Olympia Host Lions Club History

OLYMPIA HOST LIONS CLUB

During the past 75 years of service the Olympia Host Lions Club has engaged in a staggering number of activities. The following information was researched from the scrap-book maintained for many years by Past President Leo Flynn, from newspaper clippings, board minutes, club bulletins, club newsletters and personal accounts. It is by no means inclusive of the level of activity but is offered here as simply an example of the diverse interest and the level of involvement of those who were, and still are, members of our club.

1935 - 1940

The Mayor of Tacoma, Lion George A. Smitley, presented the featured address at the Charter Night on November 2, 1935. Club President Earnest Jones served as master of ceremonies for the banquet which was held at the Hotel Olympian. The Club bulletin, the first one dated just 23 days later, was already suggesting that new businessmen in town be invited to attend the luncheon meetings, also held at the Hotel Olympian. Two new clubs were sponsored: Yelm and Tenino, both in 1938. When 12 new members were added during the first year the club received a “Membership Award” presented by Lions International’s Chicago office. The tradition of winning a cash door prize was begun in January 1936. Good programs have been a hallmark of the club. During the first year speakers included “Hec” Edmundson, track coach at the University of Washington; Judge Walter B. Beals, chief Justice of the State Supreme Court; and State Governor Clarence D. Martin. The support of local high school athletics really began with presentation of sweaters to the football team in 1936. The club’s work with the blind was begun during the period with sponsorship of a vending stand in the Public Lands-Social Security Building.

1940 - 1945

Members continued to expand Lionism by sponsoring the Aberdeen Lions Club in 1940. The War Years were hard on the Olympia Lions Club. During 1942-43 no less than four served as club present. Early in the period the club sent a letter to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and pledged “the full loyalty and united support of its members.” The club directory listed 10 as “members in the service”. They were Jim Yenney, Bernard Tresner, M. Duxbury, Clint Cole, Pete Madsen, Walter Harvey, Ward Rasmussen, George Milholland, Dick Harris, and Don Grant. The paper drive was started during the period and an eastside city block was transported from a bramble patch to the newest city park and named “Lions Park” in honor of our members who developed it. Membership remained stable at near 30.

1945 - 1950

A new club, Centralia, was sponsored in 1948. Club membership spurted, reaching 67 by 1947. Fund raisers included raffling a new automobile in 1946. During the period the Earnest Jones Award was begun with Lional Patton the first recipient. Although still a member, Lion Earnest Jones wrote a dramatic letter to Lion Lional stating that although he had been asked to present the first award, “fate had dictated otherwise.” To assist in developing youth athletics, the club sponsored a “Mr. Swish” basketball contest in the area grade schools. An interesting way to raise funds was the “hole in one” contest in 1948. Luckily the club had insured the event with Lloyds of London because two players each won $500 in the first two days! The first score board was donated and installed at Stevens Field.

1950 - 1955                    

Another club, McCleary, was chartered in 1952. It later folded and was merged into the services of the Elma Lions Club. One of the highlights of the period was the formation of the Lady Lions Club on November 15, 1950. Serving as first President was Jean Grimm, wife of Howard Grimm. Past President Dwight Jordan was elected District Governor in 1952. Putting to good use the income from the paper drive, the club donated $1,054 to the Boy Scouts for permanent structures at the Summit Lake Boy Scout Camp. In 1954 the club sponsored the first auto show in the city’s history. Held in the Olympia Armory, the event drew large crowds. Proceeds were earmarked for Lions Park improvements. Member Ralph Gilby received the Multiple District 19 first place award for public speaking in 1954.

1955 - 1960

The sixth club, Shelton, since 1935 was sponsored by the Olympia Lions. A handsome trophy was awarded to the champion football team in the newly established Capital League in 1955. The winners – a tie – were Olympia and Lincoln. In 1956 the “first annual” talent show was staged at Olympia High School. (Adults 75 cents, teenagers 50 cents, children 25 cents) Lion Leo Flynn served as master of ceremonies. All proceeds were set aside for college scholarships. Lion Howard Grimm was elected Zone Chairman in 1958, and District Governor in 1959.

1960 - 1965

The cub entered the decade with 84 members. Besides the ongoing paper drive, other projects included light bulb selling and an annual dog show. Visitation Committee was busy in the 1960’s with Howard Grimm as District Governor. The “Rose Bowl Raffle” ( the winner received an all expense paid trip to Pasadena), begun earlier, was expected to take in $1200. To raise the funds for CARE, a family bingo party was held at a member’s place of business and the biannual “Legislative Breakfast” ($1.75 each) saw the Governor, Lt. Governor and the Speaker of the House in attendance. A highlight of the period was the club’s 25thanniversary celebration on November 17 1960 at the Olympia Golf and Country Club. International President Finis E. Davis was the featured speaker. A picnic shelter was constructed and dedicated to Lion “Dad” Clark in recognition of his service to Lionism. The traditional ringing of the Salvation Army bells began during the period. The Chehalis Lions Club was sponsored in 1961. Howard Grimm was elected Council Chairman in 1963. The annual waffle breakfast was begun during this period. The club participated in a fund raising project by operating a wheel of fortune at Capital Lakefair, and the club received the Melvin Jones Growth Program award for 1964-65.

