McComb businessman Ron Craddock accepted the gavel as president of the McComb Lions Club Tuesday night, issuing a call for volunteers and more participation by members in club activities.
Craddock’s installation as president was one of several items on the agenda at the Lions’ Charter Night program Tuesday night at The Caboose restaurant.
Besides the installation of officers, outgoing president Tom Williams honored four Lions for their work during the year.
Williams presented the Herbert Wilmesherr Award, named for the late longtime Lions Club member and McComb banker, to Nancy Lazenby, whom Williams called the Lions’ “newcomer of the year.”
Club secretary Diane Turnage was named Lion of the Year for her work on club activities and for assisting Williams during his tenure as president.
Lions Bob Hensarling and Troy Alford received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, which is presented to members who either make $1,000 donations to the Lions Club International Foundation, or in whose name a $1,000 donation is made.
Williams said the club made the donations in Hensarling’s and Alford’s names in honor of their service to the club during the horse show and other programs.
“I am proud that we had a good year,” Williams said as he reviewed his year as president. “It wasn’t anything that I did. It was you. You deserve the credit.
“I thank you all for coming together and helping this year,” he said. “Thanks to you, we made it.”
Wayne Hutchinson, who installed the club’s new slate of officers, said the Lions need to take time “and think about what we do (as a club). Sometimes, we have to remember what we do.
“The popular thing now is to let someone else do it,” Hutchinson said. “What we do is fill in the gaps — we help people who are left out; the people in between.
“We do a lot of things that wouldn’t get done without us,” he said.
Craddock said he is looking forward to his year as president.
“I want us to have fun, but I also want participation and I think we can have a successful year,” he said.
Craddock said he wanted club members to be ready and willing to volunteer and participate in club projects during the year, especially the Lions’ annual Heart O’Dixie Horse Show.
“I want to give you one number — 99 — that’s how many days until the horse show,” he said. “We need to begin working on the horse show now to make it a success.”
