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Lions Club celebrates 87th year
The Clarendon Lions Club celebrated 87 years of service during its annual Charter Banquet last Tuesday night, and one of its members was recognized for 60 years of Lionism.
Lion Bill Lowe joined the club on June 12, 1949, at a time when the club at about 60 members he said.
“That grew to 150 members at one point,” Lowe recalled.
The Lions Club met for many years in the basement of the First Christian Church, Lowe said. But by the time he joined, the club had moved to its present building, which was one of three buildings that came from the POW camp in McLean.
The Lions were a rowdy bunch back in ’49, Lowe said, recalling the reputation the club had for biscuit throwing.
“It was kind of embarrassing,” Lowe said of the rowdiness. “A lot of men didn’t join the club because of the silliness that was going on.”
Lowe served as president of the club in 1964 and was allotted $400 to go to the international convention in Atlantic City.
“If I recall correctly, the plane ticket was $380, so I had $20 to spend when I got there,” Lowe said.
Also during last Tuesday’s banquet, Lion Velda Ross of Quitaque, discussed the highlights of her travels and experiences as the wife of Lion Jimmy Ross, who served as president of Lions International in 2006-2007. Ross presented her husband’s banners to Lion Lowe, Boss Lion Chuck Robertson, the club, and Past District Governor Bill Auvenshine.
Lauren Shelton was crowned by the Boss Lion as the 2009-2010 Lions Sweetheart.
Members and spouses attending the banquet were Lion Don Smith, Lion Bill Auvenshine, Lion Jimmy and Paula Johnson, Lion Larry and Karen Capranica, Lion Jerry and Nelda Woodard, Lion Delbert and Naomi Robertson, Lion Roger and Lion Ashlee Estlack, Lion Chuck and Lindsey Robertson, Lion Bill and Lynn Lowe, Lion Jim and Cindy Shelton, and Lion Bobbie and Sandy Thornberry.
The Clarendon Lions Club celebrated 87 years of service during its annual Charter Banquet last Tuesday night, and one of its members was recognized for 60 years of Lionism.
Lion Bill Lowe joined the club on June 12, 1949, at a time when the club at about 60 members he said.
“That grew to 150 members at one point,” Lowe recalled.
The Lions Club met for many years in the basement of the First Christian Church, Lowe said. But by the time he joined, the club had moved to its present building, which was one of three buildings that came from the POW camp in McLean.
The Lions were a rowdy bunch back in ’49, Lowe said, recalling the reputation the club had for biscuit throwing.
“It was kind of embarrassing,” Lowe said of the rowdiness. “A lot of men didn’t join the club because of the silliness that was going on.”
Lowe served as president of the club in 1964 and was allotted $400 to go to the international convention in Atlantic City.
“If I recall correctly, the plane ticket was $380, so I had $20 to spend when I got there,” Lowe said.
Also during last Tuesday’s banquet, Lion Velda Ross of Quitaque, discussed the highlights of her travels and experiences as the wife of Lion Jimmy Ross, who served as president of Lions International in 2006-2007. Ross presented her husband’s banners to Lion Lowe, Boss Lion Chuck Robertson, the club, and Past District Governor Bill Auvenshine.
Lauren Shelton was crowned by the Boss Lion as the 2009-2010 Lions Sweetheart.
Members and spouses attending the banquet were Lion Don Smith, Lion Bill Auvenshine, Lion Jimmy and Paula Johnson, Lion Larry and Karen Capranica, Lion Jerry and Nelda Woodard, Lion Delbert and Naomi Robertson, Lion Roger and Lion Ashlee Estlack, Lion Chuck and Lindsey Robertson, Lion Bill and Lynn Lowe, Lion Jim and Cindy Shelton, and Lion Bobbie and Sandy Thornberry.
Services will honor veterans
Three services will be held in Donley County next week to honor the services of local veterans.
The first service will be a Veterans Day Candlelight Vigil at Clarendon College on Monday, November 9, at 7 p.m. in the Bairfield Activity Center.
Dr. John Howard, M.D., OIF Veteran will be the guest speaker.
This program will honor veterans of all wars, and everyone in the community is invited to attend.
The program is sponsored by the Clarendon College One Book One College Committee.
The second program will be held on Tuesday, November 10, at noon in the Bronco Gym and hosted by Clarendon Elementary.
Veterans will be recognized with a special message and presentation and will then be treated to a meal prepared by the Clarendon High School family and consumer sciences class.
The Adamson-Lane Post 287 of the American Legion in Hedley will hold the third service of the week at the Rowe Cemetery in Hedley on Veterans Day, November 11, 2009, at 10 a.m.
The post members will place flags on the graves of 217 veterans buried in that cemetery. The flags will be left there through November 10 and 11 in honor of those departed comrades that have served this country.
The program will be conducted by the members of the American Legion. The Veteran’s Day address will be by Legion Commander Barry D. Schoenhal of Darrouzett. Barry is Past Commander of District 18 American Legion, and Past Adjutant of District 18, and now serves as Commander of Division 4 of the Texas American Legion.
The program will include the ceremony honoring those missing in action or still a prisoner of war. The program will conclude with the playing of Taps.
Hedley ISD will honor the veterans following the services with a meal and Veteran’s Day program.
Three services will be held in Donley County next week to honor the services of local veterans.
