ATLANTA METRO LIONS CLUB
OUR HISTORY
In 1990 Lion William
"Bill" Marshall and Lion Larry Young came from Detroit, Michigan to interest a
group of Southwest Atlantans in Lionism. Lion Bill Marshall was a committed member of the
Detroit Renaissance Lions Club; Lion Larry Young was District Governor at the time.
After attending the Lions International
Convention in Hong Kong (1992), where Lion Larry Young was elected as International
Director, Herbert W. Eber decided to support the effort to organize in Atlanta. A group of
men began meeting in the Eber home.
Contacted by Lion Larry Young, Lion George
Blackburn, a past Georgia District Governor, and Lion Rod Hume, the District Governor at
that time, came to one of the meetings. They explained what was necessary to become a
Chartered Club. The Hapeville Lions Club became the sponsoring club for the new
group, and one of their members, Past District Governor George Haney was the
"Guiding Lion."
CHARTERED
On January 30, 1993, at a
charter banquet held at the Colony Square Hotel, the group was chartered as the Atlanta
Metro Lions Club (AMLC) - a name that had been suggested by Lion Robert Dobbs.
There were sixty-two Charter Members; fifty-nine men and three women. Lion
Bill Marshall had moved from Detroit and was one of the charter members. Lion Herbert W.
Eber was elected Charter President and Lions Alvin Dawson and John W. Lawton became First
and Second Vice Presidents. It was a very festive evening. The new Lions Club was joined
by dignitaries from other clubs, from district and state, from national and international
Lionism. There were reminders of the solemn obligations undertaken, and there was a joyous
celebration.
To align with the fiscal year of Lions
International (July 1st to June 30th), the Charter officers served eighteen months.
Pictured from Left to Right are: Past International Director Larry
Young, Guiding Lion George Haney, and charter member William (Bill) Marshall
