Lions Clubs International was founded by a group of civic-minded men led by Chicago insurance agent Melvin Jones, who believed that business clubs should focus on community service as well as professional networking. That vision gave rise to the organization’s enduring motto: “We Serve.” Today, Lions Clubs International is the largest service organization in the world, with over 1.4 million members in 49,000 clubs serving 210 countries and geographic areas.

The first Lions Clubs International Convention was held in Dallas, Texas in October 1917, attended by representatives from 29 clubs—including 12 from Texas: Abilene, Austin, Beaumont, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Paris, Port Arthur, San Antonio, Temple, Waco, and Wichita Falls. These clubs are proudly recognized today as the Founders Clubs.

The organization’s first international officers were:

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

• D. H. Lewis (Dallas, Texas) – Vice President

• Melvin Jones (Chicago, Illinois) – Secretary/Treasurer

• C. H. Kirk (Houston, Texas) – Director

Texas became known as District 2 within Lions International. From its early start with 12 clubs, the state grew rapidly—reaching 242 clubs and 8,414 members by 1930. To manage this growth, Texas was divided into five districts: T, E, X, A, and S. Continued expansion led to additional divisions, and in 1959–60, District 2-S2 was split into 2-S2 and 2-S4, creating what we now know as District 2-S4.

David A. Evans of Houston was named the first District Governor of 2-S4 and later went on to become International President during the 1968–69 Lions year.

Today, Texas has 16 districts, each led by a District Governor. These 16 Governors form the Council of Governors, which oversees state-level programs such as leadership training, convention coordination, and the operation of 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.