Tacoma Downtown Lions Club - Lions e-Clubhouse

The Tacoma Lions Club and city officials gave a hearty welcome to Leo the Lion, the "face" of Metro Goldwyn Mayer films, during Leo's World Tour of 1930. (TDL 8-17-30, E-5)

On March 17, 1934 at 1:30p.m. in the afternoon, the first Daffodil Parade rolled out from Union Station, proceeded uptown through Tacoma and later through Puyallup, Sumner and Orting and on into history. There has been a parade every year since 1934, with the exception of the war years of 1943, 1944 and 1945. The parade in 1934 was composed of decorated horses, bicycles, automobiles and floats. This vehicle covered with the early spring blossom was sponsored by the Tacoma Lions Club, a civic organization.

Lion's Club convention delegates at the Winthrop Hotel. Several men gathered around the registrar's table. (1937)

Float #15 in the July 22, 1939 Golden Jubilee Parade seems to be constructed completely of foil. The float, entered by several service organizations, emphasizes their support programs for young people, "Dedicated to Youth." It has an undersea theme. A fish is pulling an unoccupied seashell throne, while waves lap at the sides of the float. The circles bear the names of sponsors: Rotary International, Gyro Club, Lions Club, Young Men's Business Club (YMBC) and Kiwanis International.

In November of 1939, Paul Roberts and Augusta C. Semmern offered Tacomans something other then turkey from the Thomsen's Health Foods booth at the second annual Show of Progress sponsored by the Tacoma Lions Club. A hungry shopper could buy a large, freshly prepared glass of raw vegetable juice, or take home canned soybeans, raw honey, or "meat substitute". (TNT 11/13/1939 p.7)

For many years, Glenn A. Reeves was an employee and officer of the Northern Pacific Bank in South Tacoma. When he retired from the bank in June of 1942, he was recognized by both the South Tacoma Business Men's Association and the South Tacoma Kiwanis. Don S. Wolford, President of the So. Tacoma Business Men's Assoc., holds up a caricature of Mr. Reeves digging clams on the beach near his summer home at Henderson Bay. The pen and ink drawing was a creation of William Knabel. From left to right are Don. S. Wolford, South Tacoma Kiwanis Club president Percy C. Rollins, Glenn A. Reeves, and W.D. Lyness of the Tacoma Lions Club. Mr. Reeves also received a certificate of honorary life membership in the South Tacoma Business Club and a Masonic ring. (TNT 6-11-42, p. 8; T. Times 6-11-42, pg. 3)

On December 17, 1942, the Tacoma Lions Club held its annual Christmas party at the new Tacoma Boys Club, 711 So. 25th Street. Welcoming the Lions to the Club is Vincent Russell, center, managing director of the Boys Club. Pictured left to right are Paul Newman, Harry J. Lynch, Russell, Maj. Earl Williams of the Salvation Army and A. T. Norman. Forty underprivileged boys were the guests of the Lions at the banquet and received gifts as well. The Lions also dedicated the locker room at the Club that they had equipped and furnished. (TNT 12/18/1942, pg. 9; 12/16/1942, pg. 13)

12-17-1942
The Tacoma Lions Club held its annual Christmas party on December 17, 1942 at the new Tacoma Boys Club located at 711 South 25th Street. Forty boys were guests of the members attending the luncheon. Each boy received a gift from Santa. The Lions also took this opportunity to dedicate the new locker room at the club that was furnished and equipped by the Lions.

02-28-1949
Costumes for style show, Ladies Lions Club, Mrs. Hamm. Mrs. Harold Meyer is wearing a costume from 1912 for the Lady Lions "Around the Clock" Visitation Day luncheon that was held February 14, 1949, at the Wedgwood Room, Hotel Winthrop. Mrs. Meyer holds a parasol and is wearing a broad-brimmed hat at an angle.

02-28-1949
Costumes for style show, Ladies Lions Club, Mrs. Hamm. Three members of the Lady Lions enjoy tea wearing fashions from Tacoma's past. Two women are seated in front of a fireplace while La Verna M. (Mrs. Jonas R.) Bjelland serves tea from a silver tea service. L-R, Miriam (Mrs. Marvin) Lynn wearing a dress and bonnet from 1890, Mrs. Jonas R. Bjelland wearing a dress from 1895 and Docia P. (Mrs. George) Poparod wearing a costume from 1861.

04-09-1949
Commercial businesses, organizations and lodges, and service clubs entered their floats in the Daffodil Festival parade, in hopes of winning first place or an honorable mention. View of the Tacoma Lions Club float featuring "Little Tyke", a live African lioness and three children; the Lions were awarded first place in the organizations and lodges category

03-12-1949
Little Tyke, a 260-lb. lioness, is pictured relaxing in front of a Packard automobile at Herb Satterlee Motors, 925 Market Street, in March of 1949. Little Tyke had been with the Westbeau family of Auburn since the day she was born 2 1/2 years ago. Georges and Margaret Westbeau cared for and helped the lioness with the leg and paw injuries she had received from her mother. Little Tyke was the official mascot for the Tacoma Lions Club float in the 1949 Daffodil Parade on April 9th. Seeing a live lioness aboard the float wowed parade viewers and probably helped the club win first place in the service clubs category. Little Tyke was raised as a family pet and was amazingly a vegetarian, disliking meat and blood. This gentle and loving animal was the subject of Mr. Westbeau's 1956 book, "Little Tyke."

05-10-1950
Approximately 50 members of the Tacoma Lions Club met in front of Washington Hardware on the Commerce Street side on May 10, 1950, to pick up tools they would need during Tacoma's Clean-Up, Paint-Up, Fix-Up week. The Lions' committee, headed by acting postmaster John McMonagle, had been working with the Painting and Decorating Contractors, Paint Salesmen's Club and the Lincoln Lions on a program to bring every civic, fraternal and garden club together on this year's clean-up.

January 1952 - Two young girls pose with a lion cub, "Simba", in a publicity shot for the National Foundation of Infantile Paralysis. Simba was to be one of the star performers in a benefit show for the March of Dimes sponsored by the Tacoma Lion's Club.

January 1952 - Three people pose with a lion, "Simba", in a publicity shot for the National Infantile Paralysis. The Tacoma Lions Club planned a benefit show, "Thanks a Million", which would be presented at the Temple Theater.

04-16-1955
A smiling, waving young woman rolls down the street in a huge bright yellow daffodil ballgown with matching hat. The dress hides the means of conveyance of this float. This entry was sponsored by the Tacoma Lions Club.

Crowds line the streets of downtown Tacoma to view the Tacoma Lions Club entry cruise by during the 1957 Daffodil Parade. Children in sailor suits, possibly those of club members, frolic on the bright yellow tug. Even the smokestack and floating device are made of compressed daffodils. 50,000 daffodils were used for "On the Good Ship Lollipop". The Lions Club entry was awarded 3rd place among Service Clubs.