1965 - 1970

Continuing his quest for higher Lions office, Howard Grimm was elected International Director in 1967 and Ray Wren was elected District Governor in 1965 after serving as Zone Chairman in 1964-65. To increase attendance, Friendly the Hampster had to be babysat for a week by the member who was absent from all club meetings of activities. Paper drive was continuing with prices of about $10 per ton. The first Lions Friendship Arch was installed at the International Border at Blaine during 1965. The one ton monument was constructed in Wenatchee by Lion Vern France, later to become an International Director. The project was conceived by Olympia Host Lion Howard Grim. A successful rummage sale was conducted under the direction of Lion Stan Davis. It was a custom, during the period, to invite wives and mothers to the meeting prior to Mother’s Day. Olympia Host received the club Efficiency Award at the Multiple District 19 convention and two clubs were sponsored; Capital City in 1965 and Rochester in 1966.

1970 - 1975

The paper drive established a new headquarters in August 1970, a warehouse on the port dock. The annual raffle that sends a winning ticket holder to the Rose Bowl was discontinued in 1970, and replaced with a trip to Hawaii raffle. The idea for an ongoing paper drive was launched, Lion Bob Lundgaard organized the club’s bowling league for the blind, a Leo Club was formed at Olympia under the guidance of Past District Governor Ray Wren. On April 24, 1971 Lion Lloyd Sell received national attention by appearing on the Truth or Consequences TV show. During the period the club began purchasing bus benches in downtown Olympia. In 1974 the club “hosted” the District conference at the Greenwood in Tacoma. The masthead for the Capitolion (club newsletter) began with the September 21, 1974 issue and was designed by Lion Henry Schmidt.

1975 - 1980

Thanks to the Olympia Host Lions Club a Washington State flag will fly on all state holidays in Hawaii. The club collected used eyeglasses in conjunction with the McDonald Corporation. The paper drive had a severe setback when the warehouse, loaded with paper, burned. Soon after Charter Member Dale Tresner secured a surplus boxcar from Burlington Northern. The club named the facility “Tresner’s Trolley”.  The custom of awarding a traveling trophy to the winner of the cross city football rivals – Olympia Bears and the recently dedicated Capital City Cougars was begun. The club hosted the Multiple District 19 mid-year convention. Held at the Evergreen State College in 1979, it was the first such convention held on a college campus. Total attendance was 1,163. The Lady Lions celebrated their 25th anniversary in 1975. Lions International moved it’s headquarters from Chicago to Oak Brook during the period, and the Olympia Host Lions chartered it’s tenth club, the Lacey Sunrise Lions Club. A donation of a tele-binocular was made to Olympia High School during the 1976-77 year.

1980 - 1985

In 1980 Lion Tom Brown represented the club on the Olympia-Yashiro, Japan Sister City Committee serving as committee chairman. Later, in 1982, two members made the first official visit to a Lions Club in Yashiro. The club continued helping the low income families by sponsoring a number of food drives for the Thurston County Food Bank. The membership topped 100 for the first time and another club, the Olympia West Lions Club, was chartered in 1983. The members turned out to help stage the first Capital City Marathon by operating a “water stop” at mile post 14.5. The club became increasingly supportive of the hard of hearing by contributing to the Zone’s mobile hearing test unit (named in honor of Howard W. Grimm) and received the first Multiple District 19 banner for clubs over 100 in support of the Golden Ear fund raising project. More improvements to Lions Park were installed. A food booth was developed and used for the first time at the 1983 Lakefair. Tresner’s Trolley was moved from its Port of Olympia location to a new site at Washington and A Avenue on August 7, 1985. The 50 year charter night celebration was held at the Vance Tyee Motor Inn. International President Joseph Wrobelwski delivered the main address.

