Melvin Jones Fellowship Recipients
The fellowship, which was created in 1973, takes its name from the founder of Lions Clubs International (LCI), Melvin Jones. It is an honor — not an award. The fellowship was established as LCIF’s highest form of recognition to acknowledge an individual’s dedication to humanitarian service.
The fellowship is symbolized through an inscribed plaque and a lapel pin presented to the recipient. Because of the nature of the fellowship, it can be conferred upon individuals only. The honor is not given to a Club, district, or other groups. It is not a requirement that the recipient be a Lion. A Melvin Jones Fellowship may be given to honor the memory of a deceased individual.
River Falls Melvin Jones Fellows include:
Clete Henriksen 9/30/94
James D. Foster 11/13/95
Robert B. Johnson, Jr 6/7/00
Melvin Germanson 1/31/01
Alan Stewart 3/14/03
Rod Rommel 5/17/05
Fletcher Baker 2006
Don Page 2007
Byron Dopkins, Sr 2008
Lee Nelson 2009
Mark Sams 2010
Byron Dopkins, Jr. 2011
Larry Testa 2012
Todd Frisch 2013
Vince Seidling 2013
Mike Stifter 2014
Gerald Emholtz 2015
Tom Carroll 2016
Dick Rinehart 2020
Mike Miller 2021
Dan Murray 2022
Rose Rude 2023
Shelley Rinehart 2024
Todd Schultz 2025
Birch-Sturm Fellowship Recipients
The Birch-Sturm Fellowship was created by the Wisconsin Lions Foundation to honor those individuals who exemplify undying dedication and commitment to Lionism. The fellowship is named after Frank V. Birch and Clarence L. Sturm, the only International Presidents from Wisconsin. The program somewhat mirrors the Melvin Jones Fellowship program in that it honors individuals through a plaque, lapel pin, patch and name inscribed on the Master Plaque at the Wisconsin Lions Foundation office.
River Falls Birch-Sturm Fellows include:
James Foster 1992
Bill Sperling 1993
Dick Ritzinger 1994
Byron Dopkins, Sr 1997
Robert Johnson, Jr 1997
Mel Germanson 1997
Bill Donais 1999
Alan Stewart 1999
Fletcher Baker 2002
Byron Dopkins, Jr 2002
Larry Testa 2005
Michael Stifter 2006
Mark Sams 2008
Bill Sazama 2009
Judy Rommel 2010
Rod Rommel 2011
Larry Testa 2012
Rose Rude 2013
Warren Kozitza 2014
Todd Frisch 2015
Elaine Baker 2016
Tim Cashman 2017
Dan Murray 2019
David Gregg 2020
Michelle Rinehart 2021
Scott Gavin 2022
Todd Schultz 2023
Ryan Leitch 2024
Vince Seidling 2025
Roger Horness Service to Youth and Community Award
The Roger Horness Service to Youth and Community Award honors Mr. Roger Horness who was a long time member of the River Falls Lions Club and active community participant. The award honors a River Falls citizen, member or non-member, annually who in the spirit of Roger Horness serves to make the River Falls community better. The award became the combined Youth and Community award in 1987.
Roger Horness Service Award Recipients include:
1980 Liz Oostendorp-- Service to Community
Tom Andres-- Service to Youth
1985 Mel Germanson Service to Community
1987 Dorie Hoffman
1989 Tom Carroll
1990 Stan McCullogh
1991 Mr. and Mrs. Fred Reihle
1992 Ron Wunrow
1993 Al Stewart
1994 Dick Rinehart
1995 Judith Permann
1996 Dennis Schultz
1997 George LaFave
1998 Pat McCardle
1999 Jerry Carter
2000 Jim Dollahon
2001 Jerry Brandt
2002 Francis Ogden
2003 Mary Betzel
2004 Ann Lydecker
2005 David Black
2006 Kirby Symes
2007 Mary Waters
2008 Dorie Hoffman
2009 Richard Pechacek
2010 Dr. Robert Johnson
2011 Darryl Hetrick
2012 Carole Mottaz
2013 Diane Brady
2014 Bob Gustafson
2015 Michelle Rinehart
2016 Jason Nesbitt
2017 Cindi Danke
2018 Rose Rude
2019 Jamie Benson
2020 Gary Campbell
2021 Curt & Julie Bruns
2022 Pauline Williams
2023 David Hirstein
2024 Ryan Bishop
2025 Kim Masanz
James Foster Memorial Lion of the Year
The Lion of the Year award was first given in 1980 and then annually from 1985 on to recognize the outstanding service of an individual Lion during a given service year.
