The history of the founding of the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LIONS CLUBS began on October 24, 1916, when Dr. William Perry Woods, a renown medical surgeon of Evansville, Indiana, along with two of his close associates, placed his signature on articles of incorporation for the above named association. On the following day, October 25, 1916, those articles were duly filed with the Secretary of State for the State of Indiana in Indianapolis. That concluded the founding history of the Lions organization that exists to this very day. Everything that followed became new chapters of phenomenal growth of clubs sprouting all over the country, before going international in 1920.
Dr. Woods did not merely create this organization in name only. At the time, he had at least two dozen chartered Lions Clubs, mostly in the southwest, and more on the way. By June 1917 , there were 33 clubs and a decision was made to have a meeting or convention to get them all organized. Since his medical practice was keeping him very busy, he had one of his top organizers, E.A. Hicks, to make the arrangements. Mr. Hicks, a Texan, was in Texas at the time and he set the stage for the meeting to be at Dallas, on October 8-10. And as they say, the rest is history.
History, however, never did record the founding as it actually happened. Dr. Woods’ name is virtually non-existent in the history of Lionism, and most of the membership are not aware that he was the first president of our organization, elected at that Dallas convention. Strangely enough, the state of INDIANA also disappears from the records. Indiana had celebrated its centennial the same year of the Lions founding. Melvin Jones was instrumental in filing for a new Lions charter in the State of Illinois in 1919 that effectively rendered Dr. Woods charter of 1916 null and void. Nevertheless, the event of 1916 created the founding and anything that followed became immaterial as to the founding itself.
It defies logic, however, that a bonafide, legally recorded document can be ignored and yet an unsubstantiated date of June 7, 1917 is heralded as the “official” founding of the International Association of Lions Clubs. Newspaper archives of the Chicago newspapers and other periodicals of surrounding areas reveal NOTHING in the way of Lionism news around that date.
It was during the period of 1950-51 that Melvin Jones released his version of the founding of the International Association of Lions Clubs, submitted on 11 pages. When Dr. Woods came into possession of a copy of this work, he wasted no time in putting forth his own version as a rebuttal to what Mr. Jones had to offer. It should be pointed out that Melvin Jones was NOT under oath when he expressed his views. Dr. Woods, however, submitted a 36-page SWORN AFFIDAVIT in 1952. It is interesting to note that Dr. Woods also wrote notes in the margins and between lines on Mr. Jones’ papers. One word stands out very prominently…”NO”!
A number of Mr. Jones’ statements in his 11-page dissertation beg some answers : (1) Why would Dr. Woods travel to Chicago as asserted by MJ and turn over his ownership of the International Association of Lions Clubs to a man he had never met before… allowing Melvin Jones to proceed to lay the foundation for the “new” organization — the International Association of Lions Clubs? (2) After being a Chicago resident for many years and now the “founder” of Lionism, why would Melvin Jones opt for a convention in Dallas, Texas when Chicago had so much more to offer in convention facilities and he wouldn’t have to leave town ? Of course, Dr. Woods did NOT go to Chicago to meet Mr. Jones and Dr. Woods did NOT turn ownership of his Lions Association to Melvin Jones. Dr. Woods gave up all his claim to his beloved clubs at the convention in Dallas where he was elected as first president to the International Association of Lions Clubs. Dr. Woods was president of his association from October 25, 1916 to October 9, 1917 at Dallas. His election at the Dallas Convention up to the St. Louis convention in 1918 really gives him credit for being president for TWO straight years.
A Quick Review
Dr. W.P. Woods filed founding of October 25, 1916 stands alone with no legal controversy. It is a matter of record. Melvin Jones’ and the Lions International “official” founding of June 7, 1917 is fraught with controversy. Why did Mr. Jones receive his charter effective August 2, 1917—two months after his “founding”? And why does his home club, ‘Chicago Central Lions Club’ maintain that club changed its name to a Lions Club on MARCH 1917 , two+ months BEFORE the alleged founding ? Despite all claims made as to the “founding” of June 7, 1917, and for whatever reason , Melvin Jones did not get recognized as the founder until 1958, eight years after he left the organization.
The following supplemental readings will give you some insight on little known Lions history that followed later. But be sure to read ALL of the EXHIBITS that follow , for they convey further proof to reinforce the claim of Dr. William Perry Woods as being the TRUE founder of today’s world-class service organization, the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LIONS CLUBS. Take special note on Exhibits Page of the corrected copy of a Press Release of ‘Lions Clubs International’, October 20, 2016, announcing the reenactment of the signing of the Articles of Incorporation for Lions International, to take place at the Indiana State House in Indianapolis. Paragraph two: “Although Lions International officially recognizes Chicago businessman Melvin Jones as the “founder” of Lions in June of 1917, the roots of the organization are firmly planted in Indiana.”
And as Paul Harvey, the popular radio program host of many years would state so eloquently when signing off after each episode…
…”and now you know the rest of the story.”