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Friendly Lions Club Celebrate 65 Years

By Randy Rutherford - Staff Writer | Oct 3, 2024

Friendly Lions Club members and guests gather.

The Friendly Lions Club celebrated their 65th Charter Anniversary on September 24, 2024, hosting a dinner and special guests at the Community Center.

The evening began with a welcome from Club President Scott Beaver. Dan Heintzman then led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance while the Invocation was given by Larry Johnson.

Guest speaker for the evening was PDG (Past District Governor) Lion Mary Ann Belles, of Upper Saint Clair, Pennsylvania. Mary Ann currently serves as president of the Whitehall Community Lions Club and an administrative assistant at her husband’s office, George Bell’s Accounting and Tax Service. George, her husband, serves as District 14-B Cabinet Treasurer, and together they have five adult children and three grandchildren.

Mary Ann has been a Lion since May 2012 and has been actively serving the Whitehall Community Lions Club since her installation. Lion Mary Ann has been active in District 14-B and served as Region 3 Zone B chairperson. She has also served as the District 14-B Piece Poster Chairperson. Mary Ann served as District 14-B District Governor from July 2021 through June of 2022. She currently serves as the District 14-B Cabinet Secretary and the District 14-B Global Leadership Team Coordinator. This year Lion Mary Ann was named the chairperson of the Lion’s Diabetes Board of Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties.

Lion Mary Ann was also presented with an International President Certificate of Recognition as a “New Voice in the Area of Service” for Lions in years 2018 and 2019. She also received an International President’s “The Global Action Team Honors Certificate” when she served District 14-B as the Global Service Team Coordinator. She also received The International Presidents Certificate Of Appreciation in recognition of distinguished achievements in 2016, 2017 and 2018. She is a graduate of the 2017 Regional Lions Leadership Institute and the 2019 The Advanced Lions Leadership Institute. Lion Mary Ann received a Melvin Jones fellowship from her club in June of 2023 and has a progressive Melvin Jones fellowship.

Charter members dated October 2, 1959 of the Friendly Lions Club were Cecil R. Ash, Thomas F. Ash, Earl B. Clark, Russell Cokeley, Blake Eddy, Joe Hayes, Ralph Flesher, Reverend K. H. Freeman, Paul H. Frum, A. A. Holiday, Delmas W. Knowlton, Carl A. Lauer, James L. McIntyre, Charles E. Meeks, Alden O. Michaels, Fred Miller, E. G. Moore, Phillip O. Morgan, Harold Parks, Sherman Racer, Reverend Floyd Richmond, Ed Rustemeyer, Chauncey M. Rutherford, Gail W. Smith, Richard Lee Smith, Donald Joe Stewart, Joseph M. Swisher, W.H. Swisher, Herschel Thomas, Earl P. Tustin, Eugene Wagner, George W. Williamson and Glen A. Williamson.

After a spirited program, enjoyable dinner and wonderful fellowship, the evening was closed with a Benediction from Lion Chad Emerick.