Forward by PDG Bill Keller:
As I put the history of District 13 OH1 together; I could not over look
adding Lions Clubs International and Ohio Lions history to give a better
understanding on how Ohio Lions and our current District was developed.
From a historical stand point, we must consider the Past District Governors
of Ohio from 1920-present as our own Governors throughout the multiple times
Ohio Lions redistricted.
On the Past District Governors website below, our Past District Governors
who had served in the
District 13 OH1 geographical are are highlighted. Many Past District
Governors have served Northwest Ohio with honor and distinction.
Any additions, corrections, or additional history content may be sent to PDG
Bill Keller. |
Melvin Jones |
1917:Lions clubs became a dream of
Chicago businessman Melvin Jones. June 7, 1917 in Chicago Illinois, an
organizational meeting was held and the "Association of Lions Clubs" was
formed.
A national convention was held in Dallas, Texas in October of that
year.
1918: The associations first grouping of the states into nine districts.
Ohio was included in the Ninth District which included Nebraska, Iowa,
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Eastern Wisconsin.
|
|
1922: Lions International had redistrict the entire country and renumbered
them, Ohio became known as "District 13". The third district convention
was held at Lima, Ohio on May 24,1922. Delegates endorsed a plan for child
welfare work to be carried out by the clubs. Orson C. Norton of Toledo was
re-elected as district governor.
State conventions in District 13 OH1
geographical area. |
1923: The
Sight Center of Northwest Ohio founded
as "The Toledo Society for the Blind" was formed by members of Lions
Clubs, the Community Chest and the Chamber of Commerce.
May 24, 1923 at the fourth annual convention in Akron , it was decided to
take over as a district project the publication and free distribution of
the "Juvenile Braille Magazine". It was voted unanimously to publish the
magazine and send it to every blind child in Ohio. Note: The Cincinnati
Lions Club had undertaken this project several years before. Albert Ashley
of Lima, Ohio elected as State Trustee |
1925: June 29, the sixth annual convention of District 13 was held at
Cedar Point in conjunction with the ninth annual International
Convention.
Helen
Keller challenged
Ohio Lions to become "Knights of the blind in her crusade against
darkness." |
1926: E.M. Botkin of Lima, Ohio appointed as Lt. District Governor. Ohio
has 40 clubs |
1927: May 26, the eighth annual convention was held in Toledo. The
district was to be administered in nine sub-districts, each under a
Lieutenant Governor, thus the District Governor was relived of visiting
each club in person. Toledo Society for the Blind incorporated. |
1931:When the twelfth annual convention was called to order in Lima on May
19-20, it was noted that fifty-nine of the sixty-nine clubs in Ohio were
present, with a total registration of 600 Lions |
|
1933: During the fourteenth annual district convention of District 13 of
Ohio Lions held in Cleveland on May 22-23, the State was divided into two
Districts to be know as Districts 13A & 13B and a District Governor was to
be elected to serve each.
Past District Governors District 13A
1933-1940. |
1935: Guy W. Brentlinger of Lima, Ohio was elected to serve on the
Executive Council Board of directors of Lions International.
Dr.
B.W. Beatty passed away. |
1936:Edward Ward of Lima, Ohio elected as State Director. |
1937: At the eighteenth annual Disrtict 13 convention in Toledo on May
16-18 a new District Governors organization was adopted. Each Governor was
to have a Deputy Governor and a Zone Chairman |
|
1938:Henry
T. Bowers of Toledo was elected to serve a two year term as
International Director at the 22nd annual International Convention on July
19-22 in Oakland, California.
|
|
1941: MD13 divides into 4 new sub-districts 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D.
Past District Governors of 13D
1941-1959. |
|
1945: Guy
W. Brentlinger of
Lima was ^elected to serve a two year term as International
Director at a special board of directors meeting on September 10, in St.
Louis, Missouri.
Due to war there was no International Convention or District Conventions.
Each sub-district held its own meeting for general business and election of
officers.
^Some history accounts say elected other accounts appointed. |
1947:On May 23-25, 1947 the twenty-eighth annual convention was held in
Toledo. This was the largest convention ever held up to this time. One
notable highlight was the delegates of the convention endorsement of
Guy W. Brentlinger of Lima for third vice president of Lions International.
Brentlinger will be supported at the International Convention in New York
city in 1948.
