The Lions Club of Parkersburg received its charter on February 24, 1922. Following the creation of the Club in 1922, the group was involved with Parkersburg High School, which had been constructed in 1917. Among the most visible ways the Club served at that time was organizing trains to take the Big Reds football fans to games in Wheeling, Clarksburg, Charleston, Weirton and Huntington. The trains would carry from 900 to 2,000 people. These excursions were held from 1928 through 1941 and 1946 to 1961. The "Lions Club Special" football trains did not run during World War II.
The Lions Club of Parkersburg also was involved with the Big Red Marching Band, including the purchase of new uniforms. The Band also participated in the Lions Club International's conventions in Providence, R.I. (1936), Chicago (1937), Pittsburgh (1940), New Orleans (1941), Toronto (1942) and Chicago (1960).
The Lions Club of Parkersburg vision care activities have been ongoing for over 90 years. In 1930 and 1931, the Club provided medical attention for a blind girl, by paying the cost for an operation to restore the girl's vision. The Club has organized numerous eye screenings, collected and helped several visually impaired persons get distributed eye glasses, and holds its annual Easter Egg Hunt for the Visually impaired on Palm Sunday.
Related to eye health, the Lions Club of Parkersburg has held Diabetes Wellness Fairs, as diabetes is a leading cause of blindness. The Club also has been involved with the United Way, Red Cross, hospitals, promoting reconstruction of Staunton Pike, YMCA, projects for servicemen and women, held a scrap metal drive that collected 19 tons of metal during World War II, built the Lions shelter on Blennerhassett Island, helped establish the swimming pool at the City Park, sponsored Boy Scout Jamboree for 500 scouts and built the dining hall at the Boy Scout Camp, helped sell War Bonds, and sponsored emergency food collections. The Club has made sizeable donations to the Lions Charities for vision programs, community agencies including the United Way, Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, YMCA, 4-H, hospitals, FFA, Wood County Society, Salvation Army, Special Olympics, schools, the library, and Guide Dog schools. The Club built a Habitat for Humanity home in l 996-9 7 and participated in another. The Club holds an annual Halloween 5k Fun Run/Walk on the last Saturday of October, and a annual Cash Bingo on the Friday evening before Father's Day to raise money for the Club's special projects. One of these special projects is Vinman's VIPs. This project raises money to purchase iPads for severely visually impaired children in Wood County. To date, the Club has donated 2 iPads to children in need in Wood County.
The Lions Club of Parkersburg looks forward to a second century of service to our community. Join us in making that difference. ROAR LIONS!
1922 Lions Club of Parkersburg Charter Members
Lions Club of Parkersburg Presidents
District Governors from the Lions Club of Parkersburg
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