CHAPTER 7

HISTORY OF DISTRICT 18-F
1970-1980
BY F. HUGHES WILLINGHAM

In June 1970 at the State Lions Convention, Lion Howard E. Alford was elected District Governor of 18-F. Lion Alford was a member of the Madison Lions Club. He chose Robert C. Mooney as his Cabinet Secretary-Treasurer, Immediate Past District Governor Willard W. Prior of the Augusta Lions Club was Cabinet Advisor, While Past Lighthouse President F. Hughes Willingham was re-elected District Librarian. Olin C. Newby of the Washington Lions Club, was elected Vice President of the Lighthouse from District 18-F, and named as Directors from the District were Milton B. Gray, Swainsboro Lions Club; W. G. Bross, Thomson Lions Club; Marvin Pound, Jr., Sparta Lions Club; Billy Flanders, Kite Lions Club; David Dodd, Covington Lions Club; and Dr. Robert P. Thomas, Augusta Lions Club.

Trustees elected for the Lighthouse were: F. Hughes Willingham, Lincolnton Lions Club, Marvin G. Pound, Sr., Sparta Lions Club, and Willard W. Prior, Augusta Lions Club.

The 40 Lions Clubs of District 18-F, as of April 1971, had a membership of 1,255 members. Of this number an average of 22 clubs were represented at each of the four Cabinet Meetings, which were attended by an average of 82 Lions.

Sixty-six eye donor forms were turned in to the Lighthouse during the year. Miss Christine Mullins was crowned Queen of the Peach Bowl for the 1971 Peach Bowl Game.

The Washington Lions Club celebrated their 30th Anniversary on November 9, 1970 with Dr. Don W. Schmidt, Past District Governor District 18-A, as the guest speaker.

In fiscal year ending 1972, District F contributed $7,697.29 to the Lighthouse.

In 1971-72 Lion Emory Sayer, Augusta Lions Club, was elected District Governor of District 18-F. He chose as his Cabinet Secretary-treasurer Levings W. Laney. Immediate Past District Governor Howard E. Alford, of the Madison Lions Club was Cabinet Advisor.

In 1973 at the State Convention, Lion Roy Varner of the Lincolnton Lions Club was elected District Governor of District 18-F. He chose as his Cabinet Secretary-treasurer Lion Clinton Hogan of the Lincolnton Lions Club. Immediate Past District Governor Rodman Strader of the National Hills Lions Club was Cabinet Advisor.

The following clubs were winners in the District Governors Efficiency contest: Fleming, Garden City, Augusta, National Hills, Covington, Oxford, Wrens and Lincolnton. Eleven Clubs in the District had an average attendance of above 85%. Sixteen clubs had 100% Secretaries. The Fleming Lions Club of Augusta was winner in the District Governor Contest.

The District Rally for 1973 was held in Augusta at the Richmond Hotel. The Rally was hosted by the five Augusta Clubs. The speaker for this occasion was William E. Steinbruck, International Director from Chesterfield, Missouri.

In 1977 at the State Convention, Lion J. Gordon Hilliard of the Thomson Lions Club was elected District Governor. He chose as his Cabinet Secretary-Treasurer Lion Charles H. Branch, Thomson Lions Club. Immediate Past District Governor Raymond C. Peters was Cabinet Advisor.

The following clubs were winners in the District Governors Efficiency contest: first place Augusta Lions club; second place Thomson Lions Club, and third place National Hills Lions Club. In the District Governors contest for clubs making the highest percentage of improvements in the District Governors Contest over the previous year, the first place winner Harlem Lions Club, second place winner Thomson Lions Club, and the third place winner the Louisville Lions Club. District 18-F had six clubs with a membership attendance record of 86% or above in the District. The District had five100% Secretaries, for getting their reports in within 48hours after the last meeting in the month. 

This was the year the Camp for the Blind became a reality. The Madison Lions Club led the District by selling $750.00 worth of deeds for the Camp for the Blind property. During the year with Past District Governor William Prior, as Vice President of the Georgia Lions Lighthouse, all clubs of the District made a contribution to the Georgia Lions Lighthouse. During the year the clubs of the district sent in over 500 eye donor pledges to the Eye Bank.

The District Rally was held in Milledgeville for the year.