Lion of the Year's Recipients include:
1977/1978 Larry Testa
1978/1988 Roger Horness
1979/1980 George Kind
1980/1981 Gregg White
1982/1983 Clete Henricksen
1984/85 Byron Dopkins, Jr.
1985/86 Galen Berry
1987/88 Herb Hoefer
1988/89 Bill Sperling
1989/90 Jerry Morrow
1990/91 Bill Donais
1991/92 Larry Testa
1992/93 Jim Dollahon
1993/94 Tom Carroll
1994/95 Bob Casey
1995/96 Jim Wookey
1996/97 Nate Jackson
1997/98 Fletcher Baker
1998/99 Dr. Bob Johnson
1999/00 Rod Rommel/Fletcher Baker
2000/01 Mark Sams
2001/02 Bill Sazama
2002/03 Mike Stifter
2003/04 Mary Beth Williams
2004/05 Peter Stern
2005/06 Dr. Bob Johnson
2006/07 Todd Frisch
2007/08 Don Schwab
2008/09 Al Stewart
2009/10 Rose Rude
2010/11 Warren Kozitza
2011/12 Vince Seidling
2012/13 Dan Murray
2013/14 Elaine Baker
2014/15 Judy Rommel
2015/16 Todd Frisch and John Lisowski
2016-17 Mike Miller
2017-18 Michael Page
2018-19 Todd Schultz
2019-20 Ryan Leitch
2020-21 Tom Rasmussen
2021-22 Carole Mottaz
2022-23 Michelle Rinehart
2023-24 Jennifer Betz
2024-25 Colin Murphy
Knight of Sight Award
The Knight of Sight Fellowship award can be achieved through an individual or Lions Club cash donation of $1,000 or more. Your name will be prominently and permanently displayed on the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin Knight of Sight Wall of Honor, and will also be recognized in the next LEBW Annual Report.
This is the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin's highest form of recognition that may be presented to an individual, by their club, zone, group or district, who exemplifies the LEBW's mission to give the Gift of Sight in Wisconsin, the United States, and internationally.
Knight of Sight Recipients include:
2008 Dick Ritzinger and Rod Rommel
2009 Dr. Bob Johnson
2010 Mel Germanson
2011 Mark Ritzinger
2012 Don McLean
2013 Mary Conroy-Johnson
2014 Dan Murray
2015 Ann Jilik
2016 Judy Rommel
2018 Elaine Baker
2019 Tom Rasmussen
2020 Karin Brandvold
2022 Shopko Optical
2023 Jennifer Belz
2023 Brian Schultz
2024 Larry Testa
2025 Carole Mottaz
Ray Hempel Fellowship - Lions Pride Pride Endowment Fund
Lion Ray Hempel was an avid camper, Boy Scout leader and a Lion, so it didn't take him long to decide what was needed and that the Lions should start a camp for blind children. A site search led to today’s Lions Camp property, nestled in the rolling hills of Central Wisconsin near Rosholt, its purchase approved at the 1956 State Convention.
Lion Ray served as the first Lions Camp Director and eagerly took on its development. In 1959, at the Camp Gateway Dedication, Lion Ray was recognized as the originator of the Wisconsin Lions Camp by Lions International President, Clarence L. Sturm. Lions Camp has since touched the lives of tens of thousands of children and adults with special needs.
An Awardee will receive a Ray Hempel Fellow lapel pin, a personalized recognition plaque and their name added to the permanent Ray Hempel Fellowship Recognition Display in the Lions Pride Office.
Ray Hempel Fellowship Recipients include:
2013 Larry Testa
2014 Mel Germanson
2015 Rod Rommel
2016 Al Steward
2017 Mark Sams
2018 Don Schwab
2019 Melissa Murphy
2022 Cece Gillis
2023 Larry Testa
2024 Dr. Bob Johnson
2025 Thomas Rasmussen
