District 13E History 101.
A simplified guide of how District 13E evolved from 1917 to the present.
By Lion Bill Keller (District 13E webmaster)

 



 

Lions Clubs began as the dream of Chicago businessman Melvin Jones.
June 7, 1917 in Chicago, Illinois, an organizational meeting was held and the "Association of Lions Clubs" was formed. A national convention was held in Dallas, Texas, in October of that year. A constitution, by-laws, objects and code of ethics were approved.

 

1918: Ohio was included in the Ninth District, which included Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Eastern Wisconsin.

1920: March 13, the first Lions Club “Cleveland Host” was organized and 12 Clubs in Ohio rapidly joined. The first District Convention was held in Columbus Ohio, on October 14, The International President Dr. C.C. Reid of Denver, Colorado presented all 13 Clubs their charters; the Ashland Cub was organized later that year.


 Dr B.W. Beatty		 1921-1922: Ohio became known as District 13. Dr B.W. Beatty of Dayton, Ohio was elected to be first District Governor, that same year Dr. Beatty was elected to be Third Vice President of Lions International, he resigned as District Governor and Orson C. Norton of Toledo, Ohio was appointed to serve as District Governor.


1925: The ninth annual International Convention held in conjunction with the sixth State Convention held at Cedar Point, Ohio, Helen Keller challenged Lions to become "Knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness."

 

1926: Ohio Lions adopted first state Constitution.

 

1933-1934: District 13 Ohio divides into Multiple District 13 (MD13) composed of 13A & 13B.

 

1941-1942: MD13 divides into 4 new sub-districts 13A, 13B, 13C, & 13D.

 

1947-1948: MD13 divides from 4 sub-districts to 6 sub-districts and adds 13E & 13F.
Clarence Jenkins named 1st State secretary; Jenkins passed away suddenly and was replaced by George Bormuth.


A.B. Dredge




1948-1949:  MD13 divides from 6 sub-districts to 7 sub-districts and adds 13G
Also in 1948, A.B. Dredge of Springfield, Ohio was elected to serve a two year term as International Director at the Lions Club International 31st annual convention, held in New York, New York.

 

 


1950-1951: MD13 divides from 7 sub-districts to 8 sub-districts and adds 13H.
 


Dr. Dan Martin

 1953-55 – Dr. Dan Martin of Greenville, Ohio was elected to serve a two year term as International Director held at the 36th International Convention in Chicago, Illinois.


1957: MD13 divides from 8 sub-districts to 9 sub-districts and adds 13I
District 13A divides into A-1 & A-2.  W.R. “Dick” Bryan of Doylestown, Ohio was elected to serve a two year term as International Director held at the 40th International Convention in San Francisco, California.

 

1960: MD13 divides from 9 sub-districts to 10 sub-districts and adds 13J
District 13F divides into F-1 & F-2.

 

1963-1964:District 13I changes letter designation to 13K.


 

1966: Another statewide redistricting took place and was done all over MD13 to make a more equal distribution of clubs and membership among the sub-districts. This redistricting is as we know District 13E of today, it includes: Clark, Darke and Miami counties, formally of District C; and Mercer, Auglaize, Shelby, Hardin, Logan, Champaign, and Union counties formally of District D.
The first Governor to serve the redistricted 13E was Max Rose of Sidney. Click on picture for First District Convention program.
Here is a  complete list of Cabinet Secretary-Treasurers from 1966 to present.

District Committees included Membership Development, Lions Information, Sight Conservation, International Relations, Trustee OLER, Public Relations, CARE, Extension, Youth Exchange, International Convention and Constitution & By Laws.
See the Organization Charter Dates of Lions Clubs in District 13E website here. Also Charter and cancellation dates of Lions Clubs in 13E.
And District 13E Directories of the 1960's.

 


1964-1965 before redistricting
Click on maps for lager picture
 


1966-67 after redistricting

 
1969: W.R. “Dick” Bryan was elected President of Lions Club International 52nd annual convention, held in Tokyo, Japan. “Ohio’s First International President”.
W.R. “Dick” Bryan's Inaugural Address click on The Lion magazine for larger image.
 


1970:District 13E Directories of the 70's
 

1972: Merle Hartle of Piketon (Versailles), Ohio was elected to serve a two-year term as a director of The International Association of Lions Clubs at the association's 55th convention held in Mexico City, Mexico. PID Hartle moved to Versailles around 1990.

 First District 13E Pin produced.

 
1978: District Governors Pins and 13E Lions Clubs & Personal Banners

1980:District 13E Directories of the 80's 
 

1993-94: James T. Coffey of Toronto, Ohio was elected President of Lions Club International 76th annual convention, held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. James T. Coffey's Inaugural Address click on The Lion magazine for larger image.
 Title of Senior Deputy Governor is now Vice District Governor and Junior Deputy Governor is now Deputy District Governor.
District 13E Directories of the 90's


1999-2000: District13E website goes online.

2000:District 13E Directories of 2000.
 

2003:Gary L. Brown of Urbana, Ohio was elected to serve a two year term as International Director at the 86th International Convention, held in Denver, Colorado.
 Note: See complete listings of Ohio's Past International Officers and Past District Governors of District 13E HERE. 

 

 History researched from:
Ohio Lions District 13E. ©® 2008-09