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Gift of time

John Crone and Lions prepare for club’s 27th Annual Turkey Dinner

Photos submitted to Times Observer From left, Lion John Crone with newly-sponsored member David Powell, and Lion’s President Angie Dart with newly-sponsored member Sherry Tune.

The Lions Club has been a fixture in the City of Warren for over 90 years, formed in the early 1920’s like so many other Lions Clubs around the world in that era. There have been hundreds of Warren Lions since the formation of the club, and they’ve logged thousands of service hours in pursuit of Lions Club International goals and community service project objectives.

A third of Warren Lions Club’s members have been Lions for 20 years or more, with a handful marking over 30 years of service. One of Warren Lions Club’s longest and most active members is John Crone, who has been a Lion for over 57 years. When he became a Lion in 1959, DDE was president, a gallon of gas was 25 cents, and Hawaii had just become a state.

John continually gives generously of his time, devoting tens of thousands of volunteer hours over his membership span. For club members, he’s an outstanding example of commitment and leadership, and the go-to guy for questions about Lions history, protocol and process, officer responsibilities, and all other matters Lions-related. He inducts the yearly slate of officers and has sponsored a whopping 57 new club members. His current positions include that of Past District Governor, board member of the Warren Club, 21-year Board President of the PA Lions Hearing Research Foundation, District Parliamentarian, and editor of the Club newsletter

John has served in just about every local and District Lions Club officer position available and has travelled to a dozen states and five countries for Lions functions, including a trip to the Lions convention in New Jersey many years ago when his two young sons carried the Pennsylvania State Lions banner, one of his favorite Lions memories. He’s received countless commendations and awards, including three medals from Lions Club International Presidents, and has had bestowed upon him a PA Lions Fellow Award and a Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, the highest recognition for outstanding contributions to Lions Clubs International and its goals. With all of these accomplishments, it’s easy to see how John Crone has become the face of the Lions in Warren and beyond.

John had already been a Lion for 30 years when the first turkey dinner was held in 1990. Now 27 years later, he and other Lions will once again join together to host this annual event, which has become one of the Lions Club’s most successful fundraisers. The full turkey dinner will be available for eat-in or take-out service and tickets may be purchased in advance by contacting any Lions Club member, or at the door, for $10. The event will take place at St. Joseph’s Recreation Center on Thursday, Jan. 26, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. And if you can make it, you’ll probably spot John Crone there, working tirelessly, just like he has for the last 57 years.

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