Trace-Way Restaurant in Mathiston was the scene of the Maben Lions Club’s 70th-Year Anniversary Banquet the night of Nov. 18, as 40 Lions and supporters gathered to honor some of the people who have contributed to the club over the past 70 years.
The meeting began with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Shawn Nygard, president of the club. Shawn welcomed the crowd and directed everyone to go through the buffet line to be served with the entree of their choice.
After the meal Shawn introduced the guests at the head table who were going to receive a recognition of service and support from the club or were ranking officers in the Mississippi Lions organization for the state of Mississippi.
Shawn first recognized Mildred Thomas, widow of Duane Thomas. He was a longtime secretary-treasurer of the Maben Lions Club who had been a member for almost 60 years. The Maben club presented Mrs. Mildred a certificate of appreciation for his years of service to the community as a Lion, and who was instrumental in organizing the Maben Lions Bowl, which operated at the end of each high school football season for years from 1964 until 2000 as a major fundraiser.
Next, the club recognized Dr. Charles Tillman, who has helped Maben Lions Club for years with testing individuals who need eyeglasses and providing the proper prescription glasses. Last year Dr. Tillman received a Melvin Jones Award, which represents a $1,000 gift to Lions Club International Fund from the Maben club and which benefits people in need all over the world.
Maben Mayor Larry Pruitt and his wife, Deborah, accepted a certificate of appreciation for the support and cooperation the town of Maben has given the Lions Club in all its activities.
The fourth recognition was made to Jimmy Carl Johnson for being a member 30 years, longer than any of our current members. In his absence the award was accepted by his brother, Andy Johnson Jr., who himself has been a member for 20 years.
Several District 30-M officers were present. At the head table was District Gov. Mike Dowd of Louisville and his wife, Charlotte, and Past International Director Howard Jenkins and his wife, Linda, of Columbus. Other officers include 1st Vice District Gov. Andy Kalinowski of Columbus and 2nd Vice District Gov. Tommy Regan and his wife, Cheryl, of Booneville.
Immediate Past District Gov. Barron Caulfield and his wife, Elizabeth, of Water Valley, Cabinet Secretary and Past District Gov. Richard Dickson and his wife, PDG and Council Chair Charlotte Dickson, of Clarksdale, and Guiding Lion and PDG Arland “Ace” Eilert of Batesville were also present to help Maben celebrate.
President Nygard then gave a short history of the Maben club, listing outstanding citizens who served as president through the years. The club was first organized in 1949 and was chartered with 26 members on Sept. 1 that same year. The many moneymaking projects through the years included the Maben Lions Bowl for high school football teams at the end of the season before the playoff system was started; light bulb and fruitcake sales, gumball machines, raffles and, more recently, Punt, Pass and Kick contests through the local schools.
Service projects have included purchasing eyeglasses for qualified individuals, collecting gently used eyeglasses, screening sight acuity at three local schools, sponsoring an individual who needed cataract surgery, sponsoring high school boys and girls at Lions of Mississippi Leadership conferences, giving high school scholarships and participating in cleaning up local highways.
In 1963 Hubert Scrivener of the Maben Lions Club was elected district governor. About 20 years later his son Jim Scrivener was elected district governor. In 1999, Jim honored his father by planning a beautiful 50th-year banquet featuring all the service by outstanding individuals from the Maben club like Duane Thomas and W.O. Shivers, for whom the Maben city park is named.
Presidents over the last 20 years have been Rob (four years) and Jane (two) Collins, Jim Scrivener (one), Barry Cole (four), Wayne Brimer (two), Ed James (two), Dow Carder (two) and Shawn Nygard, who is on his fourth term as president.
Secretary-treasurers during this time have been Duane Thomas, Wayne Brimer and Anne Earnest. In 2012 the office split: Ed James became the treasurer and Jane Collins became the secretary.
To cap off the evening a beautiful 70th anniversary cake was served and seven door prizes were awarded. The Maben Lions Club thanks all those who attended for helping to make the occasion especially festive.