Miss Sharon Eakes, represents the Forest Hills Lions Club was the winner in the Peach Bowl Princess contest. Past International Director Dr. Don W. Schmidt, Cedartown Club, was the speaker for the Rally. At the end of the 1977-78 year the District had 1,195 members.

For the year 1978-79, Lion Charles C. Jordan of the Washington Lions Club was elected District Governor. He chose as his Cabinet Secretary-Treasurer Lion Manuel Hunter of the Washington Lions Club. Immediate Past District Governor J. Gordon Hilliard, Thomson Lions Club, was Cabinet Advisor.

Most of the clubs supported the Georgia Lions Lighthouse and the Eye Bank with their contributions. Six clubs participated in the District-wide White Cane Day. During the year,407 persons willed their eyes to the Eye Bank, by signing Eye Donor forms giving their eyes at death to the Eye Bank.

The Sandersville Club and the Sparta Club celebrated their 50th Anniversary during the year. The Garden City Lions Club of Augusta and the Louisville Lions Club celebrated their 25&h Anniversary. The Garden City Lions Club of Augusta was the winner in the District Governors Efficiency Contest. Nine other clubs placed in the contest. The District also had eight 100% Secretaries.

The District Rally was held in Washington, with the Washington Lions Club hosting the District. Miss Debra Clement, sponsored by the Lincolnton Lions Club, was chosen as Peach Bowl Princess from District 18-F. Past International Director Dr. Lacy Presnell, Jr., was the speaker for the banquet.

For the year 1979-80, Lion C. W. Edwards, Augusta Lions Club, was elected District Governor of District 18-F. He chose Walker L. Dupree as his Cabinet Secretary-Treasurer. Immediate Past District Governor Charles C. Jordan, was Cabinet Advisor.

The District Rally was held in Augusta, at the Augusta Hilton Convention Center, with the Augusta Lions Club hosting the District. Lion William C. Chandler, First Vice President of Lions International, was speaker for the Rally.

One of the highlights of the 1979-80 year was the formation of four Lioness clubs in the District: Swainsboro, Thomson, Washington and Fleming. The Sylvania Lions club received the plaque for the most improved club over the year before. Eighteen clubs in the district were 100% in Peach Bowl membership. Miss Lorraine Poss, sponsored by the Thomson Lions Club, was selected Peach Bowl Princess from District 18-F.

Recipients of District Awards were Lion Fred Verner, Thomson Lions Club, for Outstanding Lion in the District. Lion Robert Lyons, Swainsboro Lions Club, was recipient of outstanding President Award for the District. Lion Walker Dupree, Augusta Lions Club, was recipient of the Damren Plaque for the outstanding, Secretary in the District. Garden City Lions Club, with 100% Attendance was the winner of the Washington Plaque for highest percentage of attendance for club meeting weekly. Forest Hills Lions Club with 45% was winner of the Madison Plaque, for highest percentage in net growth in membership. Thomson Lions Club was winner of the Covington Plaque, for the largest number of Eye donor forms, turned in 104. This figure was taken from M&A Reports.

The District had nine 100% Secretaries for the year. National Hills Lions Club was first place winner in the District Governors efficiency contest. Second place winner was the Thomson Lions Club. Third place winner was the Covington Lions Club.

On June 23, 1980, the Washington Lions Club celebrated their 50th Anniversary. The following members received chevron Awards: James A. Johnson, 40 year award; Marion Willingham, 30 year award; Leslie Jackson, 25 year award; Thomas Conner, 10 year award, and Martin Burgess, 10 year award.

District Governors of district 18-F for the decade 1970-80:

1970-71   Howard E. Alford
Madison, Georgia

1971-72  J. Emory Sayer
Evans, Georgia

1972-73   J. Emory Strader
Augusta, Georgia

1973-74   Roy L. Varner
Lincolnton, Georgia

1974-75   Dudley L. Godwin
Harlem, Georgia

1975-76   Madison T. Woo
Augusta, Georgia

1976-77   Raymond C. Peters
Augusta, Georgia

1977-78   J. Gordon Hilliard
Thomson, Georgia

1978-79   Charles C. Jordan
Washington, Georgia

1979-80   Jim D. Kay
Dearing, Georgia

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