By Kyle Roberts
RUSTON, La. — Ruston Lions Club President Terrel Deville rang the bell at 12:20 p.m. Tuesday and called to order the historic service organization in the Audubon Room at North Louisiana Medical Center.
And less than an hour later, the gavel hit for the final time, and the Ruston group turned its charter in after serving the community since February 22, 1946.
“This was not an easy decision to make, but the reality is that our group has aged to the point where within the next year, we don’t really have enough active members to fill the whole list of officers,” Ruston Lions Club President Terrel Deville said. “People would have to repeat, and beacause of our age, we’re not really able to continue to raise funds for projects.”
Deville, a member for 52 years, noted that during COVID, the Ruston Lions Club was unable to meet for two-and-a-half years and did not help the membership situation for the group.
“The reality is that young people don’t serve the same way that we did way back when,” Deville said. “They’re still serving the community, but it’s in other ways (rather than joining formal organizations).”
Dennis Coleman served as the Lions Tail Twister, and always segued from lunch to the formal meeting with jokes and funny anecdotes.
“Ruston has really benefited so much from this group,” Coleman said after serving for 23 years. “Mainly, I think the recognition that we sought for other areas of the community other than ourselves. We did whatever we did for others. It is the mantra that we live by, and every person in here believes that.”
To open the final meeting, the club sang “My Country ’Tis of Thee,” recited the pledge and prayed before calling into official order. After a review of the final minutes and reports, certificates were given out to members to honor their time served in the club, ranging from 18 to 58 years.
The club then presented the four members with the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award to Lions Coleman, Stephanie Matthews, Robert Daulton and Dorothy Jenkins.
Finally, Lions in attendance recounted their memories and what made the club so special to the Ruston community in the nine decades of service, ranging from the chicken barbecues to the eye-screenings for young children in Lincoln Parish.
But the theme most commonly referenced memory was the community built over time and the friendships that will live on.
“I was 28-years-old when I joined the Lions Club,” Lion Jim Lowther said after 58 years with the organization. At the time, the Lions Club had a broad range of age memberships. I did not grow up in Ruston, so when I joined, it was a fantastic way to get to know about Ruston through the many, many good programs. One thing that always struck me about our LIons Club is that with all the things we’ve done, no one ever did it to get some recognition or win an award. It was entirely unselfish, and that was one of the most attractive things about the Lions Club.”
93-year-old Lion Rosie Hodge echoed Lowther after she served for 22 years.
“I enjoyed my time with the Lions Club,” Hodge said during the share portion. “It was a pleasure meeting the wives of some of these other Lions. We’ve all been friends through the years, and I have certainly enjoyed all of it. And we hope that in the future, we’ll meet somewhere to say hello, or have a little breakfast or lunch and not forgetting each other.
Multiple Ruston Lions moved their membership to Simsboro’s Lions Club and will continue to serve Lincoln Parish, including Lion Stephanie Matthews, who currently serves as the executive director of Christ Community Action of Ruston. Matthews said she was very proud of the work the club has done over the decades to help preserve eyesight for children through the screenings.
“Today is a mixed bag of emotions,” Matthews said. “I’m happy and sad, but you have to know when it’s time to move forward and move on. I’ll still be a Lion and I’m looking forward to serving in a club and making a positive impact on Lincoln Parish.”
