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Melvin Jones
Fellowship Award
 Pictured
at right is Gil Cox receiving the Melvin Jones
Fellowship award from past president Ronnie King
The fellowship,
which was created in 1973, takes its name from the
founder of Lions Club International (LCI), Melvin
Jones. It is an honor – not an award. The fellowship
was established as LCIF’s highest form of recognition to
acknowledge an individual’s dedication to humanitarian
service.
When you meet Melvin
Jones Fellows, you will notice that they are greatly
concerned about the needs of humanity. They are firmly
committed to finding ways of improving the quality of
life in their local communities and in the world
community.
Melvin Jones Fellows
- Patrons of
humanity
- Possessed of
worldview
- Performing
deeds that outlast a lifetime
Melvin Jones Fellows
include:
- Tom H. Gann
- Paul Mayberry
- Mike Taylor
- George
Thannisch
- Wyatt Leinart
- Ralph Vallone
- Gil Cox
 Melvin
Jones was born on January 13, 1879 in Fort Thomas,
Arizona, the son of a United States Army captain who
commanded a troop of scouts. Later, his father was
transferred and the family moved east. As a young man,
Jones made his home in Chicago, Illinois, became
associated with an insurance firm and in 1913 formed his
own agency.
He soon joined the Business Circle, a businessmen's
luncheon group, and was shortly elected secretary. This
group was one of many at that time devoted solely to
promoting the financial interests of their membership.
Because of their limited appeal, they were destined to
disappear. Melvin Jones, however, had other plans. "What
if these men," he asked, "who are successful because of
their drive, intelligence and ambition, were to put
their talents to work improving their communities?"
Thus, at his invitation, delegates from men's clubs met
in Chicago to lay the groundwork for such an
organization and on June 7, 1917, Lions Clubs
International was born. It was stipulated that clubs
were not to be social in nature nor were members
permitted to promote their own business interests.
Jones eventually abandoned his insurance agency to
devote himself full time to Lions at International
Headquarters in Chicago. It was under his dynamic
leadership that Lions Clubs earned the prestige
necessary to attract civic-minded members.
The association's founder was also recognized as a
leader outside the association. One of his greatest
honors was in 1945 when he represented Lions Clubs
International as a consultant in San Francisco,
California, at the organization of the United Nations.
Melvin Jones, the man whose personal code "You can't get
very far until you start doing something for somebody
else" became a guiding principle for public-spirited
people the world over, died June 1, 1961 at 82 years of
age.
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