History of the Fort Vancouver Lions Club

Fort Vancouver Lions folding bags for Walk a Knock

Blues for the Blind Fund Raiser

Established in 1955 as a lunch club in downtown Vancouver, WA we were charted by the Vancouver Lions. Our first president was LeRoy DeBast, and the current one is Steve Staudinger.

The Lions is now the largest service organization in the world was founded in 1915 by Melvin Jones and several of his friends with the goal to serve the less fortunate in Chicago, IL. The highest award given to Lions members is named after its founder known as the Melvin Jones Fellowship. The Fort Vancouver Lions has awarded 43 to deserving Lions through out the years.

In 1925 Helen Keller called upon the Lions to be "Knights of the Blind" Ms. Keller, who was also hearing impaired, moved the room so much they voted to dedicated their efforts to eliminate preventable blindness world wide.

Diana Olds Recipient of Melvin Jones Award

Diana Olds
2007 Melvin Jones
Fellowship Recipient

Chriss Denny Recipient of Melvin Jones Award

Chriss Denny
2007 Melvin Jones
Fellowship Recipient