75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE BUTLER LIONS CLUB IN 1998 INTRODUCTION (Speech by Lion Dean Jones) 1923 Was An Interesting Year   The country was enjoying somewhat of a post war economic good time. The local economy seemed vibrant. Prohibition was still in effect. The front page of the Butler Eagle contained mostly articles of national and world events.  It is interesting that there was so much interest in these areas.  Local news was mostly tucked away in the other pages of the paper. I'd like to share excerpts from articles about some of the activities of the founding Lions Club in the summer and fall of 1923. STEP BACK IN TIME WITH ME:   BUTLER EAGLE JUNE 22, 1923 PEPPY MEETING HELD BY NEW BUTLER CLUB. Enthusiasm was the keynote at the first regular meeting of the Lions Club yesterday noon at the Nixon Hotel.  The new club got off to a flying start at its organizational meeting recently and the first of the weekly meeting was held yesterday.  Officers of the Kiwanis and Rotary clubs were guests of honor and made brief after dinner speeches.  George H. Corsan, swiming instructor, made the principal speech and a musical troupe from the Lyric Theater furnished some clever entertainment. Pep is the only word that can begin to describe the start-off of the new organization. Clever remarks with sharp repartees were featured during the meal.  Reverend S. C. Gamble, J. E. Marshall, and Clyde Watson of the Rotary Club and Reverend Al Baldinger and Harry Hays of the Kiwanis were the visiting officers who delivered brief addresses, welcoming the new organization to Butler.  All were of the opinion that there was "plenty" of room for an organization that stands for the principals of the Lions.  The Lions Club will meet every Thursday at 12:20 at the Nixon Hotel except the last Thursday of the month when the meeting will be held at six o'clock in the evening. BUTLER EAGLE SEPTEMBER 14, 1923 CORN ROAST HELD BY CLUB AT THE SQUAB FARM Seventy-Five members of the Lions Club and their wives attended the corn and weiner roast last night at the Squab Farm on the New Castle Road. Following the supper a dance was held in the pavilion.  Misses Shaffer, Fulton, and Ellenberger furnished a program of songs and Eukele music and an impromptu address was delivered by Fred DeGast, Secretary of the Washington Lions Club, who, with his wife, is visiting relatives and friends in Butler.   BUTLER EAGLE FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 1923 LIONS MAKE MERRY EN ROUTE TO BEAVER FALLS MEET THREE CLUBS HOLD JOINT SESSION IN NEIGHBORING CITY, WHERE GOOD FELLOWSHIP ABIDES. Thirty-four roaring Lions of Butler, in a rolling den, commonly called a special car, journneyed to Beaver Falls yesterday afternoon to attend a joint meeting of the Beaver Falls, New Castle, Pittsburgh, and Butler Lions.  A good dinner, good music, and a number of interesting talks, to say nothing of the wonderful spirit of fellowship, featured the event. After the ride to Beaver Falls, During which songs were rehearsed for the meeting, the Butler Lions detrained in the heart of the city and quickly formed military fashion and marched through the business section to the hall where the meeting was to be held.  President John C. Dight and Secretary C. G. Chase led the column with the new Butler Lions Banner proudly carried by Carl Carlson.  L.S. Miller, Lion Tamer was First Lieutenant and Harold Sherman, Tail Twister, was top sergeant. The Pittsburgh club brought with them their musicians.  Several good quartet numbers, insturmental trios and solos were given by the talented club.  District Governor Camp of Johnstown delivered a short address. At ten O'Clock, the Butler Lions again sought out their rolling den and although most of them were so hoarse they could hardly talk above a whisper, there was a new song for every mile between Bever Falls and Butler.  All of the Lions present last night were invited to Butler on November First, when the local association will be formally granted its charter. BUTLER EAGLE, NOVEMBER 2, 1923 CHARTER PRESENTED LOCAL LIONS CLUB VISITING CLUBMEN ROYALLY ENTERTAINED IN MASONIC TEMPLE LAST NIGHT. With a large attendance from both the local Lions Club and outside dens, the charter for the Butler Lions Club was officially presented to the organization at a meeting last night at the Masonic Temple.  The program included an elaborate banquet, music, speeches, dance, and card party. District Governor Camp of Johnstown presented the charter and John C. Dight, President of the local club made the speech of acceptance.  The Pittsburgh club had their group of musicians with them and furnished some real musical entertainment.  The special car in which the Beaver Falls Club came to Butler in was considerable delayed due to the fact that the power on the street car line was off for some time.  They made up for their lateness upon their arrival. After the program the Blue Ridge Synkos furnished the music for the dancing and those who did not care to dance enjoyed card games on the balcony. It is interesting to note that over two hundred people attended this event with fifty coming from Beaver Falls and twenty-five from the Pittsburgh club. At this time I would like to turn the program over to Lion Jimmy Sweesy, who is going to highlight some of the clubs history.  Jimmy.