The Lions Club Archives
~The Commerce Journal is a community newspaper holdings, inc. (cnhi) Newspaper ©1999 all rights reserved.~
The Commerce Toys for Tots committee and the Commerce Lions Club
are gearing up for the Christmas holidays. The Toys for Tots committee will provide
clothing and toys for local underprivileged children at Christmas. The Lions Club will
provide food baskets for these families and the elderly. In the past, the City of Commerce
has responded in a very positive way in assisting with these programs.
Every effort will be made to work with other agencies such as the Salvation Army in order
to coordinate their efforts.
Applications may be picked up from Commerce ISD school counselors or at Commerce City
Hall. Elderly residents may call 886-3106 and give their information by phone if they
wish.
Applications need to be filled out and returned by Friday, Nov. 17, if possible, in order
for the Angels to be ready for adoption by Thanksgiving.
New clothing, new toys, canned food and monetary donations may be made at the following
locations: Paragon Cable's office, located at 1111 Main Street, or the office of Kenneth
A. Foust, CPA, located at 1201 Park Street.
Anyone needing additional information may call 886-3106.
| Main
Page || News
|| Obits || Staff || Subscribe || Links |
Commerce Journal Links
************************************************
Pictures from the Julian C. Hyer visit July 21,1998
*************************************************
Nolan Mc Whirter - Named Melvin Jones Fellow
April 27,1999
Congratulations!!!!
Lions Ike Youngs & Nolan McWhirter
Grass Roots Lion
Paul Peak is our Grass Roots Lion
State Convention
Zone 10
Commerce, Greenville, Quinlan, Rockwall, Celeste,
****************
Latest Meeting Notes
Another Year is coming to an End
As new officers get ready to take office and the outgoing officers prepare to leave
office, the activities of the Lions Club does not end.. We just completed our 33rd year
with our Carnival on the Square. The total numbers are not in yet, but considering the
storms that were in the area, we did well. As you might remember, this is the same day
that a tornado hit DeKalb,Tx - May 4th.The skies here were really bad until 4:00pm. We
decided to go ahead and do it. The weather was beautiful the rest of the evening. We
managed to get everything put together in the last hour from 4pm till 5pm and the carnival
started at 5pm. We kept going till about 9:00pm. Several new things this year - a
"Moon Walk" booth - and two Dallas Cowboys were signing autographs - Kevin
Mathis and Mike Quinn.. Thanks guys!!!! As soon as I can there will be some pictures
online.
I hope you like The Grandfathers Clock song.. It's one of our favorites at the club meetings.
April 20th,1999
At the meeting today we heard the three finalist for our $1000.
Scholarship. We heard
Alexandra Hernandez, Emily Parrish and Ambika Singh
All three are excellent students with great ambition for their future. After we heard from
each of the students the club voted on who we thought should be the recipient. Even though
we know who it is, it will not be released until the awards ceremony at the high school in
May.
Good Luck to you all three!!
Other business - a sign up sheet was sent around to see how many are
going to the next fish fry, which is May 13th. This fish fry will be held at The R n P
Junction on this date on the patio.
Guest at todays meeting were Marcia Alderman, school counselor and Karen Wright, who is
the person responsible for making out Lions Club signs.. Karen is the secretary of Coaches
Paul Peak and Sam Walker. Thank you Karen for all your hard work. A collection was taken
up for Karen today to help her efforts in the March for Parks at Cooper Lake. She raised
$128. on her own and then at the end of the meeting she won $18.50 from our drawing.
We also distributed the Lions Club Carnival Signs to those present.. The donations from the signs are $15. per sign. The signs will be displayed at the Carnival on May 4th advertising the businesses who gave us contributions.
Lion Hawthorne won the free meal today- If these had have been present
they might have won -
Bill Webb(16), Hazel Schwartz(23), Jim Stahl(29), Patti Shaw(28), Marc McDaniel(30),Paul
Harbison(27), Anthony Lewis(31) - Hazel actually was there - just didn't claim the meal...
