Page 18 - Lions Link 5-18

Oak Cliff Lions Club Presents 40th Annual Humanitarian Award
The Oak Cliff Lions Club presented the 40th annual Humanitarian Award to the founder of the award, Past President and Past District Governor Bill Melton. The former Dallas County treasurer (1977-2002), Melton is a resident of Cedar Hill.
Melton has chaired the Boards of Directors of Goodwill Industries of Dallas, WRR Radio (City of Dallas Radio Commission), First United Methodist Church of Dallas; Dallas Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce, Oak Cliff YMCA, Oak Cliff Lions Clubs, and the Dallas Chamber of Commerce Membership Committee and Lasso Club. He also served as District Governor of Lions Clubs International.
He served on the Advisory Committee of “A Conversation with a
Living Legend,” an annual Celebrity Luncheon benefiting the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He also emceed the event from its inception in 1990 until his retirement on the 25th Anniversary of the “Conversation” in 2014.
Melton’s leadership has earned him numerous awards including “Five Outstanding Young Texans;” “Outstanding Young Man of Dallas;” George Washington Honor Medal; Liberty Bell Award; Lions “Ambassador of Goodwill,” the highest Award of Lions Clubs International, “Lion of the Year;” Texas Lions "Hall of Fame;" SMU “Honorary Letterman” Award and “Mustang Service Award;” Masonic "Community Builder Award" to a non-Mason; Honorary Referee, 2012 Texas Relays; Texas Track & Field Coaches Association Inaugural "Hall of Fame;" USA Track & Field Southwestern Association "Track Official of the Year;" Sanger Trophy Presentation honoring Sunset High School Distinguished Alumni; SMU Centennial History Maker Award; Imperial Constantinian Military Order of St. George; and M. D. Anderson Cancer
Lion PDG Bill MNelton (Center) recieves award from PDG Lion Darla Wisdom (left) and OCLC President Lion John McCall Jr. (right)
Center Service Award.
Melton has emceed the Grand Opening of the State Fair of Texas for 23 years and emceed the Dallas Veteran's Day Salute for 11 years until 2012. He was also Emcee for Dallas' Official American Revolution Bi-Centennial Celebration at Old City Park in 1976, Dallas' Official Texas Sesquicentennial Celebration at Fair Park in 1986, and the Dedication and Re- Dedication of Dallas' Old Red Courthouse as a Texas Historical Landmark in 1977 and as a Museum of Dallas' History in 2007, all Historical Moments in Dallas History.
“Bill Melton originated this award forty years ago. But, more important than that, for over fifty years Bill has been the heart and soul of the Oak Cliff Lions Club and a leader in Lionism at the
district and state levels. Throughout his life, Bill has exemplified the personal and professional characteristics that were established forty years ago as the qualifications for recipients of the Humanitarian Award. Bill is richly deserving of this award,” said Past District Governor Wayne Meachum.
(Continued next page)
VOLUME 28 ISSUE 11 / MAY 2018
PAGE 18