It was an outstanding year for Lionism in Ohio. 23 new clubs had been
organized making a total of 207 clubs and 11,295 members. Two new Districts
were added known as District 13E and District 13F. |
|
1948-1950: MD13 divides from 6 sub-districts to 7 sub-districts and adds 13G
in 1948.
MD13 divides from 7 sub-districts to 8 sub-districts and adds 13H in 1950,
the two previous re-districting cuts 13D in half.
1950-1957 map shown here.
District Conventions OH1 geographical
area 1950-Present. |
1952: Ohio
Lions Research Foundation created. |
1954: The motto "We Serve" was adopted by Lions Clubs International. |
1956: The Sight Center of Northwest Ohio receives a new building at 1819
Canton made possible by private donations from individuals, Lions and Zonta
Clubs. |
1957: Sub-district 13A divides into two new sub-districts 13A-1 and 13A-2.
(no effect on District 13D) |
1959: Sub-district 13F divides into two new sub-districts 13F-1 and 13F-2
(no effect on District 13D) |
|
1960:Change in sub-district designation from 13A-1, 13A-2, 13B, 13C, 13D,
13E, 13F-1, 13F-2, 13G, and 13H to sub-districts 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D, 13E,
13F, 13G, 13H, 13I and 13J (no effect on District 13D).
Guy W. Brentlinger passes away.
Ohio Lions adopt Pilot
Dogs as
a state project.
Past District Governors of Districts 13D, 13A, and 13E 1960-1969. |
|
1961: Founder of Lions Clubs International,
Melvin Jones passes away at his home in Floosmoor, Illinois on June 1st.
Lions Magazine 1961 Melvin Jones Tribute article
1961: Northwestern
Ohio Lions Eyebank History. |
|
1963: District 13I changes letter designation to District 13K, The reason
not to be confused with MD131. |
|
1966:Another state wide redistricting took place and was done all over MD13
to make an equal distribution of clubs and membership among the
sub-districts. This redistricting creates District 13A replacing District
13D and changes all of the sub districts letter designations. District 13A
includes the following counties: Allen, Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Henry,
Lucas, Paulding, Putman, Van Wert, Williams, and Wood.
Ohio now has 447 Lions Clubs and 20,800 members.
Past District Officers 1966-1969.
Past District Cabinet Secretary-Treasurers 1966-1969.
District Directories 1966-Present.
Revised 7/5/2024
State & District Committee Chairs 1966-1969
Districts 13A & District 13E who
served in the current District 13 OH1 geographical area. |
1967: Lions Clubs International adopts the Leo Club Program as an official
program of the association.
District 13A-OH1 Leo Clubs.
|
|
2009: Jerry
Smith from
Wauseon, Ohio was elected to serve a two year term as International Director
at the 92nd International Convention held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, July
6-10, 2009 |
2010:Past
District Governors of Districts 13A,13E 2010-2015. (AKA
Past District Governors of OH1)
District Governors Bio's 2010-2015.
Past District Officers 2010-2015.
Past District Cabinet
Secretary-Treasurers 2010-2015.
Past Zone Chairs 2010-2015. (District
13A)
Past Zone Chairs 2010-2015. (District
13E)
State & District Committee Chairs 2010-2015
Districts 13A & District 13E who served in the current District 13 OH1
geographical area
|
2015: A statewide redistricting takes place and was done all over MD13 to
make an equal distribution of Lions Clubs and membership among the
sub-districts. This redistricting creates District OH1 and changes the
sub-districts letter designations to OH1-OH7, MD13 now has seven
sub-districts. OH1 is composed of the following counties: Allen, Auglaze,
Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Logan, Lucas, Mercer, Paulding,
Putman, Shelby, Van Wert, Williams, and Wood. District OH1 has 52 Lions
Clubs and 1,443 members*.
MD13 Ohio Lions has 418 Lions Clubs and 12,098 members*. |
Home /
PID Henry T. Bowers /
PID Guy
Brentlinger /
PID Jerry Smith
In The Lion /
Charter
Celebrations /
State
Conventions /
District Conventions
/ PDGs 1920-1932 /
PDGs 1933-1940 /
PDGs
1941-1959 /
PDGs 1960-1969 /
PDGs 1970-1979 /
PDGs 1980-1989 /
PDGs 1990-1999
/ PDGs 2000-2009 /
PDGs
2010-2015 / PDGs 2016-Present
PCST 1966-1969 /
PCST 1970-1979 /
PCST 1980-1989 /
PCST 1990-1999 /
PCST 2000-2009 /
PCST 2010-2015 /
PCST 2016-Present
| |