There was a moment of silence for Lion Jimmie Wolf
Lion Wolf on the right with Lion Muller at the Carnival in '98.
Lion Jimmie Wolf Passes Away
Commerce Lion Jimmie Wolf passed away Saturday, April 17th in Dallas Baylor Hospital. Dr Wolf had recently underwent by-pass surgery on his heart. After the surgery he had rejoined us at the club for a couple of meetings, but had to return to the hospital. Dr Wolf was a very active member of our club all the way up till his death. Each year at the Lions Club Carnival, he was the distributor and contact person for handing out ice cream to the hundreds of kids who come to the carnival. This years carnival will miss his smiling friendly face on the square. Dr Wolf was also a very active member of the community and the county. He was the president and chairman of the Hunt County Fair for the past years. He loved working with youth at the fair grounds. His experience in agriculture at Texas A & M University - Commerce in raising sheep and chickens has taught many youth the importance of agriculture. Jimmie Wolf will be missed by all here our community.
Jimmie Wolf was 70 yrs young at the time of his death.
Herald Banner staff report
COMMERCE -Dr. Jimmie Darrell Wolf, the past-president of the Hunt County Fair Board and a longtime agriculture educator, died Saturday in Dallas. He was 70.
Services are at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the First Baptist Church of Commerce with Dr. Bobby Tollison officiating. Burial is in Rosemound Cemetery.
Dr. Wolf served as the fair board president for six years, ending his tenure in 1998. Prior to that, he was the superintendent of the fair's sheep division.
In addition to his service at the county level, Dr. Wolf served as superintendent of the market poultry division at the Houston Livestock Show for 30 years and the superintendent of the breeding sheep show at the State Fair of Texas.
"He was certainly a leader on the fair board," said longtime friend and county extension agent Mary Sue Cole. "He really tried to treat everyone fair in his role."
Dr. Wolf's association with agriculture began when he received his bachelors, masters and doctoral degree in agricultural education from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla. He taught high school agricultural science in the Seminole and Agza (Okla.) school systems.
He also taught overseas for a brief time as an instructor at Imperial Ethiopian College of A&M Arts in Alemaya, Ethiopia.
Dr. Wolf moved to Commerce in 1966 to become a professor of agricultural science at Texas A&M University-Commerce. He also assisted with the 4-H programs in Commerce and the surrounding area.
"He was an exceptional 4-H parent," Cole said. "He was interested in seeing kids learn, do well and have excellence in what they did."
Dr. Wolf was a member of Poultry Science Association, C.A.S.T., Phi Delta Kappa and the Texas Association of College Teachers. He was also past president of the Commerce Lions Club.
He served as a deacon and taught Sunday School classes for children at the First Baptist Church for 20 years.
Dr. Wolf was born March 13, 1929, in Dustin, Okla.; the son of John Fibern and Louise Henry Wolf. He graduated from Wetumka (Okla.) High School. He was married on June 8, 1949, in Ramone, Okla. to Rilda Baker, who survives him.
Also surviving are two sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. Gary and Ann Wolf of Mansfield and Steve and Katie Wolfe of Wichita Falls; two daughters and sons-in-law, Becky and James Greer of Center and Elisabeth and Andy McGuire of Kingsport, Tenn.; two brothers, John Wolf of Ashland, Ala. and Paul Wolf of Guthrie, Okla.; and 10 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one sister, Fances Liles and one brother, Robert Wolf.
Pallbearers are Teddy Reel, Bob Draughn, Greg Horn, Joe Venable, Kirk Webster and Heath Fisher. Honorary pallbearers are members of the fair board and the Adult 3 Mens Sunday School Class of the First Baptist Church.
Memorials may be made to the church's building fund.
Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Pemberton Funeral Home, which is in charge of the arrangements.
