Sparta Lions who have been with the organization for 25 plus years recently posed for photo during a recent meeting. Pictured are (front row, from left) Harold Hayes, Oscar "Doc" Evans, Allen Reinhardt; (second row) Dr. Keith Oliver, George Sheets, Buck Mitchell and Ed Adams. Not pictured are John Woodruff, Russell Sheets and Exton Dosier.

Sparta Lions celebrate 65th year

In October 1944, the Sparta branch of the Lions Club was organized with 16 members, giving men in the community an opportunity to serve their fellow man through a variety of activities and efforts.

Since being chartered in November 1944 with 12 members, the club has grown significantly. At last count, Sparta Lions membership has topped 60. The numbers compare to the 39 other Lions club in the 13 county area that typically host as many as 45, an average of about 25 and as few as six to eight members.

The Beginning

The Sparta club was organized by J. Barnett Napier and was sponsored by a Lions Club in North Wilkesboro. The first president of the Sparta Lions was Dr. Noah D. Fox and the first secretary treasurer W.O. Hooper.

Buck Mitchell, who has been a Sparta Lion for about 57 years, recalled some of the earlier members included proprietor of B&T Drug Roy Burgiss, Belks Manager Bill Sprinkle, painting contractor Hicks Hash, agriculture teacher Ralph Cheek, Blue Ridge Parkway employee Robert Sparks, Charlie Castevens with the local Chevrolet dealer, Smithey's manager Kern Wagoner, school principal Leff Joines, and Presbyterian minister Richard West.

Providing history of the club, Allen Reinhardt, who has been a Lion since 1981, read information provided in a small booklet celebrating the club's 50th anniversary.

"In 1945 after they chartered, the first thing they did was hold an eye survey in the schools, they conducted a cleanup campaign, erected street signs, did an eradication program and sponsored a musical at the high school," stated Reinhardt. Mitchell added, "One of the first activities was a horse show. That was in ‘46," he recalled. "It was behind Leff Joines' house, about where Food Lion sits now. The reason I know it was in 1946 is we sold raffle tickets and gave away a ‘46 Ford. Back then, new cars were hard to get right after the war. It was easy to sell raffle tickets, and the horse show was very successful. After that one, we started doing one each year and for several years, we had one every year."

Following a short hiatus, the horse show resumed at the high school football field, where it was held until the Alleghany Fairgrounds came to pass, offering a more suitable location for the annual show.

 

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