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Abilene Founder Lions Club
Abilene Founder Lions Club
History of Abilene Founder Lions Club in Abilene, TX
Continued...
In January, 1917, E. A. Hicks, of Evansville, Indiana, who was then an International
Organizer for the International Association of Lions Clubs, visited Dr. Cyrus N. Ray in
Abilene and presented him with a letter from Dr. T. L. Ray, who was then officiating as the
Charter President of the Fort Worth Lions Club.
In accordance with plans laid out by E. A. Hicks, a meeting was called by Dr. Cyrus N. Ray
on February 15, 1917, in the Red Room of the Hotel Grace in Abilene. Dr. Ray presided
during the meeting, which was attended by fifteen Abilene business men. The objective of
the meeting was to effect the origination of the Abilene Lions Club. F. A. Matthes was
elected Organizing President, and Dr. Cyrus N. Ray was elected Organizing Secretary.
Due to the fact that the International Association of Lions Club directed that a minimum of
twenty-five members be included before charter could be issued, it was decided to secure
ten additional members.
After its charter was received, the Abilene Lions Club elected its first permanent officers.
F. A. Matthes was elected Charter President, J. D. Miracle was elected Charter Secretary.
The Abilene Reporter, datelined Thursday, March 8, 1917, chronicled the club’s official
luncheon as follows:
"The weekly luncheon of the Abilene Lions Club was held in the dining room of the Hotel
Grace. E. B. Bynum was toastmaster, and after bringing a smile by relating a witty story to
those present, he introduced Dr. Ray whose subject was ‘The Flower Garden Contest.’
Dr. Ray stated that inasmuch as he was not a public orator he would read his address."
The discussion was published in full, at the conclusion of which O. A. Hale spoke on
means of securing better and permanent pavement at the Texas Pacific railroad crossing
from Pine Street to South First Street. He urged that the club take action with proper
authorities, which suggestion was acted upon by the club, and a committee was appointed
to investigate.
The Abilene Lions Club has generated enthusiasm and action in scores of civic activities
since the day the club was organized. Practically every leader in the town came from the
ranks of the club.
It may have been a coincidence, but from the day the club was organized, conditions in
Abilene began to improve. Miles of pavement were laid, modern street lighting was
installed, millions of dollars were expended in building huge water reservoirs, big hotels
were constructed, Camp Barkeley was based near the city during World War II, the air
base was acquired with its tremendous payroll and thousands of personnel, the oil
industry centered in the area with Abilene as its focal point, and the city’s population in
1954 had climbed to more than 55,000, with predictions it would surpass 100,000 within
five to six years.
Not all of the gigantic improvements in Abilene were caused by the Abilene Lions Club,
but traced to their sources, especially during the years preceding World War II, practically
every worthwhile improvement originated with members of the club, with the organization’s
endorsement and backing. The Abilene Lions Club since it was founded has recorded
among its membership some of the most able men of West Texas. The caliber of its
leaders is indicative of the club’s success.
During 1952 the city of Abilene had grown to sufficient size to warrant the founding of a
second Lions Club. There had been considerable discussion concerning the matter for
some time. A committee was appointed which met in Mack Eplen’s Restaurant during the
first part of October, 1952, and formulated plans to organize the new club. A list of
prospective charter members was selected, and the committee then set about organizing
the second club.
On the evening of October 21, 1952, sixty-two prospective members for the new club met
in the cafeteria of Alta Vista elementary school with Clyde Penrod, President of the
Abilene Lions Club; other members from the Abilene Lions Club; and Marlowe Fisher,
Texas State Secretary of Lions International.
Marlowe Fisher presided at the organizational meeting of the second club, which was
named "Abilene Evening Lions Club." Hugh E. Cosby was elected Charter President of the
new club, and Sterling Childers was elected Charter Secretary.
* * * * * * * * *
Many things have changed since Hugh Cosby wrote the preceding history of the Abilene
Lions Club. The original Abilene Lions Club added "Downtown" to its name in order to
avoid confusion when the second club was organized. The Evening club later changed its
name to "Abilene Cactus Lions Club" and organized another Abilene Evening Lions Club.
The original Abilene Lions Club changed its name again in 1983 when it moved its
meeting place from downtown to Briarstone Manor and became know as the Abilene
Founder Lions Club, in recognition of its early history.
The Club moved to its current location at Prime Time when Briarstone was sold in 2008.
