deserving individuals in a club as large and active as ours. It is always a challenging task for the committee to identify a recipient for this honor,” stated Lion Tom Emrick during the award presentation to the 25th and latest recipient.
Emrick continued, “This honor is symbolized by such attributes as humanitarian and community services, generosity of time, talent, leadership and compassion, and concern for others. This year’s selection possesses the attributes in that of a Melvin Jones Fellow.”
A Fort Atkinson Lions Club member for 18 years and a past Lions Club president, the recipient has been a leader. He has led by example, serving in key offices, chaired several committees, and provided the club with those necessary skills and leadership for the successful outcome of events.
The 25th Melvin Jones Fellow from Fort Atkinson Lions Club is Donald E. Gross. He has been active in civic, cultural, and social organizations that promote the community. These traits clearly fulfill the objectives of Lions.
2019 Melvin Jones Recipient: Gary Moen
This 2019 selection, Gary Moen, possesses the attributes of a Melvin Jones Fellow. A Fort Atkinson Lion for 24 years, he has been a leader by example, has served in various key offices, has been chairperson of several committees, and was Club president in 2001-2002. He has provided the necessary skills and leadership for the successful outcome of Club activities.
2018 Melvin Jones Recipient: Jeff Woods
Previous Recipients:
1986-87 Erwin "Gus" Klatt; 1988-89 Walter F. Ciaglo; 1988-89 Glenn Lepley; 1989-90 Clarence A. Langhoff; 1990-91 Robert J. Wagner; 1991-92 Thomas J. Goyer; 1993-94 Jerry C. Heiliger; 1994-95 Peter M. Newell; 1996-97 Lee E. Jahnke; 1997-98 David R. Camplin; 1998-99 Roger W. Griedl; 2000-01 John W. McKenzie; 2001-02 James R. Zieglemeier; 2002-03 Dennis "Doc" McKee; 2003-04 Daniel D. Weber; 2005-06 Norman E. Godfrey; 2010-11 Thomas W. Emrick; 2012-13 Mary Alice Jahnke; 2013-14 Richard A. James; 2014-15 E. G. Becker: 2015-16 Roger Draeger: 2016-2017 John Anderson; Jeffrey Woods 2017-18; Gary Moen 2018-19; Bill Roberts 2021-2022; Chip Day 2022-2023.
