Mt. Hood Lions Ring in 75 Years of Service

By Amber Ford, The Mountain Times

On Saturday, May 16th, The Mt. Hood Lions Club officially celebrated their 75th year of service to the Mt. Hood Villages with food, drink, awards, special guests, and a party only The Mt. Hood Lions know how to throw. With guests ranging from previous presidents, district board members, and current members, everyone was treated to a menu which included salad, fruit salad, green beans, rolls, potatoes, ham, beef, and a variety of desserts. 

Once guests were fed, the festivities continued. Mt. Hood Lions Club president Dave Anderson introduced the distinguished guests from their district. A detailed historical account of the club was presented by Mt. Hood Lion Milt Fox. A highly regarded member of the club, Fox’s historical speech came from years of membership and event attendance – and from the stories passed down from his father, Mt. Hood Lions Club founder Milt Fox Sr. 

Sentiments and pride were in abundance as attendees shared memories with one another throughout the course of the event. “I’m really excited to be here,” Mt. Hood Lion Melinda McCrossen said. “I’m looking forward to meeting some of the district members and I just feel more vested now knowing what the officers do. I am proud to be a member,” she added. Members in attendance shared those thoughts and feelings as they mingled, and watched speakers and a slideshow of  Club events past. “This organization means so much to so many,” Mt. Hood Lion Patti Gay-Bouy said. “We all work so hard for the community; it’s nice to get together and celebrate,” Bouy added.

The Mt. Hood Lions Club has been and continues to be a staple in the community. The anniversary dinner highlighted moments from some of their most notorious community events such as the annual swim lessons,  the scholarship dinner, their reading program, the chuckwagon breakfast and the Christmas toy drive. Both Anderson and Fox highlighted the members whose efforts make each event successful. “None of these events we do for the community would be possible without the service of our members, both past and present,” Anderson said. “We celebrate our anniversary and the ongoing commitment we have to this community,” he added.

Although all members were recognized in one way or another, The Mt. Hood Lions Club presented prestigious awards to three members of the organization whose loyalty, dedication, and time spent serving far surpassed most standards of contribution. At the end of the ceremony, Anderson presented Mt. Hood Lions Dan Wolf, Milt Fox, and Craig Calvert with the high honor of the Mt. Hood Lions Club Lifetime Achievement award. All three members have served on the board, as president and vice-president for several consecutive terms, and have completed hours upon hours of service to the community through The Mt. Hood Lions Club. 

The celebratory evening ended with dessert, drinks, and dancing, with music provided by Ryan Peloquin. For those interested in joining The Mt. Hood Lions Club please visit mthoodlions.org.