Merrillville Lions History
Officially Chartered October 21, 1946
Charter Night Celebrated November 4, 1946
Past District Governors (25A)
Don Duran 1969-1970
John Eich 1980-1981
Melvin Jones Fellows
The Melvin Jones Fellowship (MJF) is the backbone of our foundation. Presented to those who make tremendous contributions to humanity and to the legacy of our founder, Melvin Jones.
Don Duran 1987
John Eich 1991
Paul Franko 1993
John S. King 1996
Elizabeth L. Erdelles 2011
W.P. Woods Fellows
The W.P. Woods award was established April 22, 1995. This award was established to honor the first president of Lions International W.P. Woods who was an Indiana Lion from Evansville.
Richard T. Miyamoto Fellows
The Miyamoto Fellowship was established to honor Lions and others for their dedication to those in need in their communities and around the world. Dr. Richard T. Miyamoto is known for his work in cochlear implants for children. Dr. Miyamoto's pioneering work has been recognized around the world, and he continues his close relationship with the Lions of Indiana.
"Top Club" Award District 25A
Top Club 1995-1996
Top Club 1996-1997
Hosted District 25A Convention Indiana Lions State Convention
2000 Radisson Star Plaza- Merrillville 2009- Radisson Star Plaza- Merrillville
2009 Radisson Star Plaza- Merrillville 2012 Radisson Star Plaza- Merrillville
2013 Radisson Star Plaza- Merrillville
2023 Dean & Barbara White Community Center- Merrillville
Past President
| Russell T. Williams | 1946-1947 |
| Gilbert A. Blum | 1947-1948 |
| Andrew J. Kreiter | 1948-1949 |
| Clarence A. Walter | 1949-1950 |
| Arthur W. Hollingshead | 1950-1951 |
| Howard A. Townsley | 1951-1952 |
| Fred I. Iddings | 1952-1953 |
| Willis F. Saxton | 1953-1954 |
| Ralph C. Loyce | 1954-1955 |
| Fred Lennertz | 1955-1956 |
| J. Elmer Stowell | 1956-1957 |
| Eric Erickson | 1957-1958 |
| Joseph Eich | 1958-1959 |
| Oscar Huth | 1959-1960 |
| Virgil Johnson | 1960-1961 |
| Kenneth Gray | 1961-1962 |
| Robert Pine | 1962-1963 |
| Donald Duran | 1963-1964 |
| John Eich | 1964-1965 |
| Nicholas Krisko | 1965-1966 |
| Robert Shepherd | 1966-1967 |
| Arthur Goetschel | 1967-1968 |
| William Smith | 1968-1969 |
| William E. Regan | 1969-1970 |
| Lawrence Marino | 1970-1971 |
| Edward E. Lloyd | 1971-1972 |
| Richard Adler | 1972-1973 |
| Joseph M. Eich | 1973-1974 |
| John Erdelles | 1974-1975 |
| Royce Hyndman | 1975-1976 |
| Albert De St. Jean | 1976-1977 |
| Albert Balluch | 1977-1978 |
| Lawrence Dewes | 1978-1979 |
| Leonard Hemmes | 1979-1980 |
| Terry Brooks | 1980-1981 |
| Vernon Schweitzer | 1981-1982 |
| Lawrence Dewes | 1982-1983 |
| Paul J. Franko | 1983-1984 |
| Paul J. Franko | 1984-1985 |
| John R. Eich Sr | 1985-1986 |
| Vernon Schweitzer | 1986-1987 |
| Vernon Schweitzer | 1987-1988 |
| John R. Eich Sr | 1988-1989 |
| Richard J. Pluth | 1989-1990 |
| Royce Hyndman | 1990-1991 |
| Richard J. Pluth | 1991-1992 |
| Darin Abernathy | 1992-1993 |
| Darin Abernathy | 1993-1994 |
| Margret Abernathy | 1994-1995 |
| Mike Minogue | 1995-1996 |
| John R. Eich Sr. | 1996-1997 |
| Elizabeth (Betty) Erdelles | 1997-1998 |
| Elizabeth Erdelles | 1998-1999 |
| Elizabeth Erdelles | 1999-2000 |
| Elizabeth Erdelles | 2000-2001 |
| Elizabeth Erdelles | 2001-2002 |
| Elizabeth Erdelles | 2002-2003 |
| Elizabeth Erdelles | 2003-2004 |
| Elizabeth Erdelles | 2004-2005 |
| Elizabeth Erdelles | 2005-2006 |
| Mike Minogue | 2006-2007 |
| Elizabeth Erdelles | 2007-2008 |
| Elizabeth Erdelles | 2008-2009 |
| Elizabeth Erdelles | 2009-2010 |
| Elizabeth Erdelles | 2010-2011 |
| Vernon Schweitzer | 2011-2012 |
| Vernon Schweitzer | 2012-2013 |
| Vernon Schweitzer | 2013-2014 |
| Carol Miano | 2014-2015 |
| Mike Minogue | 2015-2016 |
| MIke Minogue | 2016-2017 |
| Mike Minogue | 2017-2018 |
| Ellen Hennessy | 2018-2019 |
| Ellen Hennessy | 2019-2020 |
| Ellen Hennessy | 2020-2021 |
| Ellen Hennessy | 2021-2022 |
| Jay Ferrell | 2022-2023 |
| Jay Ferrell | 2023-2024 |
| Mike Minogue | 2024-2025 |
| Mike Minogue | 2025-2026 |
****If you have any information on a Past President that we seem to be missing, please email us at merrillvillelionsclub@gmail.com
