Gonzales Daily Inquirer June 4, 1940
Gonzales Lions Club Charter
Presented at Special Program
Eight Surrounding Clubs
Represented At Gay
Charter Night Affair
Gonzales’ den of 40 growling cubs became a full-fledged, loudly roaring Lions Club Monday at the
conclusion of charter night ceremonies attended by two hundred Lions, ladies and guests from eight
surrounding cities.
Held in the Odd Fellows hall, the charter night ceremonies were uproariously marked by tie-cutting
and fine collecting carried out by San Antonio’s inimical Tailtwister Louis Rodriguez. The Gonzales
Lions Club, organized only a few weeks ago under the sponsorship of the Austin club with 16 charter
members now has a membership of forty.
B. Duncan Davis, president of the club, called the meeting to order, after which the proceedings
were turned over to District Governor-elect Mel Miller of Austin, who presided as toastmaster.
All joined in singing America and giving the pledge of allegiance to the Flag. John A. Romberg
gave the address of welcome, which was interrupted several times by the tail-twister who collected
dime fines from Romberg for violating the Lion’s own set of parliamentary rules. Response was by
W.I. Kosurek of Austin.
A dinner of Southern baked ham and all the trimmings was served, and during the banquet period
solos were given by Mrs. E. B. Porter of Austin, Carruth Palmer of Yoakum and Miss Alice Jean
McLarty of Cuero. Art Wilke of Austin led group singing with Bill Allen of Austin at the Piano.
R. Roy Keaton, of Lions International, brought the address of the evening, speaking on “Thoroughbreds”.
“In people there are thoroughbreds, as well as in animals,” Keaton said, “and Lions are thoroughbreds.
Our organization would not have taken the lead in the service field if its members hadn’t been thoroughbreds.”
“Lions was the first purely service club ever organized,” Keaton continued, “After Lionism was established
many other professional clubs changed their constitutions to become service clubs. Men join Lions clubs
to serve not themselves, but others.”
Keaton said there were more Lions clubs in Texas than all other kinds and that during the past ten months
42 new Lions clubs had been organized in the state and 449 new clubs had been formed in the United States.
Following his speech Keaton lost his necktie to Tailtwister Rodriguez, who clipped it off with a pair of
scissors just below the knot, because it did not match his suit. Tex Wilson, tail-twister of the Gonzales club,
lost his neck-tie by the same process when he thought the Rodriguez-Keaton incident funny, and laughed.
Throughout the evening dime fines were collected from lions for various “misdemeanors,” the money
going into a fund to be used for charitable purposes.
William Offer, district governor, presented President Davis with the charter establishing the Gonzales
club as a part of the international organization.
Governor Offer stressed the meaning of the Lion slogan, from which the name of the organization is
obtained – “Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation’s Safety.”
“Lionism is something that you cannot acquire all at one time – It grows on you year after year,” Offer
told the Lions.
Following the presentation of the charter the large hall was cleared of tables and chairs for an hour of
dancing music and song. Lupe’s string orchestra furnished the dance music. During the social phase
of the evening Miss Rosamond Avery presented a musicale, a high school quartette sang, Miss Maureen
Cohen gave a solo and tap number, Miss June Davis a piano and trombone solo, and Miss Lucille Eckols
a reading.
Officers, directors and members of the Gonzales Lions Club are as follows: B. Duncan Davis, president;
Edward Reese, Marvin Stahl, J. Q. Short, vice-presidents; Glen Storey, lion tamer; Tex Wilson, tail-twister;
C. M. Todd, secretary-treasurer; Frank J. Boehm, J. A. Romberg, M. C. Vackar and C. K. Mick,
directors; D. F. Clark, Fred Droupy, J. C. Metz, W.E. Bouldin, W. L. Greer, Oscar Buchholtz, Dr. C. W.
Drain, W. D. Davis, C. A. Echols, Fred Halamicek, Fred Kokernot Jr., Lawrence Michelson, Emmitt Mills,
Willie Peterek, Rupert C. Reid, Ernest Robinson, T. W. Steiner, Selba Steubing, Dr. G. W. Wilhite,
Rev. C. M. Campbell, Melvin Totz, W. F. Logan, Phillip Goodwin Jr., Frank Bahlman, John Shuler,
Jack Howard, W. L. (Bud) Botts, T. A. Ervin.