By Roger Allen
Second in a series
New Lions Club Sponsors Fly Control Attack – Immediately after the new Montezuma Lions Club was launched in 1947 its members jumped into conducting service projects to benefit the community. The first service project was a town clean up, a project that has continued for 75 years.
A significant project that summer and at least the summer that followed was city-wide spraying for fly control. A prominent headline in The Montezuma Republican said, “Lions Club Sponsoring Fly Control Attack for City.”
A July 24 news article stated, “The Lions Club with the entire cooperation of the Mayor (J.V. Stilson) and city council is really going into the fly extermination business in a large way.” The “city fathers” purchased the DDT and the Lions Club would spray it, free. Pressure sprays as used by the army were to be employed.
Residents just had to call either Kenneth Cox or Jack Swink and tell them they wanted their premises sprayed. K.E. Cox, chairman of the Lions club’s civic improvement committee, was in charge. Other committee members were John Mullen, V.L. Lundeen, Stanley Hutchinson and Jack Swink. A news article stated, “The fly control campaign is important and it is hoped that the residents of the city will all cooperate and get behind the movement 100 percent. Here is an opportunity to help the city get rid of the pesky little pests!”
Lions Win Donkey Basketball vs. Legion – A fund-raising public entertainment event topped off the new Lions club’s first year. An apparently biased newspaper report said, “In the first donkey basketball game ever to be played in Montezuma the Lions out-pointed the favored Legion team to win 8 to 4. The game was played in two 15-minute halves in what was then the high school gymnasium (now auditorium). The donkeys were the real winners.
Scoring one basket each for the Legion were V.L. Lundeen and Jim McIlrath. Other Legion team members were Pitka, Byers, and Rev. Wyatt. The Lions’ points were made as follows: Lundeen 2, McIlrath 2, Badger 2, Hutchinson 2, and high-pointer I.A. Gabriel 4. Dick Rabenold was referee but due to stubbornness of his donkey, “was unable to see all plays.” O.H. Black of the Lions proved to be the best “donkeyman,” as he could and did ride, plus he got off and pulled his mount to different positions.
Other Early Projects and Plans – Entering the club’s second spring, an April 1948 headline in The Montezuma Republican said, “Lions Club Plans Many Projects” – with sub-head: “Will sponsor Fly Spraying, Repair Signs, Paint Flying Sign and Plant Tree.” The article provided details for these projects planned for the spring and summer.
President Kenneth Cox announced that the signs at the outskirts of the city are to be repaired and repainted and the Lions emblem placed on them. Also a large arrow will be placed at the Texaco station corner pointing to the business section of the city.
Materials had been secured and permission granted by the school board for the Lions to paint MONTEZUMA on the roof of the new machine shed at the high school. An arrow pointing north will also be painted on the roof, for the benefit of airplane pilots.
It was voted by the club to again undertake the fly eradication program started the previous year. Tom Ross and C.R. Byers agreed to take charge of the fly spraying and will make three attacks on the pesky pests. The times for spraying will be based on information “from Ames.”
It was also decided to plant some sort of tree on Arbor Day, in the courthouse yard, under the direction of the board of supervisors.
Jumping ahead to November 24, 1949, a headline said, “Dr. E.B. Williams Honored by Lions.” The doctor was honored at a club dinner at Harden’s Café for his over 50 years “of very successful practice of medicine in this vicinity.” Presenting the honored guest was Norman McFarlin, whom Dr. Williams had ushered into this world. The doctor spoke, saying he had enjoyed the many years of service to the community. He remarked that he thought he was the first in this part of the state to use blood transfusion. The reporter added, “No doubt the modesty of the speaker prevented him from telling more of his ‘firsts.’”
More Meeting Places Recalled – Part of the first article in this series listed places recalled where the Montezuma Lions Club has met during its 75 years. A deeper dive into historical records revealed the list should also include for 1966 into 1968, The Party House, 1966-67; briefly at the Legion meeting room; and the Montezuma Country Club, 1967-68.
Another deeper dive into history clarifies that the club charter was granted on March 12, 1947. It was presented to the club at the charter banquet on April 21. A photograph reveals March 12, 1947 is the date engraved on the club’s missing bell.