On the club's Charter Night, 55 years ago, there were 29 Wolcott area men who pledged their support to Lionism--then and now the largest service club in the world.  Many readers will remember these names as major leaders in our community. 

They included several local business owners, two dentists, two Wolcott automobile dealers, the Wolcott hotel owner,  the newspaper editor, one of the owners and the accountant at the O&C Canning Factory,  a couple farmers, fruit growers, dairymen and a Town Supervisor, the International Harvester Dealer, the longtime owner-operator of a fresh produce company, the owner of a major chain food store, a long time local attorney,  four owners and employees of separate lumber and hardware stores, the Presbyterian Pastor, a long time high school shop teacher and lawnmower dealer, and some other local employees.

They were:  Mike Alteri, Art Appleton, Dr. Leon Bidwell, Leo Bissonette, Alex Bentley, G. Benton Burden, Harold Carpenter, Charles Coman, John C. Donnelly, Winifred "Bud" Fisher,  Kenneth Forshee, Russell Freer, James Galvin, John Guelfi, Chester Stell, Raymond Hallett, Eugene P. Haughey, Carl L. Katz, Robert Kerr, Paul Manning, Dr. Herb Mason, Walter Maricle, Wilfrid Nixon, Louis Pagano, Harold Payne, Glenn Resue, Anthony "Bud" Russell, Rev. James Scotland.  

Since that  night in  1953, Wolcott Lions have been firmly dedicated to the motto of Lions International: “We Serve.”