The Independence Lions Club was organized April 25, 1922, with 19 members. Earlier anniversary programs indicate the club was chartered with 25 members. At the time of the 50th Anniversary celebration, not one of them lived in Independence. Thurman Hill was the Charter President and the first secretary was Benjamin Berg. From its inception the club put its accent on youth by placing copies of “mor
al cod for Youth” in the public schools. Funds were raised to send the local drum and bugle corps to Washington to take part in the Presidential Inaugural Parade. Other projects included: The Junior Safety Patrol (one of the first in the state), Boy’s State, Boy and Girl Scouts, and Little League Baseball. A football banquet for High School and Junior College teams was held annually from 1923 through 1990. Scholarships were provided for deserving students and the club participated in War Loan and War Fund drives. The Kiddy Land project, a space set aside in beautiful Riverside Park for children, is the most recent addition to the club’s continuing activities. In keeping with the emphasis of Lions International, the club does it s share of sight work providing white canes, Braille equipment and ceiling projector books for public library distribution. It’s most recent activity was participation in “candy Day” to help the state organization, through the Kansas Lions Sight Foundation, furnish equipment for eye research, care and treatment in the K.U. Medical Center in Kansas City. Individually the members have served their community in many ways as opportunity and need was manifest. It has given seven of its members as District Governors, and has had members in numerous other capacities in state and district offices and committees.