Police Officer of the Year - 1998-99
Kerry Crews, Commerce Police Investigator
Lions Club Police Officer of the Year
At the Commerce Chamber of Commerce - Feb, 1999
Presenting the award is President Elect - Ike Youngs.
Notes from the past meetings
March 26th - "White Cane Days" Collection - Friday (all Day)
A very successfull White Cane Day - over $2000. was collected at the intersection of Live Oak and Bois D Arc Streets in Commerce. The weather was beautiful and the people generous. It was a long day from 7:30am- 5:30pm, but the efforts by the twenty Lions who helped was worth it. $1000. will be sent to the Texas Lions Sight and Tissue Foundation and the remainder will be used for buying eye glasses for local youth who need glasses and cannot afford them.. If you know someone who is need of better vision but doesn't have the money to buy them, call us at the Commerce Lions Club - 903-886-6349..
March, 1999
Commerce Lions Club is in a membership drive. The club has been divided into two teams - The Cats and the Dogs. The team who recruits the most new members by otaining points wins and the losing team has to cook the fish at the semi-annual fish-fry. Right now the Cats are in the lead.
Robert Reno, the new manager at Wal-mart, has transferred his membership from Canton,Tx to here, effective March 9th.
The club will contribute $50. to Special Olympics. The Commerce Kiwanis Club is hosting the Special Olympics April 10th at Texas A & M University Commerce.
Nolan McWhirter to receive the Melvin Jones Fellowship. Money has been allocated to give Lion McWhirter this award in the very near future.
Lion Jesse Hawthorne designated nominee for Jack Weiss Fellowship. Funds are being raised to give this award to Lion Hawthorne, who is a 45yr member of the Commerce Lions Club.
Paul Peak name as Grass Roots Lion. Paul is the current president of the Commerce Lions Club and will be representing the club at the District Convention in April. Lion Peak is also the Head Basketball Coach for Texas A & M University - Commerce and recently appointed as Co-Athletic Director for the University along with fellow Lion - Fred Blohm.
------------------------------------
Missed printing a few meetings, but we are still here. We had a successful food drive 168 families fed a large Christmas Dinner. Brookshires Foods provided the hens, many volunteers worked to pack and distribute the food the folks who needed it.
Also we had two Christmas programs... The students at Commerce Elementary School came and sang Christmas Carols to the members present. Another Christmas program we had was Dec 30th, with the Linck family, presenting their version of the 12 days of Christmas. Very intertaining.
We hope that everyone has a very Happy 1999!!!!
November 24th - Thanksgiving
Our program was presented by a group of 4th,5th and 6th grade students from A.C.Wiliams School. They presented a play, "The Pilgrims' Arrival: Thanksgiving at Plymouth". The group was under supervision by Mrs Bishop and Mrs Williams. Performers were: Kristal Rater, Brittney Belcher, Andy Lo, Wesley Henderson, Missy McDaniel, Robert Hill, Jacob Cunningham, Lee Mathis, Wesley Hunter, Will Latson, Matthew Armstrong, Tyler Venable, Wesley Reel, Dominique Weatherall, art by Andrew Jones and Props by Destiny Harrison.
After the performance the Lions were treated to Thanksgiving Dinner by Freida Mabry. Great way to start off our Christmas Season. We are still in need of canned foods or non perishables. Brookshires Foods and the public schools are helping this year in collecting food. Today's lucky winner was Ray Johnson who won the free meal and the drawing.
November 17,1998
Ben E. Keith representative Beth Lawless, presented a program to the club on Alcohol Awareness. The program is presented in schools everywhere to promote alcohol awareness. She said that DWI accidents have declined by 31 percent over the past 13 yrs. More than 100 million drink. The legal age to drink is 21yrs everywhere. If you are interested in getting her to do the presentation to your group or school contact - Ben E. Keith. She is based in the Ft Worth,Tx office.
