Lions Clubs International began with a small group of men, lead by a Chicago Insurance man named Melvin Jones, who wanted to do more than they did in the business clubs of that day. They wanted to Serve their community. “We Serve” is the motto of this organization, and today it has become the world’s largest service organization with about 1.4 million members located in 206 countries and geographic areas.

The first Lions Convention was held in Dallas, Texas in October of 1917, with 29 clubs and less than 50 men in attendance. There were 12 Texas clubs in attendance. They were Abilene, Austin, Beaumont, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Paris, Port Arthur, San Antonio, Temple, Waco and Wichita Falls. These clubs are now know as FOUNDERS CLUBS. The first officers chosen for the Lions International were:

• Dr. D. P. Woods – Indiana – President

• D. H. Lewis – Dallas, TX – Vice President

• Melvin Jones – Chicago, IL – Secretary/Treasurer

• C. H. Kirk – Houston, TX – Director

Texas is District 2 of Lions International. From its beginning of 12 clubs, by 1930 it had grown to 242 Clubs and 8414 members. That year the State was divided into 5 Districts: T, E, X, A, S. Due to the tremendous growth over the years, the State was divided several more times. In 1959-60 District 2-S2 was divided into 2-S2 and 2-S4, thus forming our district as we know it today. David A. Evans of Houston became the first District 2-S4 Governor, who later became the International President in 1968-69 Lions year.Today there are 16 districts in Texas, each lead by a District Governor. These 16 Governors form the Council of Governors. They transact the business of the State including State Leadership Training, State and International Convention activities, and supervise the Texas Lions Camp.

• To show my faith in the worthiness of my vocation by industrious application to the end that I may merit a reputation for quality of service.

• To seek success and to demand all fair remuneration or profit as my just due, but to accept no profit or success at the price of my own self-respect lost because of unfair advantage taken or because of questionable acts on my part.

• To remember that in building up my business it is not necessary to tear down another’s; to be loyal to my clients or customers and true to myself.

• Whenever a doubt arises as to the right or ethics of my position or action towards my fellow men, to resolve such doubt against myself.

• To hold friendship as an ends and not a means. To hold that true friendship exists not on account of the service performed by one to another, but that true friendship demands nothing but accepts service in the spirit in which it is given.

• Always to bear in mind my obligation as a citizen of my nation, my state and my community, and to give them my unswerving loyalty in word, act, and deed. To give them freely of my time, labor, and means.

• To aid my fellow men by giving my sympathy to those in distress, my aid to the weak, and my substance to the needy.

• To be careful with my criticisms and liberal with my praise; to build up and not destroy.

• To Create and foster a spirit of generous consideration among the people of the world through a study of the problems of international relationships.

• To Promote the theory and practice of the good principals of good government and good citizenship.

• To Take an active interest in civic, social and moral welfare of the community.

• To Unite the members in the bonds of friendship, food fellowship and moral understanding.

• To Provide a forum for the open discussion of all matters of public interest; provided, however, that partisan politics and sectarian religion shall not be debated by club members.

• To Encourage efficiency and promote high ethical standards in business and professions; provide that no club shall hold out as one of its objectives financial benefits to its members.