A SHORT HISTORY OF
THE MOORESVILLE LIONS CLUB
THE MOORESVILLE LIONS CLUB
The Mooresville Lions Club was chartered on July 26, 1939 by the Statesville Lions Club with eighteen members, none of whom are still living. Lion Lee Hanna was President and C.M. “Pete” Deaton was Secretary/Treasury.
The Club first met at the Commercial Hotel in downtown Mooresville, where Wells Fargo Bank is now located. Next, they met at the Community Building on W. Center Avenue, which is now Alltel. Later, the club met at the War Memorial Building until the Citizens Center was built where they met for several years. Then they moved to Shomar's, Golden Corral, Captain's Galley and finally to George Pappas Victory Lanes.
The Mooresville Lions Club has organized 16 new Lions Clubs with Lion Shaw Brown having recruited most of the members. Lions Reid Sherrill, Allen Lowrance and Robin Alexander organized a Leo Club at South Iredell High School. Later, Mooresville member, PDG Joyce Keels, organized the Helen Keller Branch Club.
The Club has been successful in producing five District Governors during the past 75 years. This is 8% of the District 31-B governors since 1950. First, Lion Bill Earnhardt, PDG; then Lion Shaw Brown, PDG; Lion Robert “Bob” Lineberger, PDG; Lion Joyce Keels, PDG and then our current District 31-B Governor, Lion Sharon Weddington.
The Club has been very fortunate to have three additional Past District Governors join the Mooresville Lions Club from other Districts. First, Lion Tom Keels, PDG from District 31-E; Lion Steven Sheline, PDG from District 31-C and Lion Randy Vickers, PDG from District 31-H. The Club presently has only two surviving Past District Governors.
The Club has served the community and the District with such projects as the Glaucoma and Diabetes Clinics, an annual $1000 scholarship to the graduating Senior of the Mooresville High School (since 1963), parties and picnics for the Blind, new High School Band uniforms, eye examinations and glasses, as well as hearing aids to needy people, hospital beds and wheel chairs; the Club has secured hundreds of eye pledges for the Eye Bank, sold crafts made by home-bound blind, returning all proceeds to them, not to mention many other services. We have purchased and sold thousands of tickets for the annual raffle of an auto to benefit Camp Dogwood. We sponsor the Brighter Vision Van to local schools. The Club also sponsors a Christmas Party for the blind and visually handicapped with gifts for each attendee.
Some of the fund-raising projects to support many worthwhile projects include White Cane Drive, Candy Day, Fiddlers Convention, sale of fruit cakes, strawberries and blind-made brooms. We have sponsored gum ball machines and mint dispensers throughout various locations in town. We sell peanuts at the Mooresville High School home football games and local restaurants often allow us to sell tickets and invite customers to their restaurants and they give us a percentage of these sales.
The Club held its 40th Charter Anniversary on September 26, 1979 at the Mooresville Junior High School with International President, Lloyd Morgan and his wife Ngaire, of New Zealand as guests of honor.
The Club held its 50th Charter Anniversary in 1989 at the First Presbyterian Church with International President, William I. Woolard, of Charlotte as guest speaker, and his wife, Virginia.
The 65th Charter Anniversary was held on July 17, 2004 at First Baptist Church in Mooresville, NC with guest speaker, Past International Director, Sid Scruggs and his wife, Judy, of Vass, NC. Lion Sid is now our Past International President.
The 70th Charter Anniversary was a small celebration at Shomar's Restaurant on a Saturday in July 2009 sponsored by the Helen Keller Branch Club.
The Club was experiencing slow growth when in July 2009 Lion Sharon Weddington joined the Mooresville Club. Lion Sharon has been a Lion since 1993 and had worked for the NC Lions Foundation from 1982-2003 serving as Camp Director at one time.
With her expertise, Lion Sharon began moving the Club forward again. New members, new projects and then on August 10, 2011, the Club voted on a Resolution to support Lion Sharon on a bid to be District Governor in District 31-B and the rest is history.
With Lion Randy Vickers, PDG, as our current president, the Club continues to move forward with their fund raising projects to support many needs in our community. The Club membership works hard at supporting our current leadership and continue in their dedication to provide for the community needs.
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MOORESVILLE LIONS CLUB'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY
On August 23, 2014 we celebrated our 75th Club Anniversary at Central UMC in downtown Mooresville, NC. Past International President Sid L Scruggs, III was our guest speaker and gave an inspiring program after our dinner.
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PAST DISTRICT GOVERNORS FROM
THE MOORESVILLE LIONS CLUB
Lion Bill Earnhardt (deceased) 1961-1962
Lion Shaw Brown (deceased) 1974-1975
Lion Robert Lineberger (deceased) 1984-1985
Lion Joyce Keels (first woman from 31-B to serve as DG) 2005-2006
Lion Sharon Weddington 2014-2015
PAST DISTRICT GOVERNORS FROM
OTHER CLUBS BEFORE JOINING
THE MOORESVILLE LIONS CLUB
Lion Tom Keels (deceased) PDG of 31-E 1983-1984
Lion Randy Vickers PDG of 31-H 2001-2002
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From 1941 until 2008 An Old Time Fiddler's and Bluegrass Convention was held as a fundraiser. In 2009 it was replaced with a Golf Tornament
Above is an ad from the 1958 Fiddler's Convention.
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AWARDS
Forty Plus Years in Lionism
Lion Lucian Feather 04/01/1966
Lion Reid Sherrill 01/01/1967
Lion Allen Lowrance 10/01/1973
Lion Jerry Ervin 10/01/1973
Lion Charles Sutton 06/01/1975
Melvin Jones Fellowship Award
Lion Harry Davis
Lion Reid Sherrill
Lion Randy Vickers, PDG
Lion Sharon Weddington, PDG
Lion Angie B Kaiser
Jack Stickley Fellowship Award
Lion Robert Brawley
Lion Allen Lowrance
Lion Randy Vickers, PDG
Lion Sharon Weddington, PDG
Lion Joyce Renegar
Sid L Scruggs, III "Beacon of Hope" Award
Lion Allen Lowrance
Lion Randy Vickers, PDG
Lion Sharon Weddington, PDG
Lion Reid Sherrill
Lion Kaz Sherrill
William L Woolard "Partner-In-Service" Award
Lion Becky Burke
Lion Mel Cowher
Lion Dolores Dauenheimer
Lion Jerry Ervin
Lion Angie B Kaiser
Lion Mary Lowrance
Lion Edna Rowland
Lion Joyce Renegar
Lion Ellen Richardson
Lion Chuck Sutton
Lion Randy Vickers, PDG
Lion Sharon Weddington, PDG
Lion John Westmoreland
Lion Jake Williams
updated 04 August 2016 @ 10:55 pm
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