November 10,1998
Coach (Lion President) Paul Peak speaks to the club about the 1998 TAMU-C basketball program. Sam Walker assistant coach also added some remarks. The season is getting off to a good start. Coach Peak said "This is the best squad that I've been around".
November 4,1998
Raytheon Human Resources Manager talks about the history of Raytheon as it is known now. John Sutton, manager told the club where Raytheon started and where it is going. He presented a slide presenation to the crowd.
Oct 20th
Lions have another great fish fry.. Lions and their spouses attended a cookout at the home of Robert Clang in Ladonia. The weather was damp, but it didn't dampen the spirits of the outing. Plenty of fish, fries and the fixins were served. Thanks to the cooks, the servers, the guest and especially to the host, the Clangs.
Oct 6th
Lion Jesse Hawthorne was our guest speaker today.. The program was about membership retention and recruitment. Kick-em or Keep-em. The Commerce Lions Club has a large number of members, but only about 60% of them really participate in meetings, activities and other such Lions programs. The meeting was to try and see what could be or should be done to either revitalize those who don't attend or have them resign from the club. It is hoped that they all start to come back.. There were several members at this meeting that hadn't been there in quite sometime. We are glad that they came back and would like for the others to come back as well. Our club has 74 members (3 at large).. We are one of the largest Lions Clubs in the entire district. (4th place). We will see what happens as we progress in the future. Great job Lion Jesse!!!
Sept 29th
Julia Johnson of Mesquite, who is the chairman of the Sight and Tissue Foundation was the guest speaker at the club meeting. Oct 3rd Commerce Lions Club is to host the Mobil Eye Clinic at the First Methodist Church from 9:00am-10:30am. It was four years ago that the District purchased the mobil eye trailer and equipment to bring a portable eye clinic to people who could not go to an eye doctors office. Last year 1,263 needy people got checked and glasses were given. With an additional amount from the mobil eye clinic last year to make 1,863 exams given. The entire District will be participating in White Cane Day's to collect money on March 27th. (Commerce included).
(Oct 3rd) note
The mobil eye clinic came to Commerce amidst bad weather and driving rain. A total of 12 were given free exams. 7 children and 4 adults....from all over the county.. Weather was a hinderance from more people attending.. Commerce, Greenville, Celeste Lions Clubs helped run the clinic with Dr Salizar from Greenville as the attending eye doctor.
Sept 26th
The Lions Club participated in the Bois d Arc Bash raising $205.55 from the dunking booth. Lions Tony Nixson, Roger Huffman, Paul Harbison, Glenn Ward and Jim Taggart helped with the booth
Sept 15th
Zone 10 meeting held in Commerce - Lion Pat Jones, Zone Chairman, presided with members of all clubs in the district (except Terrell and Forney) were present. The expectations of the District Govenor Randall Morris were covered. Zone 10 needs to be a 100 % club for this year. Commerce Lions hosted at the Ben E Keith Reception room. 20 Lions were present...
Sept 12th
Lions Paul Peak, Jack Rinn, Mary Jane Rinn and Roger Huffman attended the 2nd training session at SMU in Dallas. Training for Secretary, Vice Presidents and President were attended.
Sept 8th
Our guest speaker for the day was Head Coach Eddie Vowell of the Texas A & M University- Commerce football team.. He is in his 16 yr at Texas A & M Commerce. His told of his expectations of the the team this year. One thing in his favor is that several of the teams ranked better than TAMU-C are going to be here this season.. Angelo St, Eastern N.Mexico, Texas A&M Kingsville will all be here this year.. Next year will be a different story. Coach Vowell hopes that the home field advantage will be on our side.. He said that they have been working hard to do better this year. Time will tell..
Winners today: the meal by Coach Hawkins after #55(Kelly Webb), 68(Bob Young), 42(vacant),41(Bob Monday),43(vacant),40(Paul Peak),44(Sam Walker), 39(Rick Miller)... Sorry you weren't there today or you would have won!!!
