H 5349  Resolution, By W.Cox, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, 
Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Bernstein, Blackwell, Bradley, Brawley, 
Brittain, Bryant, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Carter, Caskey, Chumley, Clyburn, 
Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Collins, B.Cox, Crawford, Dabney, Daning, Davis, Dillard, 
Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrest, Fry, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, 
Gilliam, Gilliard, Govan, Haddon, Hardee, Hart, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, 
Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Hyde, Jefferson, 
J.E.Johnson, J.L.Johnson, K.O.Johnson, Jones, Jordan, King, Kirby, Ligon, 
Long, Lowe, Lucas, Magnuson, Matthews, May, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGarry, 
McGinnis, McKnight, J.Moore, T.Moore, Morgan, D.C.Moss, V.S.Moss, Murphy, 
Murray, B.Newton, W.Newton, Nutt, Oremus, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pope, Rivers, 
Robinson, Rose, Rutherford, Sandifer, Simrill, G.M.Smith, G.R.Smith, M.M.Smith, 
Stavrinakis, Taylor, Tedder, Thayer, Thigpen, Trantham, Weeks, West, Wetmore, 
Wheeler, White, Whitmire, R.Williams, S.Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE PIEDMONT LIONS CLUB ON THE
 OCCASION OF ITS 70TH ANNIVERSARY AND TO SALUTE THE CLUB FOR NEARLY THREE
 QUARTERS OF A CENTURY OF COMMUNITY SERVICE.

   05/05/22  House  Introduced and adopted (House Journal-page 87)

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE PIEDMONT LIONS CLUB ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 70TH ANNIVERSARY AND TO SALUTE THE CLUB FOR NEARLY THREE QUARTERS OF A CENTURY OF COMMUNITY SERVICE.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the Piedmont Lions Club is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2022; and

Whereas, headquartered in Oakbrook, Illinois, Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service organization, with more than 1.4 million members in more than 48,000 clubs worldwide, including the Piedmont Lions Club; and

Whereas, in 1952, the Greenville Lions Club helped organize and sponsor the Piedmont Lions Club under the leadership of District Governor Kenny R. "Serge" Helton. Charter night was held at the Piedmont Community Building on June 16, 1952, at which time the club was organized with nineteen charter members. The Greenville Lions Club presented the new club with its gong and gavel; and

Whereas, over the years, club members have provided their community with invaluable services, particularly in the area of vision needs; and

Whereas, the first project of the Piedmont Lions Club was the sponsorship of an all-star Black basketball game that raised $325. In 1953, the Piedmont Lions began to purchase eyeglasses and pay for eye exams for the needy. At its first annual broom sale, the club raised $300 for sight conservation, and at its first annual fruitcake sale, held in December 1955, the Piedmont Lions raised $135; and

Whereas, in September 1956, a concession stand was operated by the Piedmont Lions at Piedmont High School's football games; and

Whereas, in April 1957, the Lions had purchased five wheelchairs and three hospital beds, which were loaned out to the needy. The first Candy Days event raised $500 in October 1970. In August 1983, $500 was donated to the Tri-City Medical Center in Pelzer, and in May 1982 and March 1983 a total of $2,237 was donated to the Piedmont Medical Clinic; and

Whereas, in addition, in 1983 the Piedmont Lions donated $1,000 to the Lions Clubs International Foundation, their first of many contributions to this worthy organization; and

Whereas, cognizant of the Lions' fine record of service, the House takes great pleasure in rendering tribute to the Greenville Lions Club at the celebration of its milestone seventieth anniversary. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the Piedmont Lions Club on the occasion of its 70th anniversary and salute the club for nearly three quarters of a century of community service.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Rick Owings, president of the Piedmont Lions Club, on behalf of the club.