History

The Rogers Lions Club was organized on September 3rd, 1946. Our first president was C. A. Pierce. We were the third civic club in the city of Rogers, Arkansas. Here are several newspaper articles (circa 1946) relating to the organization.

History of the
Rogers Lions Club

Rogers Lions To Organize Tuesday Night
The Rogers Lions club, which has been in process of formation this week, will hold its first meeting Tuesday night to complete the organization and elect officers, J. Barnett Napier, special representative of Lions International, said today.
Mr. Napier came to Rogers earlier this week to assist local business men in the organization of a Lions club, which will be the third civic organization for the community.
Tuesday night's meeting will be held at the Davis restaurant, formerly Weavers, on West Walnut street, at 7:30 p.m. Officers to be elected include a president, three vice presidents, secretary, Lion Tamer, Tail Twister and four directors.
Mr. Napier said that a minimum quota of 20 charter members already has been exceeded, and the number is expected to be increased considerably.

Organization Of Lions Club Is Under Way
J. Barnett Napier of Chicago, special representative of Lions International, is in Rogers to confer with local business and professional men in connection with a plan for the organization of a Lions club here.
Mr. Napier came to Rogers at the invitation of a local group interested in the organization of a third civic club, and will confer with prospective members of the proposed new club.
The minimum membership rejuirement for the organization of a new club is 20 members, Mr. Napier said, and he expressed the belief that more than that number would be interested.
The Lions, Mr. Napier explained, is a 100 precent invitation club, accepting members who have been invited by the club with the approval of all of its members. Membership also is limited to one member for each business classification.
Lions International was organized at Dallas, Tex., in 1917 with eight local clubs. It now has 5,480 local clubs, 82 of which are in Arkansas.

First Meeting of Lions Club to be at Harris Hotel
Due to a change in plans, the initial meeting of the Rogers Lions club will be held at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday instead of at the Davis cafe on West Walnut street, J. Barnett Napier, special representative of Lions International, announced today.
Mr. Napier, who came to Rogers last week to assist in the organization of a Lions club here, said more than the required minimum of chapter members have been enrolled.
The club will be formally organized and officers elected at the meeting Tuesday night.

Rogers Lions Club Formed Tuesday Night
Dr. C.A. Pierce Is First President Of Organization
Rogers' third civic club came into being last night when the Rogers Lions club was formally organized at a dinner meeting at the Harris hotel.
Dr. C.A. Pierce was elected the club's first president, and it was voted to hold two evening meetings monthly, to be held on alternate Tuesdays with a dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Other officers elected included Jim McDonald,-first vice-president; Jack Kinsey, second vice-president; R.Q. Steffey, third vice-president; Harlon Phillips, secretary; Milo Beck, tailtwister; Jack Gray, lion tamer; Ray Bacon, Dr. G.C. DeBolt, Al Preacher and Milton Brown, directors.
Organzation of the club was started earlier last week by J. Barnett Napier of Chicago, special representative of Lions International, who assisted with the club's formal organization last night. Mr. Napier planned to leave Rogers today, but it was said he will return shortly for further assistance in building up the club's membership.
The organization was launched with an initial membership of 26, all but two of whom attended the organization meeting. The charter will remain open until all of the list have been contacted, it was said. A charter, however, is expected to be delivered to the club at the first meeting in October.

First Ladies Night Held by Lions Club
Approximately 80 persons were present at the first ladies night held by the local Lions club since its organization last October.
Allan Harper, formerly of Fayetteville, pastor of the Rogers Church of Christ, was toastmaster. C.A. Pierce, his son Pete Pierce, Lural McClain and Robert Q. Steffey composed a quartet. They were accompanied by Mrs. J. Earl Sleeper at the piano. Laural McClain gave a vocal solo, followed by a trombone solo by Pete Pierce and a slight-of-hand performance by W.O. Christensen of the Gravette Lions club.
Twelve new members were introduced by the club president, Dr. C.A.Pierce. They are E.V. Litterell, Cecil Miller, Bill Cochran, Leo Wynne, D.D. Baker, John Baker, Kenneth Bland, Allan Harper, Pete Pierce, Harry Sergeant, Douglas Bacon and Ernest Godfrey.
Dinner arrangements and program were directed by Dr. Pierce, Jim McDonald, Jack Gray and Milo Beck.