The History of the Gastonia Lions Club

In 1923, a group of young business and professional men of Gastonia held a meeting in the directors' room of the old Citizens National Bank Building on Main Avenue. The meeting was called at the urging of Lion Fred T. Davis, a special representative of Lions International who was interested in organizing a Lions club in Gastonia. The organizational meeting was held on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, 1923. The Gastonia Lions Club was the 11th club formed in North Carolina and its first president was Stephen B. Dolley, a leading Gastonia businessman and commander of the local national guard unit. Over 100 years, the club has sponsored 13 other Lions clubs in North Carolina and South Carolina. The Gastonia club has served as the home club for six district governors.

Our Motto is "We Serve" 

Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.