President	David Hedrick
1st Vice President	Phil Donaldson
2nd Vice President	Pam Horton
3rd Vice President	L. Roe Boyer
Secretary	Ellen Widener
Treasurer	Clarence Crouse
Assistant Treasurer	Ken Brady
Tail Twister	Everett Dukes
Lion Tamer	Lawrence McClintick
Membership	Gil Thadani
Assistant Membership	Ken Brady
Immediate Past President	Marion Adams

As written by Charter Member Leff Joines (Deceased)

During the summer of 1944, there were numerous contacts made to prospective members by State Secretary Marshall Matheny and supported by members of the North Wilkesboro Lions Club, the sponsoring club for Sparta.

Following several organizational meetings, there were twelve men who agreed to become members but was somewhat less in the number than the twenty persons that Lions International requested. Therefore, the by-passing of the rules, permitted the signing of the group to become the Sparta Lions Club and was chartered on October 17th 1944 at a meeting held in the Sparta Community Building.

This Charter was duly signed by the group and now is displayed in the Sparta Lions Club Pavilion as evidence of the good faith of the organized group.

The Club, being a service club, with the motto, “We Serve” began to search for ways and means to raise funds. To project its needs in the community, the Club decided upon two projects – “A Womanless Wedding” and “A Horse Show” as the major fund-raising efforts. Both projects proved a major success. To support the interest in the Horse Show, tickets were sold for a drawing on a Ford automobile to be given as a major prize.

Proceeds of these projects were used to aid the handicapped, in fitting glasses, and to help relieve the needs of the unfortunate. Other supporting projects were found, and funds were raised and used to purchase a tract of eight acres of land that was developed and used as an Athletic Field for the local high school, as well as Lions-sponsored events. Bleachers were also purchased and used for customer convenience.

Six years later, following the development of this property, it was sold to Troutman Industries on which the industry built a manufacturing plant that provided local employment. Sometime later, proceeds from this sale were reinvested in fifteen acres of land near the New River Golf Course. A pavilion was built for Lions meetings and playground constructed and furnished for entertainment and for public use.

A substantial increase in membership was the goal, and additional service projects became a part of the Club’s interest and activities. The Horse Show project was dropped due to a loss of show ground facilities and was replaced by a variety of fund-raising projects, such as the broom sales and other blind-made articles. Musical shows, circuses, and other types of variety shows supplemented the income for needed services.

The Club, through its membership, raised $50,000 to support the construction of the local hospital. In addition to this cause, State and National projects have been supported, such as White Cane for the Blind, Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina, Camp Dogwood, LCIF, Hearing and Deaf work, glaucoma screening and sight work are continuing projects.

Likewise, such local projects as the Fire Department, Boy Scouts, Rescue Squad, Bloodmobile, $500 to aid the local library, only to name a few of the services the Lions have been involved in.

The Lions have had an active part in bringing several industries to Alleghany County, as well as helping develop facilities for recreation and educational growth. To name a few, they had an active part in developing the present Athletic Field, donated bleachers for same, erected enclosure for the field, aided in setting up and distributing furniture for the local hospital, secured a heart monitor for the local hospital, aided in securing an incubator for transporting infants to medical clinics, secured a canister for transporting donated eyes for cornea transplants, which resulted in two successful cornea transplants.