Award Recipients
The Lions Club was founded in 1887 in Chicago by Melvin Jones. This Fellowship is a token of esteem honoring those members who have toiled diligently and tirelessly over many years for our community and the River Hills Lions Club, and who have demonstrated the highest commitment to our motto “We Serve”. This is the highest award in Lionism and must be authorized and sponsored by the Board. The River Hills Lions Club bases the Fellowship only on performance and not on monetary contributions.
- 2023 – Susan Thomas
- 2022 – David Brantley
- 2021 – Jerry Epping
- 2020 – Drew Naber
- 2019 – Lee Kehler
- 2018 – Peggy Upchurch
- 2017 – Frank Van Leer
- 2016 – Bruce Roberts
- 2015 – J.P. Russell
- 2014 – Neet Rounds
- 2014 – Bob Daily, First Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow
- 2013 – Ron Kraft
- 2013 – Richard Pastor
- 2013 – Mary Ann Robinson
- 2012 – Tommy Haughton
- 2011 – C. J. Nager, Gus Sagos, Dona Van Leer
- 2010 – David Brown
- 2009 – RJ Phillips
- 2008 – Gerry Orlick
- 2006 – Bob Daily
- 2005 – Kenneth Shaffer
- 2004 – Sandy Decker
- 2003 – David Cox
- 2001 – Harold Brietman
- 2000 – Dick Lewis
- 1993 – Robert Goodell
- 1992 – Bob Kennedy (Presented to Barbara Kennedy in Bob’s memory)
- 1991 – Milt Yesek
- 1989 – Glenn Saunders
The Dr. Franklin Mason Fellowship Program is a prestigious way to show commitment to the humanitarian efforts of South Carolina Lions Charitable Services Foundation (SCLCSF) and further support the work of sight and hearing conservation across the state. Districts, clubs and individuals can donate to SCLCSF through the Franklin Mason Fellowship Program. This program was established in 1974 in honor of Dr. Franklin Mason, a Past International Director of Lions Clubs International.
- 2018 – R. J. Phillips
- 2016 – Gerry Orlick, Frank Van Leer and Dona Van Leer
- 2023 – David Allen
- 2022 – Lloyd Viets
- 2021 – Marlin Alford
- 2020 – Neil Nelson
- 2019 – David Brantley
- 2018 – Mike Heslop
- 2017 – Rick Thomas
- 2016 – Dave Allen
- 2015 – Derek Lewis
- 2014 – Susan Thomas
- 2013 – Nick Rounds
- 2012 – Peg Stoklas
- 2011 – Steve O’Brien
- 2010 – Lee Kehler
- 2009 – Neet Rounds
- 2008 – Pat Kirby
- 2007 – RJ Phillips
- 2006 – Paul Boggs
- 2005 – Gerald Orlick
- 2004 – Debbie Dagilus
- 2003 – Tom Stall
- 2002 – Ken Shaffer
- 2001 – Bob Daily
- 2000 – Dan Johnson
- 1999 – John Chislett
- 1998 – Arnie Bendet
- 1997 – Dick Lewis
- 1996 – Bill Heflin
- 1995 – Ruth Dahlstrom
- 1983 – Steve Wilson
- 2023 – Phil Weiss
- 2020 – Don Nowak, Marc Robboy & Marilyn Robboy2020 – Don Nowak, Marc Robboy & Marilyn Robboy
- 2019 – Linda Brantley
- 2018 – Barbara Rowley
- 2017 – Gene Foster
- 2016 – Neil Nelson and Ed Knoll
- 2015 – Bill Holleman and David Allen
- 2014 – Jimmy Lee
- 2013 – Susan Thomas, Derek Lewis, Kathy and Terry Rapp, Kristi and Matthew Lyons
- 2012 – Morgan Lombardo
- 2010 – John Mackay
- 2009 – Lee Kehler
- 2008 – Lou Girolami
- 2007 – Pat Duffy, Ralph Byra
- 2006 – Tom Grove, Donna Grove
- 2005 – Peter Rogers
- 2004 – Brian Kerler, Dona Van Leer, Frank Van Leer
- 2003 – Patricia Slaymaker
- 2002 – Barrett Smith
This award recognizes members of the community who have quietly made significant, long-term contributions to the community. They need not be Lions Club members.
- 2023 – John Davis
- 2022 – Brian Batson
- 2018 – Rick Camden and the River Hills Maintenance Crew
- 2017 – Frank Keefe, Bagel Boat Owner
- 2016 – Kathy and Terry Rapp, The River Hills – RH/LW Emergency Medical Service
- 2015 – Ellen Gillis
- 2014 – Judy Brown
- 2014 – Gene Berris
- 2014 – Don Long
- 2013 – Hank Gerald
- 2012 – Karen Ottenii
- 2011 – Jack Leff
- 2010 – Becky Stevenson
- 2009 – Gene McCarthy
- 2008 – Bill Martin and Ben Rawls
- 2007 – Jack Haber
- 2006 – Jane Chislett
- 2005 – Stacy Waddell
- 2004 – Martha Simmons
- 2003 – Bob Daily
- 2002 – Larry Edson
- 2001 – Dick Pastor
- 2020 – Richard Ellington
- 2019 – Gene Foster
- 2018 – Peter Tucker
- 2017 – Neil Nelson
- 2016 – Bessie Meeks
- 2015 – Len Fleet
- 2014 – Lee Rowley
- 2013 – Peggy Upchurch
- 2012 – Frank Van Leer
- 2011 – Frank Van Leer
- 2010 – Jerry Epping
- 2009 – George Gessner
- 2008 – Dona Van Leer
- 2007 – RJ Phillips
- 2006 – Robert Daily
- 2005 – Paul Boggs
- 2004 – Bob Tarte
- 2003 – Dave Brown
- 2002 – Sandy Decker
- 2001 – Gerald Orlick
- 2000 – C. J. Nager
- 1999 – Russ Leinbach
- 1998 – Harold Breitman
- 1997 – Chuck Henry
- 1996 – David Cox
- 1995 – Chuck Davis
- 1994 – Dan Johnson
- 1993 – Dick Lewis
- 1992 – Bruce Thurston
- 1991 – Guy Knouf
- 1990 – Art Aldrich
- 1989 – Byron DeWalt
- 1988 – Lyman Telfer
- 1987 – Mel Nield
- 1986 – Don Stewart
- 1985 – Bob Kennedy
- 1984 – Ed Jones
- 1983 – Colin Browne
- 1982 – Ed Geary
- 1981 – Glen Saunders
- 1980 – Bob Hanna
- 1979 – Howard Erwin
- 1978 – Bill Herring
- 1977 – Dick Berlow
- 1976 – Harvey Watson
- 1975 – Jack Rutter