Monticello Lions Club celebrates 80 years

By Sally Jack
Contributing Writer
The Monticello Lions Club will celebrate ‘80 years of Service’ at the District 28T convention on September 12 and 13 at the Hideout Golf Club in Monticello.
Lions from near and far will participate in the two-day convention hosted by the local club.
The District Convention is usually held in one of the larger cities in Utah, but this year the Monticello Lions have the opportunity to host the convention. Mike Carter is the current President-elect of the Monticello Lions.
The theme for the convention is “We the People.” Melissa Washburn, International Director of Lions, will be a guest speaker at the convention.
Calandra Hollie, Lynda Boyle, and San Juan County Commissioner Lori Maughan will also address the group.
Speakers will cover topics of national and local interest including The U.S. Constitution, and mental health/ suicide awareness and prevention.
At the close of the convention on Saturday, September 13, at 2 pm, the public is invited to join Lions at the Hideout to celebrate 80 years of service.
Guests who would like to contribute to the Lions service activity may bring a pair of new pajamas to donate to the Pajama Project.
The Pajama Project, organized by Lana Latham, is in its 16th year of giving “gifts of love” to children, ages 0-17.
These gifts are sets of pajamas, along with a book, and are given to children who are “in need.” The need can be physical and/or emotional.
Each year an average of 200 pajama gifts are given to local children and also sent to individuals who have a connection in some way to San Juan County.
Pajamas are needed for teens who wear men and women adult sizes, from small to extra large. All donations are greatly appreciated.
Lions District Governor Loran St. Clair, of Monticello, said, “Come and help with the Pajama Project, and if you like serving, consider joining the Lions Club. We could use more helping hands.”
Loran has been a Lion for ten years. After helping as a volunteer at the annual Lions Club pancake breakfast on Pioneer Day, he chose to join the service organization.
St. Clair began his service as Governor of District 28T – which includes all of Utah south of Provo – on July 1, 2025 when he was officially inducted for the two year term at an International Lions ceremony in Orlando, FL.
Prior to becoming District Governor, St Clair served two terms of two years each as president of the Lions Club in Monticello.
When asked what he likes best about being a Lion, Loran said, “The Lions Club is a good platform to serve with like-minded people. It’s a good way to help the community and to help individuals.”
Lions have been actively serving the community of Monticello since 1945, when 34 local men signed up as charter members of the Monticello Lions Club on December 20, 1945.
The last meeting of the Monticello Civic Club and the organization of the new Lions Club took place at a meeting and banquet held at the Musselman 4M Ranch. The banquet was served by the Church Workers Club of the Community Church.
The Monticello Lions were organized under the sponsorship of the Dove Creek Lions Club, and several members of the Dove Creek Lions were in attendance to help the new organization get started.
Officers elected for the 1946 year were President, Lawrell Jensen; First Vice President, Ralph Robson; Second Vice-President, N.W. Sitton; Third Vice-President, Gordon Wood; Lion Tamer, Elmo Redd; and Tail Twister, Ross S. Musselman.
Directors elected were Ned Jensen, Ralph Bailey, Donald Evans, and DeVaughn Jones. Ross S. Musselman was appointed chairman of committee for Charter Night.
Meeting day of the club was set as the first Monday in the month at 7:30 p.m. at the San Juan County Courthouse. Nearly 50 men were present at the first meeting, and as the saying goes, it was recorded, “An enjoyable time was had by all.”
A December 20, 1945 article in the San Juan Record states, “Monticello has long felt the need for an active service club. The fellowship and service which such an organization can promote should place Monticello on an equal footing with other up-to-date communities.
“Lions is an international organization, and being affiliated [with them]... will no doubt be conducive to permanency and growth.”
Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF) was founded as a service organization by Melvin Jones in 1917, with a motto of “We Serve.”
Jones believed business clubs should reach beyond business issues and use their talents to address the betterment of their communities and the world.
The club focus on work for the blind and visually impaired began when Helen Keller addressed the international convention at Cedar Point, OH in 1925 and charged Lions to be Knights of the Blind.
Lions are committed to provide vision for all through the international SightFirst Programs to eradicate blindness caused by eye diseases such as trachoma.
Lions help provide medicine, free or low-cost vision screenings, eyeglasses and eye care for people in need.
While Lions are best noted for fighting blindness, their service doesn’t stop there.
They also serve in a variety of community projects, including hearing screenings, hunger relief, childhood cancer support, diabetes awareness, outreach programs and scholarships for youth, and much more.
Each club serves the needs of their local communities first and then reaches outward to the world. It has been said that “For every need, there is a Lion to help meet that need.”
Lions Clubs are active in nearly every country, with over 1.4 million members and 49,000 clubs worldwide.