Olympia Host Lions Club History

Serving Since 1935

Olympia Host Lions was chartered in 1935 as simply Olympia Lions Club by 34 "community spirited" individuals. The club name would change a few years later when we were designated Host in recognition of the many other Lions Clubs we helped to form.

Since 1935, the club has accomplished a staggering number of activities. Here is just a sample -

1936 - presented sweaters to the football team of Olympia High School

1940 - sponsored our first new Lions Club (the Aberdeen Lions) -

with many more to come

Clubs Sponsored by Olympia Host Lions Club

Yelm Lions - 1938 Tenino Lions - 1938 Aberdeen Lions - 1940

Centralia Lions - 1948 McCleary Lions - 1952 Shelton Lions - 1955

Chehalis Lions - 1961 Capitol City Lions - 1965 Rochester Lions - 1966

Lacey Sunrise Lions - 1975 Olympia West Lions - 1983

Lion Leaders

Olympia Host Lions Who Have Served as District Governor

Jan Weatherly 2016/17

Karen Sell 2014/15

John Bergvall 1989/90

Ray Wren 1965/66

Howard Grimm PID 1959/60

Lyle Tinker 1957/58

George N. "Tiny" Paige 1955/56

Dwight Jordan 1952/53

Fred C. Koch

Melvin Jones Award Winners

Olympia Host Lions Who Have Served as District Governor

The prestigious Melvin Jones Award signifies outstanding dedication to Lions and service to humanity. The award is named for Lions Clubs International founder Melvin Jones.

The following Olympia Host Lions have been honored with a Melvin Jones award. Progressive indicates that the individual has received the Melvin Jones designation more than once.

Ernie Jones Award Winners

Olympia Host Lions Who Have Served as District Governor

Ernie Jones Award Winners

The Olympia Host Lions Lion of the Year is named the Ernest Jones Award in honor of first Olympia Host President Ernie Jones. The following Lions have been honored as recipients of this award over the years:

Lionel R. Patton, Harry M. Rudolph, Al J. Bailey, A.J. Tony Lesnick, Kirk Guffey, Dad Clark, Ralph Gilby, Maynard C. Duxbury, J. Leo Flynn*, Claire Douglas Jr., Ernest Lebner, Virgil Adams, J. Newton Grim, Howard W. Grimm, Lee McDonald, A.J. Jack Dixon, George N. Paige, Dale Tresner, Bertrand Bud Doran, Wendell McCroskey, Ray Forcier, Rudy Wagner, Tony Irving, George Cronquist, Oliver Jeffords, Gail Salisbury, Donald Rucker, Robert Lundgaard, Richard Kanda, Gary Deines, John Bergvall, R.L. Hank Thietje, Don White, Mervin Shay, Douglas Alexander.

Olympia Host Lions Club Past Presidents

Olympia Host Lions Presidents 1935 to Present

Michael Petty 2020/22

Sally French 2019/20

Violet Hofman 2018/19

Andy Stepelton 2017/18

Darrell Weaver 2016/17

Darlene Kemery 2015/16

Robert Meenk 2014/15

Pat Creighton 2013/14

Ellis Vonheeder 2012/13

Jed Herman 2011-12

Recep Cakir 2010/11

Tim Smolen 2009/10

Jan Weatherly 2008/09

Art Weatherly 2007/08

William Lynch 2006/07

Carl Corbin 2005/06

Claire Thompson 2004/05

Carolyn Graden 2002/04

Thomas Glover 2001/02

Kimberly Showalter 2000/01

Marv Burggraaf 1999/2000

Harry Barner 1998/99

Karen Sell 1997/98

John Calhoun 1996/97

Lloyd Sell 1995/96

Dudley "jim" Pitchford 1994/95

Mark Furman 1993/94

John Wilson 1992/93

Jim Hughs 1991/92

Jerry Buzzard 1990/91

Jim Roberts 1989/90

Dale Tosland 1988/89

Tom Romig 1987/88

George Barner 1986/87

Hank Thietje 1985/86

Bud Doran 1984/85

John Bergvall 1983/84

Donald White 1982/83

Ray Forcier 1981/82

Emerson Rogers 1980/81

Fred Peck 1979/80

Dick Kanda 1978/79

Edward Mayada 1977/78

Robert Glenn 1976/77

George Cronquist 1974/76

Curt Danielson 1974/74

T. Duane Wilson 1973/74

Charles Berets 1972/73

Gerry Alexander 1971/72

Wendell McCroskey 1970/71

Tony Lesnick 1969/70

Gordon Johnson 1968/69

Harry Lapham 1967/68

Floyd Pugh 1966/67

Harold Anderson 1965/66

Hartley Kruger 1964/65

Charles Hodde 1963/64

Ralph Didricksen 1962/63

Ray Wren 1961/62

Kirk Guffey 1960/61

Virgil Adams 1959/60

Clair Douglas 1958/59

A.R. Lewis 1957/58

J. Leo Flynn 1956/57

Ralph Gilby 1955/56

Howard Grimm 1954/55

Merle Junk 1953/54

Al Bailey 1952/53

Cecil Remington 1951/52

Walter Harvey 1950/51

Rudy Naccarato 1949/50

Harry Deuel 1948/49

Roy Kelly 1947/48

Ivan Creed 1946/47

Luke Wells 1945/46

Dwight Jordan 1944/45

J. Les Ellis 1943/44

Ray Lindskog 1943/43

William Dietz 1941/42

Clinton Cole 1941/41

Ted Miller 1941/41

Ken Dart 1940/40

Ernest Suko 1940/40

J. Newton Grim 1939/40

Ray Mohrmann 1938/39

Dale Tresner 1937/38

William Bonnett 1936/37

Ernest Jones 1935/36