Laveen Lions Club History

33 Years and Counting!!

2007 Proving yet again that Lions is an organization where diversity is automatic. Laveen Lions Club elects its first African-American president - King Lion Art Downs.

2006 Laveen Lions Club elects its first female president - King Lion Sharon Anderson. Club also launches its first full-blown official club web site.

2005 Laveen Lions Club and Foundation had its greatest fund raising year to date, $42,000 from club projects, plus $18,500 in grants funding.

2004 Laveen Lions Club provided Titmus Machines and Audiometers to all Laveen School District schools.

2003 Laveen Lions Club members and friends had a fun time on a bus road trip to Kartchner Caverns and Tombstone to celebrate the club’s 29th Anniversary.

2002 Laveen Lions Club had its first member elected to the Melvin Jones Lions International Memorial Board, Lion PDG Les Daviet II.

2001 Laveen Lions Club had its first member elected to the Lions Foundation of Arizona Board, Lion Truman Tate.

2000 Laveen Lions Club had a female member serving on the board, Lion Robin Daviet.

1999 Laveen Lions Club foundation officially became a 501C3 corporation.

1998 First Laveen Lions member became Governor of District 21-A, Lion Les Daviet II.

1997 Laveen Lions Club dedicated the “North Forty” in memory of Lion Gilbert Villa.

1996 Lion les Daviet II served as treasurer of the Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation Board, being named a Life Member of the Foundation two years later.

1995 Laveen Lions Club inducted their first female member, Lion Shirley Randel.

1994 Laveen lions coordinated the transportation to and from hotels and meeting venues during the77th Lions International Convention in Phoenix.

1993 Laveen Lions Club earned money at a work party eliminating the “Daviet National Forest.”

1992 Laveen Lions Club had 23 project chairmanships.

1991 Laveen Lions Community Park marquee was utilized by Lion John Randel to recognize Laveen military personnel stationed in the Persian Gulf prior to and during Operation Desert Storm.

1990 Laveen Lions elected its first and, (at present), only father and son President and Secretary Lions Les Daviet II and III.

1989 Laveen Lions Club’s bowling team participated in the Tempe Sun Devils Lions Club tournament.

1988 Laveen Lions Club hosted a Zone Social for Zone Chairman, Lion Randy Lay.

1987 Laveen Lions had its first member elected to the MD21 Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation Board, Lion Les Daviet II.

1986 Laveen Lions Club had its traditional Christmas Party including hayride, Christmas Caroling, spirits to keep members insulated from the chilly night air, terrific eats followed by a gift exchange.

1985 Laveen Lions Club had its first fund raiser (auction) that exceeded $10,000 in revenue to the club. Co-chairmen, Lions Bill Whitman and Randy Lay.

1984 Laveen Lions Club financed, helped construct an equipped the baseball field at Camp Tatiyee.

1983 Laveen Lions Club’s 4th of July celebration included fireworks and food, all free to the public as a thank you for ongoing support from Laveen residents.

1982 A memorial dedication was held at the Laveen Lions Community Park, on June 5 for Lion Jerry Thomas, the Laveen Lions Club’s guiding Lion (Godfather) who died 25 September, 1981.

1981 Laveen Lions Club members’ horse-mounted unit led the 64th Annual Lions Clubs International Convention Parade.

1980 First Laveen Lions member elected to a MD21 Project Board, Camp Tatiyee, Lion Sid Carlisle.

1979 ‘Goose’, (a.k.a. Lion Gilbert Villa), became the Laveen Lions bulletin editor, joined later by ‘Sneaky’, (a.k.a. Lion Tom Keating).

1978 Lightning struck twice, Laveen Lions Club was again named District 21A’s Club of the Year.

1977 Laveen Lions Club named District 21A’s Club of the Year along with top President and Secretary.

1976 Established the first Laveen Lions Community Park, just east of the Northeast corner of 51st Avenue and Dobbins Road with land leased to the club by Lion Carlos Ontiveros.

1975 Editor Lion Don Philippe mailed their first Laveen Lions Club bulletin – postage was 10 cents.

1974 First Laveen Lions Club fund raiser was conceived, organized and chaired by Lion Harry Tolliver, a black powder rifle turkey shoot.