Melvin Jones was born on January 13,
1879
in Fort Thomas, Arizona, the son of a United States Army captain who
commanded a troop of scouts. Later, his
father was transferred and the
family moved east. As a young man, Jones made his home in
Chicago,
Illinois, became associated with an insurance firm
and in 1913 formed
his own agency.
He soon joined the Business Circle, a businessmen's luncheon group, and
was shortly elected secretary. This group was one of many at
that time
devoted solely to promoting the financial interests of their
membership. Because of their limited appeal, they were
destined to
disappear. Melvin Jones, however, had other plans.
"What if these men,"
he asked, "who are successful because of their drive, intelligence and
ambition, were to put their talents to work improving their
communities?" Thus, at his invitation, delegates from men's
clubs met
in Chicago to lay the groundwork for such an organization and on June
7, 1917, Lions Clubs International was born. It was
stipulated that
clubs were not to be social in nature nor were members permitted to
promote their own business interests.
Jones eventually abandoned his insurance agency to devote himself full
time to Lions at International Headquarters in Chicago. It
was under
his dynamic leadership that Lions Clubs earned the prestige necessary
to attract civic-minded members.
The association's founder was also recognized as a leader outside the
association. One of his greatest honors was in 1945 when he
represented
Lions Clubs International as a consultant in San Francisco, California,
at the organization of the United Nations.
Melvin Jones, the man whose personal code "You can't get very far until
you start doing something for somebody else" became a guiding principle
for public-spirited people the world over, died June 1, 1961 at 82
years of age.
For
information about the Lions
International Melvin Jones Memorial in Fort Thomas,
Arizona, USA, (see link below).
Melvin Jones was born on January 13,
1879
in Fort Thomas, Arizona, the son of a United States Army captain who
commanded a troop of scouts. Later, his
father was transferred and the
family moved east. As a young man, Jones made his home in
Chicago,
Illinois, became associated with an insurance firm
and in 1913 formed
his own agency.