‘WE SERVE’

The Wimberley Lions Club celebrated its 50th year on January 15 at the Wimberley Community Center, but it is what was given away that stole the show.

Since its inception, the Wimberley Lions Club has donated over $4 million to the Wimberley community – a stunning number by all respects.

The Wimberley Club is the third-largest Lions Club in Texas with 174 members, and is best known for its Market Day events, which serve as a fundraiser.

The local chapter of the Lions was originally chartered in 1969 by the San Marcos Lions Club under their motto “We Serve.”

At the celebration, Wimberley High School and Katherine Anne Porter School Leo Club representatives led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. An invocation was given by past Lions Club President and past Lions District Governor John Lyon. Lion Amy Cox led the celebrants in singing the “Lions Spirit Song”. Lions President Richard Newsum then led the group in a lively toast.

After dinner, the formal program of the Birthday Celebration and $4 million in donations began. Dr. Patrick Cox, Lions President in 1979 and Chair of the Lions Celebration Committee, was the Master of Ceremonies. Dr. Cox gave a short history of the 50 years of the Wimberley Lions. As a part of this historical perspective, a video by Lion Gale Wiley, developed especially for the celebration, was viewed and enthusiastically received.

Dr. Cox then introduced Kelley Shand, daughter of former Lion President Ed Shand. In 1979, Kelly was the first recipient of a Lions Scholarship from the Wimberley club and one of the first local Lions foreign exchange students. Her heartfelt remarks indicated the lifelong impact of the programs and her gratefulness to the Lions Club.

Michael Murphy, Lions President in 1998, spoke briefly on the impact of the Lions Club in important community projects like the Wimberley Community Center, the Wimberley EMS, the Wimberley Village Library and other important projects. He noted, “Wimberley would not be Wimberley without the Lions Club.”

“Wimberley would not be Wimberley without the Lions Club.” Michael Murphy, Lions President in 1998

Lee Gibson, Lions President in 2006, spoke on the importance of the Lions’ Wimberley Market Days for the Wimberley community. She said, “Magic seems to happen every Market Day. Many vendors come to sell their items, and Lion and community volunteers faithfully come to work their various posts and shifts, and good things get done!”

Closing remarks were given by Lions President Richard Newsum. In a recent interview, he said, “There is an element to being a Wimberley Lion that I suspect has existed since day one… the sense of friendship and fellowship that exists within the club as each member brings their own unique ability and insight into who we are and what we do. As we share and learn from each other, we seem to find ways to add one more link to that chain of service we call ‘Lionism.’”