The Clarendon Lions Club celebrated its 100th anniversary last Saturday night, October 22, with a Centennial Banquet at the Bairfield Activity Center to close out a day full of Lions service and fun in the community.
Boss Lion Landon Lambert presented Lion Nathan Estlack as the Outstanding New Member for 2021-2022, and Lion Anndria Newhouse was recognized as the Lion of the Year for her role in promoting club growth and visibility through numerous community service projects.
Laney Gates was formally crowned as the club’s Sweetheart for the current year.
International President Brian Sheehan recorded a personalized video message for the club’s centennial, and Lions International Director Ernesto “T.J.” Tijerina was the guest speaker for the evening, focusing his remarks on the importance of service and fellowship.
Other dignitaries attending the banquet were Past International President Jimmy Ross and his wife, Lion Velda Ross; Lion Juanita Tijerina; and Second Vice District Governor Chris Rogers with his son, Lincoln.
ID Tijerina presented several certificates on behalf of IP Sheehan assisted by District Governor Roger Estlack. The International President’s Certificate of Appreciation – the fourth highest award in Lionism – was presented to Lions Jacob Fangman, Chuck Robertson, Ashlee Estlack, and Landon Lambert. The club itself also received a Certificate of Appreciation on the occasion of its centennial.
Several Lions were recognized for their many years of service to the association, including Lion Bobbie Thornberry – 25 years, Lion George U. Hubbard – 20 years, Lion Jacob Fangman – 10 years, Lion Scarlet Estlack – 10 years, Lion Russell Estlack – 20 years, and Lion Tex Buckhaults – 30 years.
Boss Lion Lambert also received recognition on behalf of the club with the Club Excellence award for the previous Lion year and the Membership Satisfaction award.
Lion Ashlee Estlack, in her capacity as vice president of the Chamber of Commerce, presented the club with a $1,500 check from the proceeds of the Hot Rods to Harleys Fun Run. The money will go to the Lions’ new effort to secure a gift for each Donley County elementary student this Christmas.
Lion Janie Noble won the bingo game for a Melvin Jones Fellowship, and Wellington Lions Club Boss Lion Jeff Thomas won the drawing for the gift bag DG Estlack and Lion Ashlee brought back from the international convention in Montreal this summer.
All members of the Clarendon club also received a special centennial coin struck for the occasion.
Lion David Dockery read the proclamation from the city naming October 22, 2022, as Clarendon Lions Club Centennial Day, and DG Estlack gave a brief history of the club, which has grown from 23 members two years ago to 49 members today.
Several members of the Amarillo Downtown Lions Club attended the banquet, including Boss Lion Gemma Mitchell and Lions John Michie and Kevin Cox. Amarillo Downtown sponsored the chartering of the Clarendon club in 1922, and Clarendon’s is now the second oldest club in District 2-T1, which covers the top 26 counties of the Panhandle.
A total of 66 Lions and guests were registered for events on Saturday, which included the District’s Fall Family Fun Festival. Events began at the Mulkey Theatre at 9:30 with short sessions on improving service to communities. Local and District Lions posed on the north side of Antro Plaza to recreate a 1930 picture taken at that location of district Lions with Melvin Jones, the founder of the association.
Lions then participated in a Diabetes Awareness “Strides Walk” from downtown to the Chance Jones Playground at Prospect Park, and later assembled about 100 non-perishable food boxes at the Donley County Senior Citizens Center for local homebound residents. Lions also helped plant a centennial tree in front of the Lions Hall.
Following the service projects, more than 40 local and district Lions and Clarendon residents assembled in the Lions Hall for afternoon bingo with a corn hole tournament being held outside later in the afternoon.
Prior to the banquet, an open house, hospitality, and ribbon cutting were held at the Lions Hall in celebration of the anniversary as well as the completion of renovations to building. Numerous Lions and family members have worked hard on improvements to the building for the last couple of months. The Lions Hall building was originally part of a German POW camp at McLean during World War II before it was moved here following the war. It has served as the club’s home since the 1940s.
Clubs represented during Saturday’s activities were Clarendon Lions Club, Amarillo Downtown Lions Club, Amarillo Community Lions Club, Amarillo El Barrio Lions Club, Amarillo Lake Tanglewood Lions Club, Canyon Lions Club, Dumas Lions Club, Del Rio San Felipe Lions Club, Quitaque Lions Club, and Wellington Lions Club.
Reader Comments