The winner of the drawing was Lion Ken Morgan..
25 people present at todays meeting.
At the Board of Directors meeting on this date - the approval for reinstatement of Police Chief Lana Adams, after being on leave for three months. Approval for funds for the Boy Scouts had already been approved.. Need more information on making our club 100% club,(what it takes and costs), tabled motion on support Commerce Pee-Wee Football team, and also tabled motion on contribution to the Commerce Alliance for Ministries (Hunt County Shared)..., and need to find out if some funds that we have already collected will be able to go to the Melvin Jones Fellowship for Lion Nolan McWhirter.. A special board meeting will be held next week or so to further discuss these issues..
I would like to thank the club for the long last recognition that I got for being a past president (95-96).. I finally recieved a shadow box with gavel for the honor. Thanks again.
Sept 1st
Our guest today were Coach Steve Lineweaver and two of his players from the State Ranked Commerce High School Tigers. PJ Winston and Landon Owens were the players who attended. Coach Lineweaver told the club of how his team looks this year... Watch out Sealy!!! This team is focused.. Lineweaver told of their awareness, concentration, extra effort and some incentives that they use to get ready.. Members of the team will get extra points for knock downs, spin offs and what they call "road kill".... When the opponents just don't get up very fast!!! Coach Lineweaver says he uses "focus" cards that the players write up to motivate themselves. When asked what they contribute to the team, Winston said Leadership and speed; Owens said Motivation and lead by example.. Both are very active with in the school, Winston is the president of the senior class and involved in all sports, and in the National Honor Society. Owens is involved in PAL which is working with the kids in elementary school with studies and also TAD which is Tigers Against Drugs.... Owens is the Vice President of the senior class.. and wants to go to University of North Texas and major in business and marketing. There are 17 lettermen coming back on this years team. Even though they lost several last year, this team is committed to do "Whatever It Takes"...
Todays winners of the free meal (Lion Wolf) and drawing (Lion Webb).. Rick Vanderpool was the guest of his wife Judy (even though he said she was his guest)... and Charlie Pitman was the guest of Jim Taggart.. 34 members present today.. A reminder about parking cars Sept 8th at the Hunt County Fair.... Oct 3rd the mobil eye clinic at First Methodist Church.. Volunteers needed to work the event(s)...
August 25th
A very interesting presentation from the owner and operator of Jacob's Plain Gun Club in Jacobia,Tx. Joseph C. Berger Jr, talked to the group and told of everything that has been going on there. Hunter Education classes, ATV safety courses and youth activities. Recently they hosted a youth activity weekend with over 900 kids from all over participating. They have gained National recognition from the NRA. He also emphasized training for the personal watercrafts and new boating laws...
Also at this weeks meeting Kelly Webb won the free meal and Ken Morgan won the drawing. There were 34 members present and no guest (except the speaker). Also Ken Morgan recieved his pin recognizing him as a 20 yr member of the Lions Club and Robert Cozart Sr recieved his 50 yrs pin and certificate for being a Commerce Lion.. Lion Fred Blohm, the new tail twister was also selling tickets for the Meals on Wheels Silent Action..
August 4th
Ty Cashion of Texas A & M University-Commerce spoke to the club on his new book, a history of Texas Highschool Football Coaches. The book has been compiled from stories that Ty has collected from across the State of Texas interviewing Texas High School football coaches who have been around since before 1960.. This was a very interesting topic. Some of the stories were really amazing. Ty personally interviewed the coaches. At the end of the program Ty autographed books and gave one away with the spin of the Lions wheel. Phil Fugitt won the book. Lion Casselberry won the jackpot at the end of the day.
We would like to welcome back Tom Tallach to Commerce after being in Arkansas for a little over a year.Todays guests also included Patsy Youngs with her husband Ike..
