Kinmundy Lions Club

Kinmundy, Illinois

We are looking for photos of people and/or places from around Kinmundy & Alma. Can you help?

Or maybe you have stories or memories from the "Good Old Days"? What do YOU remember?

The Kinmundy Historical Society would be honored to preserve your memories and stories. We also have the

equipment to scan (or copy) your photos so that they may be enjoyed now as well as for generations yet to come!

We would love to hear from you! For more information, please contact:

Dolores (Ford) Mobley – Dolores@ford-mobley.com

208 Joan Dr.; Divernon, IL 62530; (217) 625-7527

Gladys (Corrie) See – gsee49@yahoo.com

408 S. Washington St.; Kinmundy, IL 62854; (618) 547-7731

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The International Association of Lions Clubs

Kinmundy Charter Members

Established 11-30-1950

Richard Gray

Glenn Cole

Earl Doolen

J.N. Vallow

J.E. Piper

James Garden

P.H. Robnett

Lewis O’Dell

Jesse George

G.E. Shreffler

Kenneth Robb

W.M. Humphrey

Don Colee

Eugene Shufeldt

C.F. Gammon

Cecil Harvey

C.R. Alderson

Walter W. Williams

B.J. Garrett

Rodney H. Schooley

Richard Atkins

Thomas M. Barrett

Dwight J. Alexander

Harvey Hanna

Carl Dunlap

"The Kinmundy Express" - Dec. 14, 1950

"Kinmundy Lion’s Club" - By Helen Garrett

The Kinmundy Lion’s Club was formed November 30, 1950 with twenty-five charter members. Most of the members were businessmen. At that time the town had a lot of thriving businesses. People who lived in Kinmundy bought almost everything locally. Dinners were held at the Grade School gym on the Louisville Road, and new men were invited to join the Lion’s. A vote was taken to accept or not accept new members. The goal of the Lion’s Club has always been to try to better the town in any way it could.

Membership boomed during the 60’s and early 70’s. The Lion’s Club took over the Community Center from the City of Kinmundy in May of 1976. The Lion’s Club closed in the building, added a kitchen, bathrooms, and a meeting room with the help of state grants. They made it available to rent for family get-to-gethers, funeral dinners, blood drives, (which they also sponsored), hearing tests, and a collection site for eye glasses to be given to those needing eye care. Also in 1976, Jim Davis, who moved here with his mother, Mrs. Bertha Davis, a few years before, made an offer to Mrs. Oswald (Buck) Miller to buy the property on the curve for the Lion’s Club Ball Field. He was also instrumental in getting Little League teams organized and coached teams for many years. Jim, although being a bachelor, brought so much enthusiasm to the game of baseball here. He and Cecil Harvey coached one of the early teams. When Jim went to Canada on a fishing trip, he brought each team player a Royal Canadian Mountie pocketknife!

A refreshment stand was built at the ball diamond, overseen by the Lion’s Club, but always run by players’ moms. Each coach was responsible for getting the workers for their games, which most of the time were wives!

The Community Center became a big fundraiser for the Lion’s Club with their decision to host a big Labor Day celebration. At first big cookers were borrowed from the Edgewood Legion, brought down and used to fry chickens at the noon hour. The wives of the Lion’s donated all the rest of the dinner, which consisted of potato salad, slaw, baked beans, iced tea and lemonade. Mr. Jesse George left his grocery store open all day so we could go get anything we needed or ran out of, put it on a bill, and pay later. He also cut up all the chickens for us and sold them for 29 cents a pound! Needless to say, the profits were big! The big vats of oil were emptied after the chicken dinners were served and filled with fresh oil for the evening fish fry. Another crew of ladies came and helped wrap fish sandwiches, which were delicious and always sold out. One of our faithful helpers was always Peggy Harvey. In between the two meals was the parade, starting at 2:00 p.m. There were always lots of beautiful riding horses, teams pulling wagons or buggies, and, of course, ponies with their young riders. Judges were in the bandstand where they had a good view of everything. Trophies were awarded, and the list of winners was always in The Kinmundy Express! People came from near and far for the Labor Day celebration, and so much money was made! After all, almost everything was donated!

The Lioness Club was formed with Louise Feather as its first president. It is still very active and a great help to the Lion’s Club. They host blood drives every year.

The Community Center is known for Senior Dances held here in Kinmundy each Thursday and Friday night. People come from all the area towns including Salem, Patoka, Farina, Alma, Edgewood, and Flora.

Clarence Alderson bought the Lion out in front of the Community Center after a fire in his real estate office on Madison Street damaged the first one, a paper-mache one. It is sturdy enough to last forever.

Kinmundy Lions Club - Citizens of the Year

Photos and articles thru the years from "The Kinmundy Express"

Kinmundy Lions Club - Ballpark History

Lions Field on the west side of Kinmundy - 1962

Kinmundy Lions Club - Additional Articles about organization and projects

Information and Articles about Kinmundy Lions Club