AMBOY — On Feb. 10, the Amboy Lions Club awarded a 50 year service pin to Lion Cecil Harrison.  

In late 1969, club member, Jack Molton, introduced and sponsored Cecil into the Amboy Lions Club. He has been an active member since and has also achieved perfect attendance during that time. Fifty years of service to the club has only been accomplished one other time by Amboy Lion Ken Robbins, now active for 52 years. In 1974 Cecil served as Club President and then spent the following 30 years serving as attendance and membership coordinator.  

Cecil has sponsored many local members, including his son, Curtis Harrison, his son-in-law, Brad Goy, Jim Travi, and numerous others over the years. Cecil took an active roll in many of the club’s projects and activities throughout the community.  

For many years he was responsible for selecting the Depot Day Parade Marshals. In another club project, Cecil and Junior Bonnell took an active roll in building the current tennis courts located at Amboy High School. He was a key member in organizing the annual Lion Membership Cookout that eventually incorporated the Lions Club Scholarship winners and their families. In the mid-1970’s he was recognized as Amboy Lion of the Year by the Club and was also named a Melvin Jones Fellowship recipient for his strong community service.  

In talking with Cecil, he reminisced about the early years of the club. Meetings were held at the Farm Bureau building and later moved to the old Lutheran Church.  

Today the meetings are held at the Amboy Community Center on the second and fourth Mondays of each month.

Additional service pins were also awarded that night to the following members: 10 year membership- Edie Pfeiffer; 15 year membership- Brad Goy, Ed Lilja, Buddy Morrissey, and Craig Walter; 20 year membership- Larry Eisenberg, Joel Hochstatter and 25 year membership- Carl Grossman.

In other news, the Lions are currently taking orders for the Annual Rose Day Event on Saturday, April 4. This is one of the club’s main fund raising events of the year. Please contact a Lion member if interested in ordering one dozen roses for an April 4 delivery.

Plans are also underway for the annual Cliff Walter Easter Egg Hunt to be held on Saturday, April 11. 

Another upcoming event in the planning stage will be the 2nd Amboy Lions Community Health Fair to be held on Oct. 10 at the Amboy Community Center. If you are interested in offering input or want to be part of the committee, contact Jim Travi. You do not need to be a Lions Club member to help with organizing the health fair event.

The Amboy Lions Club Scholarship applications are available at Amboy High School. Any interested AHS Senior should see the guidance counselor to pick up an application. All applications must be turned into Counselor Rob Wissinger by Friday, April 3 at 3:30 p.m. No late or incomplete applications will be accepted.  

If you are interested in learning more about the club or becoming an Amboy Lion, contact membership coordinator Lion Jim Travi or visit us on Facebook or check the web site.