July 21st
Wyman Williams was our guest speaker for the day. He spoke about the changes and upgrades being made to the Presbyterian Hospitals for Commerce and Greenville. Present at the meeting was Jayne Williams also a board member and Mr and Mrs Harold Drake, Mrs Drake is in charge of the local hospital auxillary. Exchange students from the Julian C Hyer campers were also present at Tuesday's meeting. I will posting a picture of the ones who attended as soon as it is developed.
July 14th
Rick Vanderpool guest speaker - on the Bois D Arc Bash
We heard from Rick Vanderpool at Commerce Lions Club today. Rick is the publisher of the Commerce Journal and the biggest promoter of the the Bois d Arc Bash in Commerce. Rick covered the events and noted some changes in this years Bash. 1) It will be on Sept 25-26 (Fri & Sat) this year. Usually it is on Sat & Sun. Rick also volunteered to participate in the Lion Club Dunking Booth (first one in).. There are "73" days till the BASH.
Ike Youngs was acting president today because President Peak was out of town. Greenville Lions Club President and one other came to the meeting today to "retrieve" their gavel, which was taken by Lions Ike Youngs, Earnest Hawkins, Phil Fugitt, Tony Nixson and Roger Huffman last week. All in the spirit of Lionism... Gabriel Donovan, grandson of Lion Jack Donovan spoke briefly to the club thanking us for sending him to the youth leadership seminar in Wisconsin.
The club has gotten in a new program to update our records. Clubmate for Lions Clubs will assist in keeping up with the rolls, M & A Report, finances and events. (as soon as we get it going).
Board meeting was tonight - Items conducted:
1) Approved $200. contribution as a patron to the Commerce United Way - Lion Peak and three guest will be able to attend. - Sept 19th.
2) Approved to host the Zone 10 meeting in September here in Commerce. 7:00pm.
3) Approved removing some deliquent accounts on membership
4) Lion Bell to check into the Melvin Jones Fellowship for Lion Nolan McWhorter..
5) Membership committee to check on further deliquent members.
July 7th Meeting
At today's meeting we heard from Bill King, manager of major activities on the University Campus. Today Bill talked about the upcoming Commerce United Way Concert scheduled for Sept 19th.. This years fundraiser will be a little different because patrons will be the only ones attending.. Two Hundred dollars is all it takes to be a patron. This years event is called "Cowhill Cowboy Gathering in Support of Commerce United Way", to be held at the Across the Creek at Bar Nun Ranch Home of Jim and Jan Ainsworth. Underwritten again by Ben E. Keith Beers, this annual event raises money for the local Commerce United Way. Events taking place will be Team Roping Contest (Afternoon), Patron Portraits by a Caricature Artist, Cowboy Art Show, Bar B Q dinner and an evening with music from Don Edwards, who recently appeared in "The Horse Whisperer" with Robert Redford. Don Edwards is a "cowboy singer". Bill King expects a big turn out of patrons.
Bill King won the jackpot at the end of the meeting and donated it to the United Way funds. The free meal of the day was won by Ray Johnson. Lion Jesse Hawthorne retuned today after being out for a while due to illness.. Rick Miller is still needing homes to accomodate some Julian C. Hyer exchange students. Contact him or Belinda if you can help. August 4th meeting the new District Governor Randall Morris will be visiting our club. Freida Teel is still recooperating from minor surgery and will be back soon. Lion Marc McDaniel is back on the job, but is taking a few weeks off from the Lions Club meeting after his mild stroke.. (40 yrs old is too young to have a stroke). July 14th we will have Rick Vanderpool as our guest speaker to talk about.. THE BOIS D ARC BASH.. July 21st - Wyman Williams will make his presence known and speak on the Presbyterian Hospital of Commerce and Greenville, and July 28th - W.B. Dyer will bring us up-to-date on the Commerce Industrial Development Association..
August 4th DG Morris, and in August we will have one meeting dedicated to LIONISM.....
July 7th - Lion Jason Bush received his creditials from Lion Secretary Jack Bell...The new officers made it through the day with no problems.
T