A Brief History of the Hermann Lions Club
Organized - August 18, 1930 Chartered - October 22, 1930
Charter Members
Albert Baumstark, Louis Begemann, A. R. Burt, H. Bruggenjohann, Carl Cornell, N.W. Dorsey, John Ewald, L.G. Graf, Walter Greis, John H. Helmers, Dr. W.A. Jeter, Geo. A. Jordan, M.F. Kappelmann, R.H. Kassman, George S. Kramer, J.C. McClune, E.C. Obenhaus, H.E. Ochsner, R.W. Ochsner, Dr. R.W. Rippstein, J.J. Rode, Elmer Ruediger, F.N. Sanders, Richard Trefz
One year after the fall of the stock market in 1930, a group of Hermann's community leaders met at the Eagle Cafe on August 18, 1930 to charter the service organization-the Hermann Lions Club. What motivated these men to see the needs of their fellow citizens of the world and to attempt to address these needs we will never know. We do know that they began the great tradition of Lionism in Hermann. A charter was presented to the club on October 22, 1930. Its first president was Francis N. Sanders, a leading Hermann businessman who served as president from 1930-32.
In the 1930's, the Lions Club began the tradition of selecting the community Christmas tree. The Hermann Lions were the sponsoring club for the Washington Lions.
Despite the war in the 1940's, the Lions worked with the City of Hermann to obtain state funding to control mosquitoes in addition to buying War Bonds and contributed to the Bomber Fund. The club also sponsored the Owensville and New Florence Lions clubs. The club also started the Hermann Boy Scouts during this time period.
The decade of the 50's brought relative prosperity and the Hermann Lions Club was able to expand their programs. The Lions Club was one of the sponsors of the Maifest and the annual Horse Show. The Lions inaugurated an eye examination program. They began their continuing program of providing eyeglasses to the needy. The Lions provided financial support toward the building of the Hermann Area District Hospital.
The 60's brought continued involvement in the community. They donated $5,000 toward the city park and through Lion Joe Faes many hours of participation in this project. An eye tissue receiving station was established at the Hermann Hospital with equipment purchased from the Missouri Lions Eye Tissue Bank. The Lions continue to provide the transportation of the eye tissue to Columbia. The Lions provided $1,500 toward the building of the new fire station. They began the annual "Candy Day Sales", with the proceeds to benefit the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation.
During the 70's, the Lions provided rectangular readers at the Scenic Regional Library in Hermann. Every year, they held a financially successful, very popular "Tractor Pull". They sent Hermann High School band students to represent them in the Missouri All State Band. They constructed a new baseball field and backstop, which was named "Lions Field". In honor of the club's 50th anniversary, they built a new pavilion in the city park.
The Lions continued their successful projects during the 80's. In addition, they replaced the drainage system at Lions Field. They initiated the Neighborhood Watch program. They sponsored Quest, a Lions Drug Awareness program. They provided new trash receptacles to the City of Hermann. They lent their support to the first Health Fair provided by the Hermann Area District Hospital. This decade saw the beginning of the Highway Clean-up program. The Lions donated an additional $4,000 worth of playground equipment for the city park. They also provided funds for a Fitness Trail by the Hermann Hospital.
The Lions were privileged to provide a Leader Dog and the training to a blind Hermann High School student in the 90's. The Lions constructed a restroom at the Riverfront Park. The Lions continued their support to the Eye Research Foundation. "Kettle Korn" became part of the fund-raising efforts. The Ham and Bean Dinner became an annual fund raiser, along with the Pancake Breakfast. After the terrible floods of the 90's, the Lions were there, helping to clean up the town and with financial assistance. The Lions began sponsoring a football player for the Lions All-Star Football Game.
In this new century, the Hermann Lions continue to meet many needs in the community, including the parks, fire department, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the school, Little League Baseball, and the Sheltered Workshop. They support the projects of the Lions Clubs of 26-M7 and Lions International.
From a small band of men, who somehow in our country's bleak hours, saw a brighter future, continues a club dedicated to the one basic principal of Lionism, "We Serve".