The first service will be a Veterans Day Candlelight Vigil at Clarendon College on Monday, November 9, at 7 p.m. in the Bairfield Activity Center.
Dr. John Howard, M.D., OIF Veteran will be the guest speaker.
This program will honor veterans of all wars, and everyone in the community is invited to attend.
The program is sponsored by the Clarendon College One Book One College Committee.
The second program will be held on Tuesday, November 10, at noon in the Bronco Gym and hosted by Clarendon Elementary.
Veterans will be recognized with a special message and presentation and will then be treated to a meal prepared by the Clarendon High School family and consumer sciences class.
The Adamson-Lane Post 287 of the American Legion in Hedley will hold the third service of the week at the Rowe Cemetery in Hedley on Veterans Day, November 11, 2009, at 10 a.m.
The post members will place flags on the graves of 217 veterans buried in that cemetery. The flags will be left there through November 10 and 11 in honor of those departed comrades that have served this country.
The program will be conducted by the members of the American Legion. The Veteran’s Day address will be by Legion Commander Barry D. Schoenhal of Darrouzett. Barry is Past Commander of District 18 American Legion, and Past Adjutant of District 18, and now serves as Commander of Division 4 of the Texas American Legion.
The program will include the ceremony honoring those missing in action or still a prisoner of war. The program will conclude with the playing of Taps.
Hedley ISD will honor the veterans following the services with a meal and Veteran’s Day program.
Breaking new ground
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Costumes for the season
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Riding a bronco
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Fiddling around
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All smiles
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Peanut harvest
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Honor servicewomen this Memorial Day
Since the first Memorial Day following the Civil War, Memorial Day has gradually changed from a solemn day recognizing the sacrifice of those who have given their lives to defend our country into a holiday marking the beginning of summer. But this Memorial Day we should all take time to remember and reflect on the original purpose of the day. As we remember the fallen, we can also draw inspiration from five remarkable ladies from our part of Texas who served as Women Airforce Service Pilots during World War II: Madelyn M. Eggleston from Vernon, Grace C. Fender from Amarillo, Marion S. Hodgson from Wichita Falls, Mary Alice Vandeventer from Lueders, and Florene Watson from Borger.
In the days leading-up to World War II, our country was divided between those who thought strict neutrality and our geographic isolation would keep us out of war and those who thought that we must prepare for an inevitable war against Fascism.
One of those preparedness programs was the Civilian Pilot Training Program or CPTP. The CPTP trained thousands of pilots, including around 2,500 women. In many CPTP programs women were allowed in at a ratio of one woman to ten men; however, Florene Miller Watson of Borger beat those odds and was serving as an instructor teaching men to fly at an Odessa, Texas, airfield when World War II began on December 7, 1941 – her 21st birthday.
A groundbreaker in many ways, Florene Watson began her World War II service in the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Service or WAFS, one of just 25 women in the nation qualified for WAFS when the program began. ”[The] WAFS were flying a year before [the] WASP started flying…. [We] would take new airplanes anywhere they were needed…” In January 1943 she was made Commanding Officer of the WAFS-WASP units stationed at Love Field in Dallas. By the end of the war, she had flown every type of training, cargo, fighter, and twin and four-engine bomber that the Air Corps used.
Madelyn M. Eggleston from Vernon was hooked on flying as a child living in Nebraska, where a family friend had an airplane. She took her pilot’s training through the CPTP and became a WASP “to fly the big planes.” As she put it, “We got to fly those wonderful airplanes AND they paid us.”
Grace C. Fender from Amarillo received her pilot’s license in 1939, an early graduate of the CPTP. She joined the WASP because “we were losing pilots so fast we were needed.” “[Flying] is a good career for any woman,” said Mrs. Fender. “We had a good time in bad circumstances…. It [the WASP] was a wonderful group to be with…”
Marion S. Hodgson from Wichita Falls took her pilot’s training through the CPTP while a student at the University of Georgia at Athens. “We got five credits for taking the program,” and she received her pilot’s license in 1941, the year of the Pearl Harbor attack. Mrs. Hodgson became a WASP because, “Our country was at war and there was a shortage of pilots…. It is a wonderful feeling to serve your country. Don’t be afraid to be patriotic.”
Mary Alice Vandeventer from Lueders became interested in flying when her father took her up in an airplane. “When I was a freshman in college, a girl used to come into biology class and talk about the adventures of flying (in the civilian pilot training program),” she recalled. She joined the WASP program, serving at a gunnery school towing targets. “I did so little compared to what the fellas did,” said Mrs. Vandeventer. “So many young people have done so much for this country, and we need to recognize them on this Memorial Day and be thankful for them.”
Patriotism, a sense of adventure, a desire “to fly the big planes,” – the motivations to join the WASP and serve their country were as diverse as the women themselves. One thing they have in common, however, is love of country and a uniquely American spirit that anything is possible. As Florene Watson put it, “Many people turned their noses up to a girl flying, but it never occurred to me that I couldn’t fly that airplane.”
On this Memorial Day – in a very different time and place – we again have Americans fighting and dying to protect our nation. We owe them and their families our deepest gratitude and respect.
And as Madelyn Eggleston, Grace Fender, Marion Hodgson, Mary Alice Vandeventer, and Florene Watson remind us, there are many ways to serve. As we honor those who have sacrificed their all, we should also take inspiration from the can-do spirit of these amazing ladies.
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