District 18-B / Region IV -
Zone 2
Club Number 007377
Waycross Lions Club Organized May 4, 1922
Meeting Date - Tuesday, 1:00 PM
Meeting Place - Phoenix Hotel
1st President - J.D. Mitchell
1st Secretary - H.A. Stallings
The club was issued a Charter by Lions International
on May 11, 1922 with 39 charter members.
1922 - 1930
The first two projects adopted by the Lions Club were
the Golf Club and the City Auditorium. We began hog auctions,
started movement for the U.S. District Court in Waycross, helped raise
money for Waycross Gold Club. Raised $200.00 to send young women
to Business College
W.C. Parker was elected District Governor - State of
Georgia. We recommended probation officer for Ware County,
launched movement for zoning regulations in Waycross, recommended City
to hire a policewoman, worked for establishing first tobacco market in
Waycross. Was responsible for City establishing Park and Tree
Commission. Financed Scholarships at Piedmont Institute, raised
funds to equip High School Drum and Bugle Corps with new uniforms and
provided a Chairman who raised funds for new hotel.
1930 - 1940
Held second Annual Flower Show. Celebrated
success of its first project, Waycross Golf Club. Repaired toys
for Christmas distribution. Sponsored Lions Club in Homerville,
Alma, Adel. Valdosta, Hazlehurst and Fitzgerald. Hosted 1933 State
Convention and started the Annual Lions Club Minstrel.
1940 - 1950
Sponsored Lions Club in Folkston, Assisted R.O.
Hubbard, a blind man, into broom business. Started Annual
Halloween Festival and started the gumball machines
1950 - 1960
Lion C.M. Blanton, was elected District Governor.
Held a Christmas party for 24 children. Bill Sims was elected
District Governor. Sent the Waycross High School Band to
International Convention in Miami, Florida. Sponsored Okefenokee
Lions Club and Charles Hatcher was elected District Governor.
1960 - 1970
The Waycross Lions Club Monroe Educational Fund was
established. Contributed $1,750.00 for new Chamber of Commerce
Building. Contributed $3,000.00 for the Family YMCA building.
Organized Academic Honor Society May 1967. We assisted five
students with loans for college of higher education. Helped
sponsor Junior Swine Show. Loaned $2,650.00 for purchase of pigs
in 1969. Purchased more than $1,000.00 in glasses for
underprivileged each year beginning July 1, 1960 Lion's Year.
1970 - 1980
We loaned University of Georgia 260 American Flags for
the half-time show, October 1970. Sponsored Waycross Home Show
March 1971. We had our 50yh Anniversary Celebration, May 1972.
Sponsored the District Peach Bowl Pageant, November 1972.
Co-sponsored the District 18-D Rally, January 1976. Contributed
$3,944.00 to Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind, 1976-1978.
Displayed over 200 American Flags in "New Scenic Flag Display" December
7, 1978. We donated 865 pairs of glasses to the District Committee
Chairman, March 1980.
1980 - 1989
Began collecting hearing aids as annual project.
Sponsored annual Academic Honors Banquet and 4-H and FFA Swine Show.
In 1981 Amy Sirmans represented the Lions Club in the annual Peach Bowl
Pageant at Jekyll Island. She was crowned Princess and represented
District 18-B at Peach Bowl New Years game in Atlanta. Gina Thrift
represented the club in 1988 and won the Princess Pageant at Jekyll
Island.
Patriotic Flag displays continued to grow in size and
use that it necessitated the establishment of a flag use/rental program
and in 1988 a trailer was purchased to store and transport the flags.
In 1987 the Lions-Quest Skills for Adolescents Program was implemented
in the Waycross City Schools with the club paying $1,367.00 or half the
cost and continued that support in the following years. In
1989 Frances Blacknall became the first lady Waycross Lions Club member
and she was sponsored by Lion J. Robert Day and in the same year the
Annual Swine Show was televised on the local channel 42. Club
sponsored a blind person to the Leader Dog School in Rochester,
Michigan.
1990 - 1999
During this period the club sponsored and/or held
these annual activities: Annual Swine Show, Academic Honors
Society, Broom Sales, Christmas Party for children, Annual Sweetheart
Banquet, White Cane Day, Star/Teacher Recognition, Christmas Kettle for
the Salvation Army, and Displayed American Flags in Patriotic Flag
Displays on holidays and other special occasions.
The Waycross Lions Club celebrated its 70th
Anniversary in 1992 and 75th Anniversary in 1997 with a banquet.
In 1993 a first for the Waycross Lions Club occurred when past President
Jim Tucker inducted his son, Steve Tucker as President of the Club for
1993-1994. In 1994 another first occurred when Lion Freida Jacobs
was installed as the first Lady President of the Waycross Lions Club.
In 1994 the Club sent mops/brooms to flood victims in Southwest Georgia.
The club also participated in Annual Paul Azinger
Pro-Am Benefit for Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind. In 1996
introduced new Lion's Club Fund Raising Program, "Big Buck Contest" for
hunters and families, presenting cash awards, trophies and door prizes.
1999 - 2000
The following projects were completed: 4th Annual Big
Buck Contest, Annual Christmas Party for children, Annual Sweetheart
banquet, 42nd Annual Swine Show, Christmas Kettle-Funds for Salvation
Army, Broom sales totaling $4,504.00, Scenic Flag Display on Patriotic
Holidays, 34th Annual Academic Honors Banquet held at the YMCA.
2000 - 2001
The following projects were completed: Participated in
Send a Kid to Camp Day, Annual Christmas Party for Kids, Participated in
Paul Azinger Tourney, Annual Swine Show, Annual Star
Student/Teacher Recognition Banquet, and Academic Honors Banquet.
2001 - 2002
The following projects were completed: Christmas party
for children, Annual Sweetheart Banquet, Annual Swine Show, Christmas
Kettle for Salvation Army, Broom Sales, Scenic Flag Display, Academic
Honors Banquet, and Star Student/Teacher honored.
2002 - 2004
The following projects were accomplished as a team.
Inducted several new members. Carried out the club's civic duties
in sponsoring the Annual Swine Show, the Academic Honors Banquet,
participated in Salvation Army "Red Kettle" campaign at Christmas, Star
Student/Teacher honored, Assisted in Habitat for Humanity, and placed
flags in the downtown parks an at intersection of Memorial Drive and
South Georgia Parkway on Patriotic Holidays. Observed White Cane
Day annually and contributed to Lions projects such as Camp for the
Blind, Georgia Lighthouse, Lions International Foundation, and others
from sales of of brooms, mops and flags. The club also presented
flags to veteran organizations and participated in the Vietnam War
Moving Memorial visit to Waycross by providing flags as well as members
assisting with project. Club speakers were many and varied.
2004-2006
Lions completed
these annual projects during these two years: the Academic Honors
Banquet, bell ringing for Salvation Army "RedKettle" campaign, Children’s Christmas
party, hosted Star Student/Teacher awards,
observed White Cane Day, and placed flags in the downtown parks
and at Memorial Drive and South Georgia Parkway onten patriotic holidays. After 47 years
held the last annual Lions sponsored 4-H/FFA Swine Show during March
2005. The show continues but under different sponsorship.
Annual
contributions were made to: Lions Camp for the Blind, Georgia
Lighthouse, Leader Dog, Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, Lions
International Foundation, and others from the sale of brooms, mops, and
flags. A $1,000 one-time contribution was made to Lions International
Foundation for Hurricane Katrina relief. Presented Tom Gattis with
Melvin Jones Fellowship in December 2005. Began work to update the
Dewey Durrence Educational Fund guidelines to make the program more
effective.
