History

The Great Bend Noon Lions Club is the oldest civic club in Great Bend. It was organized March 23, 1923, under the supervision of C.E. Marsh, member of the Wichita Lions club, and Field Director of Lions International. Just 6 years after International was founded.

The first meeting was held in the Chamber of Commerce rooms in the old City Hall. Dr. E.E. Morrison was elected President; Clyde Allphin, 1st Vice President; O.W. Dawson, 2nd Vice President; W.L. Bowersox, Secretary; Clarence R. Aldrich, Treasurer; W.F. Duckwall and C.L. Warner, Trustees.

At that time, Lions International had only 700 clubs in the U.S. The Great Bend Club had 25 members to start . The club has had three District Governors: Harold A. Hammond, Clifford Getz, and Orville Atkinson, and numerous zone and cabinet officers.

The club has had four Senior Master Key members. Those who obtained 25 new members. They were Glenn Rhea, Glenn Meade, Arthur P. Hagen and Dr. Julius Spece.

For eighty-five years this club has served this community by helping the blind, working in sight conservation, furnished glasses to needy students, sponsored and sent young musicians to the Lions All State Band at State conventions each year, earned and contributed money to buy milk for school children, uniforms for crossing guards and little league ball players, to the Great Bend Zoo, 4-H Clubs, Boys State, Community Chest, Humane Society, Community Theater, Scout camps, Downtown Development, Sister City, Chamber of Commerce, American Legion Baseball and color Guard, Central Kansas Medical Center, BCCC Foundation Scholarships, Annual Scholarship, USD 428 Foundation in addition to the Lions Club organizations such as Lions Club International Foundation, Candy Day, State Band, Leader Dog, District - State - and International Dues.

The Lions Club is a good avenue for individual men and women to serve this community.