
Founder of Lions Club International
Melvin Jones was born on January 13, 1879 in Fort Thomas, Arizona, the son of a United States Army captain, who commanded a troop of scouts. Later his father was transferred and the family moved east. As a young man, Melvin Jones, made his home in Chicago, Illinois, became associated with an insurance firm and in 1913 formed his own agency. He soon joined the Business Circle, a businessmen's luncheon group, and was shortly elected secretary. This group was one of many at that time devoted solely to promoting the financial interests of their membership. Because of their limited appeal, they were destined to disappear. Melvin Jones, however, had other plans. "What if these men" he asked, "who are successful because of their drive, intelligence and ambition, were to put their talents to work improving their communities?" Thus, at his invitation, delegates from men's clubs met in Chicago to lay the groundwork for such an organization and on June 7, 1917, Lions Clubs International was born. Melvin Jones eventually abandoned his insurance agency to devote himself full time to Lions at International Headquarters in Chicago. It was under his dynamic leadership that Lions clubs earned the prestige necessary to attract civic-minded members. The association's founder was also recognized as a leader by those outside the association. One of his greatest honors was in 1945 when he represented Lions Clubs International as a consultant in San Francisco, California, at the organization of the United Nations. Melvin Jones, the man whose personal code--"You can't get very far until you start doing something for somebody else"--became a guiding principle for public-spirited people the world over. Melvin Jones died June 1, 1961 at 82 years of age.
Melvin Jones Fellows

Peter J. Meyer
Honored 1985

Thomas "Buck" Sincox
Honored 1994

Leon P. Hove
Honnored 1996

Duthiel "Dutch" Borcherding
Honored 1999

Dennis W. Hemsath
Honored 2002

Richard W. Hopp
Honored 2003

Vickey L. Engel Honored 2005

Robert E. Spangler Honored 2005

Donald D. Hahne Honored 2007

James A. Feltmann, Sr.
Honored 2007

Eric O. Durchholz
Honored 2008

Dr. Michael E. Radetic
Honored 2009

Dr. William C. Huber
Honored 2009

Gerry L. Bayless
Honored 2010

Marvin D. McAdams
Honored 2010

Jerry J. Maune
Honored 2011


David C. Bossler
Honored 2012

Bradley G. Mitchell
Honoredd 2012

Vince B. Borgerding
Honored 2012

Dr. Edward O. Obermark
Honored 2013

Jerry G. Brunner
Honored 2013

James A. Feltmann, Jr.
Honored 2014

Joseph A. Feltmann

Dr. Kenneth H. Buchmann
Honored 2014

Steven J. Holzem
Honored 2014

Milissa A. Maune
Honored 2015

John L. Politte
Honored 2016

David A. Hackmann
Honored 2017

William H. Dickinson, Jr.
Honored 2017

Terry M. Unnerstall
Honored 2018

John E. Griesheimer
Honored 2018

Jerry J. Jasper
Honored 2022

Lawrence R. Brenker

D. John Geisert
Honored 2022

Gary L. Marquart
Honored 2022

James C. Perry
Honored 2023

Amy Muench-Lick
Honored 2024

Les A. Unnerstall
Honored 2024

Ronald J. Williams
Honored 2024

Sheila A. Marquart
Honored 2024
