The Brea Lions are a very active and involved club, committed to community service, and have both a proud and distinguished history of excellence.
It was a Tuesday afternoon luncheon meeting on June 27, 1922, at Pearson’s Café on south Pomona Avenue (now known as Brea Boulevard), between 15 prominent Brea businessmen that the initial steps were taken to organize a Lions Club in town. It was primarily through the efforts of two men, Frank Schleicher of Los Angeles, the district organizer, and Bill Culp, a local real estate agent, that the Brea Lions Club was officially organized a month later on July 25, 1922 with 40 pioneering members. Charter Night was held two weeks later on August 10th in the old Isaac Craig building. The Santa Ana Host Club, formed earlier that same year, and a fledgling group in their own right, graciously served as the sponsoring club. It was the first service club in town, the 32nd Lions Club in the state of California, and as best as can be determined by Lions International offices, somewhere between the 353rd and 700th Lions Club ever formed of all the thousands of clubs started around the world.
Jay C. Sexton, the Mayor of Brea, was elected as the first club President and Glenn Brooks, the Secretary. The other officers elected were Harry Becker, First Vice President; Forrest Hurst, Second Vice President; G.F. Henigan, third Vice President; George Witmer, Treasurer; Elmer Gurley, Lion Tamer; E.H. Peterkin, Tail twister; and H.A. MacClatchie, Hart Chesley, J.G. Sargent, and Bob Phelps as Directors.
Later that year, Sexton moved out to Redlands and as a result, Harry Becker was not only called upon to take over as President but, also, as the town’s Mayor! Thus began a Brea Lions tradition of club members being involved in city government, and at the highest levels. In fact, that charter class produced three men that would serve as Mayor, and four as City Councilmen. Through the years, 19 Mayors have been members as well as 34 City Councilmen!!
Originally, the meetings were held on Tuesdays at noon until 1949, when the members voted to switch to Thursday evening, which has been the meeting time ever since. Over the past 80 years, a tremendous amount has been done to serve the Brea community. In addition to the countless others in the immediate local area and around the world. A short partial listing of the charities that have received assistance includes the City of Hope, White Cane, Meals on Wheels, Brea Emergency Council, the Southern California Eye Institute, Transcriber of Orange County, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Little School of Touch and Sound, Big Brother of Orange County, Help for Brain Injured Children, Western Youth Services, P.A.D.R.E. Foundation, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, and Services for the Blind.
Various youth groups have also been assisted and include the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Explorer Scouts, and Brea Youth Sports.
Much of this assistance has been done through two foundations: The Orange County Youth Foundation, and the Brea Lions Scout Center Foundation. The Orange County Youth Foundation was formed in 1958 to sponsor the North/South High School All-Star Football game, which has raised almost 1 million dollars for charity. Many great college and professional players have appeared in this charity event that typically draws crowds of 7000 fans.
The other Foundation sponsored by the Brea Lions is the Brea Lions Scout Center Foundation. The Brea Lions took on the responsibility of spearheading the fund raising efforts to restore the 1928 Historical Brea City Hall as a Boy Scout/Girl Scout Center. After many years of work in fund raising and labor, over $600,000 was raised and the building has been open since April, 2001.
The Brea Lions have had the privilege of sponsoring five other clubs formed through the years. The first was the old Placentia Club in 1924, Fullerton Host in 1939, La Habra Host in 1947, Placentia-Yorba Linda in 1971 and 1979, and Yorba Linda in 1995. Also, a Brea Junior Lions Club was sponsored in the 1920,s and a Leo Club at the high school from 1977-1980.
On an individual level, in and out of Lions, a number of members have received very special recognition. Three were named Brea Citizen of the Year, Frank Schweitzer Jr. (1966), Vince Jaster (1967) and Dick Basse (1968). Two others were named Brea Man of the Year, Leo Piantoni in 1970 and Wayne Wedin in 1973. Two more Lions were honored as Brea Business Person of the Year, Al Tremayne in 1983 and Lyle Sutton in 1995.
Other Brea Lions who have been leaders of the community include such men as the legendary ole country doctor, Glenn Curtis (the theatre in the community center is named for him) , bankers Clarence Schwartz and Joe Whitten, Ralph Barnes, Carl Harvey Sr. and of course, W.D. Shaffer, owner of Shaffer Tool Works, Also, Charles Kinsler served as Brea’s first Justice of the peace and Bill Adkins, Richard Baugh, Don Forkus and Mike Messina were Chief of Police.
Brea Lions have always been involved with our schools. Frank Hopkins and Dr. Paul Bolie were Superintendents of the High School. The following Lions served on the School Board; Dean Millen; Leo Piantoni, “Frog” Winchel. Vince Jaster and William Fanning served as the elementary school Superintendents. Lion Dick Basse served as foreman of the Orange County Grand Jury. Joe Rollino served as President of the Brea Olinda School Board.
The Brea Lions have maintained a long relationship with the Brea School District as we believe that our youth is the key to the community of Brea. For may years the Brea club organized the annual father-son football awards banquet, the other sports banquets, awarded the football “Wildcat of the Week” trophies. Donated the scoreboard in the new football stadium in 1988 at a cost of $18,000.00 and still support numerous sports teams. Annual scholarships are awarded to the top “Citizenship” students, and we always support the speech departments as they take part in our annual Lions speech contest. Also, numerous eye glasses are donated to needy students throughout our school system.
Five years ago, the Brea Lions started a “Rent-a-Santa” program where Lions will pay a visit to homes and businesses for a fee that goes to our Community Services. We have raised about $10,000 plus Santa has visited numerous groups such as Head Start and Senior Groups on a no pay basis.
Brea Lions met in Pioneer Hall, a building that was built by the Brea Lions and was dedicated on January 13, 1923 and was used by the Brea Boy Scouts. One year later, Babe Ruth and Walter “The Train” Johnson (who was born and grew up in Olinda) and the two teams had lunch at the club house after an exhibition game that drew several thousand fans. The club house was under control of the Brea Lions Club and the Brea Women’s Club until 1974 when it was sold to the city for $1.00. The building was used during World War II for many activities such as wrapping bandages, bond sales and other community wartime projects. In 2001, Pioneer Hall was ceded to the city of Brea for use as part of the Senior Center, and the Lions moved to the Brea Lions Scout Center, where they still meet.
The Melvin Jones Fellowship Award was originated in 1982 and many members of the Brea club have had this honor.
Nineteen Brea Lions have served in some capacity in District Offices. Two memorable moments for the Brea Lions were the winning of District Club of the Year in 1971 and when George Farias was named District Lion of the Year in 1995-1996. Brea Lion PJ Smith served as District Governor of 4-L4 in 2012-2913.
The past 97 years have given us a rewarding and rich history and today we are a growing and enthusiastic group that is a “complete” club that definitely lives up to our Lions motto “WE SERVE”
