COVINGTON LIONS
                     CLUB HISTORY

HISTORY OF THE COVINGTON LIONS CLUB, GEORGIA DISTRICT 18F

The International Association of Lions Club of Covington, GA., was chartered by the International Association of Lions Clubs on June 18, 1952. The charter lists 50 Lions. The charter was witnessed by the signatures of R. Roy Keaton, Director General and E.W. Eibert, International President.

The Covington Club was sponsored by the Oxford Lions Club. The charter President was Lion Neal Banks who continued to be an active member until his death on March 22, 1996.

The club is organized in accordance with guidelines from Lions International.  It meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at the Lions Pavilion at Academy Springs Park on Conyers Street in Covington.

In the early years the club was not able to meet at the pavilion during the winter months due to the lack of heating. Meetings were held at Henderson’s Restaurant during cold weather. In the early 1970’s, heat and a ceiling were installed and plywood shutters, which could be opened during warm weather, covered the screened exterior. Since that time, the pavilion has been the meeting place year around.

The Covington Lions Club has always helped the needed of Covington & Newton County with eye exams and glasses with children and elderly getting top priority. The club also heavily supports the Georgia Lighthouse, the Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind, White Cane, Leader dog, Georgia Unit for the Blind & Dyslexic, LCIF, The Georgia Lions All State Band, Girls & Boys State and a scholarship for a graduating senior from Newton County High School and from Eastside High School.

In the early years, the Covington club bought, installed and maintained the playground equipment at Academy Springs Park, The Little Red School House on Newton Drive and picnic park established on Route 278 near what is now the Newton Plaza Shopping Center.  In the early 1980’s the Academy Springs Park was turned over to the City of Covington and the Clean Community Committee for Renovation.

To raise money for projects, the club has tried many activities including womanless beauty pageants, haunted houses, pavilion rental, raffles, Cracker Jack sales, etc. In 1972 the club began a now long standing and much anticipated chicken barbecue the raises enough money each year to allow the club to meet it’s charitable obligations. Sales have grown from 600 plates in 1972 to over 3000 plates per year.

After the pavilion was nearly destroyed during a thunderstorm in 1977, the club appealed to the community for assistance in its reconstruction. Businesses and individuals from all around Newton County poured money and time into the rebuilding of the “new” Neal Banks Pavilion. A new roof and air conditioning were the major improvements.