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By Erin Stubblefield
CUBA–Lion Henry Hayes has helped his community for many years through the Cuba Lions Club, and on Monday, June 25, he was awarded for 54 years of perfect attendance to all chapter meetings.
But Henry’s history in the International Lions Club dates back farther than 1953. Henry joined the West Plains Lions Chapter in 1946 when he and his wife Audrey lived and worked in the West Plains area.
“Lions Club International is the best service organization anywhere,” Hayes commented. “They do so many things to help the community. Other organizations come and go, but the Lions keep serving the community.”
Shortly after he became a member, Hayes began taking leadership positions in the club.
The “Tail Twister” keeps harmony and peace in a chapter during meetings. And to keep the meetings light, the Tail Twister has the ability to fine members for silly reasons, such as wearing matching socks.
As the West Plains Tail Twister, Lion Hayes never fell short of this duty, and he always tried to provide humor during every meeting.
One such occasion arose when Mr. C.C. Wilferd, a famous radio station announcer, attended a West Plains Lions Club meeting as the guest speaker. Hayes secretly provided Wilfred with a necktie before the meeting started. When Wilfred was giving his speech, Hayes stopped him mid-sentence, saying that neckties weren’t permitted.
He marched to the front of the room to cut if off. As Wilfred “began to fume,” West Plains members began to grumble and complain. Wilfred couldn’t contain his laughter, and all members joined in, realizing the joke that had been played.
Hayes was introduced to the Cuba community in 1950, after accepting a job offer in the area. He would drive back to West Plains on the weekends to be with family, but attending all Lions Club meetings became a challenge with his long work weeks in Cuba.
Three years later, a Lions Club International chapter was chartered in Cuba, and Calvin Squires asked Hayes to serve as a charter member.
Hayes thoroughly enjoyed participating in the service organization, and gladly accepted the offer. He has maintained impeccable attendance since his membership induction, and any meetings missed in Cuba were quickly made up by attending the meeting of a different Lions chapter somewhere else.
Hayes’ involvement in Lions Club only increased when he was elected to serve as a board member of the newly-launched chapter. Through the years, his fellow members elected him to also serve as club president, secretary, and treasurer.
In November of 1998, Lion Henry Hayes was selected by fellow members to receive the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award in recognition of his commitment to humanitarian work. This is the highest honor a club can bestow upon a member who represents humanitarian qualities such as generosity, compassion, and concern for others.
“Henry is always willing to help,” current president Harold Halbert said. “He gladly participates in all of our fundraisers and community service activities.”
And in 2005, Lion Hayes lent a hand to the Cuba Lions Club when he and his wife donated their half of the building at 110 Buchanan Street in Cuba to be used as the Cuba Lions Club’s permanent den.
The club members in Cuba then voted to advance Lion Hayes to lifetime membership standing within Lions Clubs International.
The annual installation of officers and the induction of three new members took place on June 27, 2007, with Lion John Stalling from Pacific presiding over the ceremony.
“Being a Lion is one of the best invitations I have ever received,” Stalling said during his speech. And to wrap up the evening, Stalling honored Lion Henry Hayes for attending over 2,700 meetings since 1953.
“We Serve” is the motto for Lions Club International, and Lion Henry Hayes has gone above and beyond his call of duty by serving—with an impeccable attendance record—for more than half a century.
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