Please view the 85th anniversary program, plus many photos from Feb. 19 at the bottom of this story.

“We Serve.”

Yes, they do. The Bluffton Lions Club’s motto stands for its four score and five years of service to the community. The club’s 85th anniversary celebration on Feb. 19 at First Mennonite Church, marked the event.

David Gauch, Windham, Ohio, past Lions council chairman, who has held several Lions offices, was the dinner speaker.

The event looked back and forward as information was shared that the club chartered on Feb. 19, 1944, with 19 members – all men. Today the club has 64 members, including men and women.

Over its 85-year-history the club has many community highlights. Among those in its early years include sponsor of a chest X-ray program, erecting street markers in Bluffton, creation the Bluffton community calendar and organizing annual basketball holiday tournaments.

In recent years the club is the driving force behind the Bluffton pathway program with plans to eventually encircle the village with a path for pedestrians and bikers.

It has presented dictionaries to Bluffton third graders, conducted eye screening of pre-school and Kindergarteners, presented glasses for children and others who have limited funds, plus provided donations and support for nearly every program in the community, and launching the annual Bluffton citizen of the year award.

Two of its members served as District Governors. Those two have included Barbara Plaugher and the late Forrest Steinman.

Past Zone chairs have included Richard Boehr, Richard Ramseyer, Barbara Plaugher the late James Szabo.

Charter members of the club were I.B. Beeshy, Gordon Bixel, M.R. Bixel, N.E. Byers, Raymond Conrad, Eli Deppler, F.A. Hofer, J. Norman King, A.E. Kreider, Russell A. Lantz, E.S. Lape, A.E. Lichtenwalter, A.J.B. Longsdorf, S.K. Mosiman, Forrest Steinman, Paul Stauffer, J.S. Steiner, Orden Smucker and D.B Smucker.

CLICK ON IMAGES BELOW TO ENLARGE