Continued...
In January, 1917, E. A. Hicks, of Evansville, Indiana, who was then an International
Organizer for the International Association of Lions Clubs, visited Dr. Cyrus N. Ray in
Abilene and presented him with a letter from Dr. T. L. Ray, who was then officiating as the
Charter President of the Fort Worth Lions Club.
In accordance with plans laid out by E. A. Hicks, a meeting was called by Dr. Cyrus N. Ray
on February 15, 1917, in the Red Room of the Hotel Grace in Abilene. Dr. Ray presided
during the meeting, which was attended by fifteen Abilene business men. The objective of
the meeting was to effect the origination of the Abilene Lions Club. F. A. Matthes was
elected Organizing President, and Dr. Cyrus N. Ray was elected Organizing Secretary.
Due to the fact that the International Association of Lions Club directed that a minimum of
twenty-five members be included before charter could be issued, it was decided to secure
ten additional members.
After its charter was received, the Abilene Lions Club elected its first permanent officers.
F. A. Matthes was elected Charter President, J. D. Miracle was elected Charter Secretary.
The Abilene Reporter, datelined Thursday, March 8, 1917, chronicled the club’s official
luncheon as follows:
"The weekly luncheon of the Abilene Lions Club was held in the dining room of the Hotel
Grace. E. B. Bynum was toastmaster, and after bringing a smile by relating a witty story to
those present, he introduced Dr. Ray whose subject was ‘The Flower Garden Contest.’
Dr. Ray stated that inasmuch as he was not a public orator he would read his address."
The discussion was published in full, at the conclusion of which O. A. Hale spoke on
means of securing better and permanent pavement at the Texas Pacific railroad crossing
from Pine Street to South First Street. He urged that the club take action with proper
authorities, which suggestion was acted upon by the club, and a committee was appointed
to investigate.
The Abilene Lions Club has generated enthusiasm and action in scores of civic activities
since the day the club was organized. Practically every leader in the town came from the
ranks of the club.
It may have been a coincidence, but from the day the club was organized, conditions in
Abilene began to improve. Miles of pavement were laid, modern street lighting was
installed, millions of dollars were expended in building huge water reservoirs, big hotels
were constructed, Camp Barkeley was based near the city during World War II, the air
base was acquired with its tremendous payroll and thousands of personnel, the oil
industry centered in the area with Abilene as its focal point, and the city’s population in
1954 had climbed to more than 55,000, with predictions it would surpass 100,000 within
five to six years.
Not all of the gigantic improvements in Abilene were caused by the Abilene Lions Club,
but traced to their sources, especially during the years preceding World War II, practically
every worthwhile improvement originated with members of the club, with the organization’s
endorsement and backing. The Abilene Lions Club since it was founded has recorded
among its membership some of the most able men of West Texas. The caliber of its
leaders is indicative of the club’s success.
During 1952 the city of Abilene had grown to sufficient size to warrant the founding of a
second Lions Club. There had been considerable discussion concerning the matter for
some time. A committee was appointed which met in Mack Eplen’s Restaurant during the
first part of October, 1952, and formulated plans to organize the new club. A list of
prospective charter members was selected, and the committee then set about organizing
the second club.
On the evening of October 21, 1952, sixty-two prospective members for the new club met
in the cafeteria of Alta Vista elementary school with Clyde Penrod, President of the
Abilene Lions Club; other members from the Abilene Lions Club; and Marlowe Fisher,
Texas State Secretary of Lions International.
Marlowe Fisher presided at the organizational meeting of the second club, which was
named "Abilene Evening Lions Club." Hugh E. Cosby was elected Charter President of the
new club, and Sterling Childers was elected Charter Secretary.
* * * * * * * * *
Many things have changed since Hugh Cosby wrote the preceding history of the Abilene
Lions Club. The original Abilene Lions Club added "Downtown" to its name in order to
avoid confusion when the second club was organized. The Evening club later changed its
name to "Abilene Cactus Lions Club" and organized another Abilene Evening Lions Club.
The original Abilene Lions Club changed its name again in 1983 when it moved its
meeting place from downtown to Briarstone Manor and became know as the Abilene
Founder Lions Club, in recognition of its early history.
The Club moved to its current location at Prime Time when Briarstone was sold in 2008.
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All rights reserved.
For technical assistance with this website,
contact webmaster.