1985 - 1995

Membership climbed to 118 members by this time. The club continued to meet at the Governor House Hotel. A new Burger Den was purchased to provide Lions Burgers and Lions Fries at Capital Lakefair. Newsprint and phone book recycling delivered 20,000 to 40,000 pounds monthly to the recycling industry. The first annual community Halloween Party was held at the Olympia Community Center, with more than 500 children participating in this coordinated effort each year. Lion George Barner chaired this event for many years. The community favorite, Belgian Waffle Feed with chef Lion Rudy Wagner continued at the Olympia Community Center. Lion George Barner, Dr. Larry Smith, Dr. Roger Barrett, John Bergvall, and Bill Lynch hosted “Lions War on Drugs” at Roosevelt Elementary School. Lion Merv Shay and Mike Coty continued their work on nucleation of eyes from donors in the Olympia area and St. Peters Hospital continued their support of this important effort with eyes delivered to the Lions Eye Bank in Seattle. Dr. Peck continued to collect eye glasses for Missions to Third World Countries. Other continuing activities included the “Journey for Diabetes…50 mile relay from Mt. Rainier to Commencement Bay, annual presentations of the J. Newton Grimm and Dale Tresner Scholarships to Olympia and Capital High Schools, and staffing the Howard W. Grimm Hearing Health Test unit throughout the greater Olympia area. The club was active with our “twin” Maple Ridge Lions in District H. Lion Lloyd Sell kicked off the Lions Apple Sale to benefit children with diabetes. Lion Doug Alexander continued to serve as editor for the CAPITALION Newsletter 

1996 - 2005

The first female president of Olympia Host Lion Karen Sell served as president 1997-98, soon to be followed by Lions Kim Showalter 2000-01, Carolyn Graden 2002-04 and Claire Thompson 2004-05. Lion Jim Pitchford started the sight and hearing screening for school children in Olympia using the MD 19 Lions Sight and Hearing Van in 2000. In March 2001 the Club discontinued the Paper Recycling project because of low profitability. The club continued the Apple Sale in support of Camp Leo – Camp for Children with Diabetes at Buck Creek Camp near Crystal Mountain. Over the years, the move to presales and a change from Reds and Goldens to Galas and finally Fuji apples increased sales to over 2,200 boxes. Camp Leo became a District 19 C project reaching over 80 children with type 1 diabetes and moving to Panhandle Lake 4-H camp near Shelton. Lion Karen Sell started the club dictionary project in 2005 with every third grader in Olympia receiving a dictionary during an in class presentation. In 1996, Karen also led the Host Club in a partnership with Washington State Cooperative Extension to develop Germ City – a black light tunnel to help youngsters and adults learn proper hand washing techniques. Our initial $500 in seed money and grant writing paid off when more than 32,000 people went through the first unit at the Western Washington Fair.  Today Germ City exhibits are housed in half the states nationwide. The club partnered with Lacey Sunrise to celebrate “100 Years of Service” with Olympia Host celebrating our 70th charter night and Lacey sunrise celebrating 30 years of Lionism. We supported the Salvation Army Adopt-A-Family at Holiday Time. In 2003 the club worked with Evergreen Vista Support Services Director Paul Grudis to support the after school program at the apartment complex, beginning an annual summer Evergreen Vista Cookout and the holiday party in December. Dr. Valerie Sharpe, Carl Corbin and John Bergvall served on the committee to open the NW Lions Eye Glass Recycling Center, 7th in the nation, in Lacey. This was a joint project with clubs in Zones C-2 and C-6. Lion Karen Sell worked with Thurston County Health Department to develop Lion Walks for Diabetes. The program goal was to reach out to prevent diabetes by walking for 30 minutes a day. Lion Paul Moody conducted walks on the natural history within Priest Point Park. Dr. Diana Yu helped the club develop a partnership with Thurston County Health Department to assist in local health emergencies. 

2006 - 2010

The Host Lions club continues to support humanitarian efforts as it contributed to LCIF Hurricane Relief in FY 2006. Apple sales for Camp Leo peaked at 3,200 boxes. The club is now screening over 3,000 students in the Olympia School District for sight and hearing using the MD 19 Lions Sight and Hearing Van coordinated by Lion Jim Pitchford. Lions Brian and Claire Thompson are deeply involved in the management success of the NW Lions Eye Glass Recycling Center (NWLERC). Lions Ed Mayeda, Larry Watkinson, Jim Pitchford and Carolyn Graden are past board members for Morningside. The club supports Puppy Pilots/Guide Dogs, Suitcases for Kids, Madison Elementary School with donated Fuji Apples, Golden Ear Days, White Cane Days, Safeplace, Senior Services of South Sound, Thurston County Food Bank, Camp Leo, Camp Leo Leos Club and other ongoing projects. Annual presentations of Scholarships to Olympia and Capital High Schools are now named Olympia Host Lions Helen Keller Memorial Scholarships. The club recently planted a public Sensory Garden at slips J, K, and L at the Port of Olympia. Lion Carl Corbin established a Low Vision Clinic in 2007. Lion Jan Norman (president 2008-09) and Karen Sell obtained a National Institutes of Health grant enabling the club to offer greater eye care within the county and creating a county wide partnership of eye care professionals, government agencies, and service groups interested in low vision With the work of Dr. Brian Koning and other eye care professionals in Olympia, the club joined their efforts to provide glasses through the Union Gospel Mission. “No citizen in the county    should be without glasses at this time” stated Lion Carl Corbin. KL Tim Smolen stated it’s time to celebrate “75 years – Inspiration for Our Future”