WHEATON LIONS CLUB CONFERS Melvin Jones Fellow Humanitarian Award To Lions Ed Green and Joe Magill
January 19, 2010

Wheaton Lions Club has awarded the Melvin Jones Fellow Humanitarian Award to long time members of the Club, Lions Ed Green and Joe Magill. Past-President Keith Carlson made the presentation. Ed Green joined the Wheaton Lions in 1962 and Joe Magill joined in 1963. Ed was Joe's sponsor.

Lions Ed Green and Joe Magill with their Melvin Jones plaques awarded to them during the regular meeting January 19, 2010 by Lion Keith Carlson, who is shown holding the master plaque with engraved names of the other Lions who have earned the award.

WHEATON LIONS CLUB CONFERS Melvin Jones Fellow Humanitarian Award To Lion Cleve Carney
December 15, 2009

Wheaton Lions Club has awarded the Melvin Jones Fellow Humanitarian Award to Lion Cleve Carney, long time member of the Club. President Lion Tony Ladd read the following statement, composed by Past-President Keith Carlson:

Our President Lion Tony Ladd conferring the Melvin Jones Fellow Humanitarian Award to Lion Cleve Carney. Lion Keith Carlson, past President, read the message he composed during the presentation:

"The Melvin Jones award is named after the founder of Lions International. It is the highest honor awarded by the Lions. The award recognizes a commitment to humanitarian service and excellence in Lionism. Cleve Carney has been a member of the Wheaton Lions club since 1970. Cleve is well known for his golf prowess. Cleve has been on more boards of directors of charities and president of more organizations than anyone I have ever known. Cleve was owner of Olson Roofing company and is now retired. He is currently a professional philanthropist. I am proud to present the Melvin Jones award to our 40 year member, Cleve Carney"

Lion Dr. Terri Lightbody awarding Lion Dorothy Troyer

Life was good with Clarence…….

By Lion Dr. Tracy Williams

In 1988, the Deicke Center for Visual Rehabilitation, now known as Spectrios Institute for Low Vision, was blessed by Dorothy and Clarence Troyer. Dorothy became the Center’s rehabilitation teacher and later Director of Development.

Clarence immediately offered his services as a volunteer, bringing his skills as a business manager. Clarence was devoted to Dorothy and her career. He was determined to see our mission succeed and volunteered wherever needed. Clarence excelled in preparing budgets, managing day-to-day operations and assisting staff members. Any given week, Clarence could be seen volunteering as our receptionist, assisting Dorothy in the Development Department, preparing financials for a Board Meeting or even driving a patient to the train station. Clarence often averaged 40 hours a week and worked with great energy, enthusiasm and tremendous skill.

His example made many positive things happen over a twenty-year period. Many stories could be told about his influences and actions. Of note, were his international fundraising trips to Saudi Arabia, France and Canada. Because Clarence was always interested helping others, he went on a mission trip to India to assist with the setup of a low vision clinic.

Few realized his humble beginnings nor his congenital vision loss which did not stop him from leading a very full and successful life. He represented a true American story and we were fortunate to have him with us as a volunteer and special friend.

Clarence Troyer’s legacy will live on. Our Volunteer of the Year Award, which is given annually, bears his name. Our Business Office is dedicated to both Dorothy and Clarence Troyer for their outstanding devotion to the Spectrios Institute. Dorothy Troyer remains a faithful volunteer and is a past recipient of the Clarence E. Troyer Volunteer of the Year award.

Clarence would always say “life is good” and so it was, and will be, thanks to people like Clarence.

May 28, 2009

LION Michael T. Williams

Michael T. Williams

Family, friends and colleagues reflect with fondness and joy on memories of Glen Ellyn resident, Michael Thomas Williams. Born June 4, 1940, he died May 28, 2009. Mike departed this life leaving devoted wife, Jan (Schmieder); loving children, Donald (Alyssa), Joanna Williams-Angelos, (Phil), Amy (Dave) Englehardt, Neil (Christina) Schmieder, Michelle (Mark) Fiore and Brandy (Nick) Oostman; grandchildren, Chloe and Emma Williams, Lindsay, Rylann and Luke Williams-Angelos, Melanie Englehardt, Evangeline and Adelaide Schmieder, Sabina and Sienna Fiore and Daniel Oostman. Mike is also survived by his caring sister, Mary Landreth, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Harry Williams; and sister, Elizabeth Gnaedinger. Mike is also survived by his partners in Williams Architects and Williams Construction Management, especially longtime associate and collaborator, Larry Kmiecik, and many friends in the Illinois Park and Recreation community, which the Carol Stream firm that Mike founded served for many years. Mike will be missed by many, but his legacy will reach many more. Mike always had a fun story to tell and was the life of the party. His annual golf outings, Illinois Parks Conference gatherings and Cosley Park Barn fundraisers were wonderful celebrations. Mike served as a mentor and father figure to several architects, builders, friends and relatives. He was giving of his time and a leader in several community organizations from the Lions Club and the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association to the Wheaton Jaycees and Wheaton Youth Baseball. Mike grew up in Oak Park, Ill., where he was influenced by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, choosing the field of architecture for a career. He earned a bachelor of architecture with honors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, an accomplishment followed by an academic scholarship through which he attained a Master of Architecture in 1964 from The University of Pennsylvania studying under Louis Kahn. While at the University of Illinois, Mike was a member of the Gargoyle Scholastic Honor Society and the Scarab Architectural Society, was recipient of the James M. White Award, and belonged to the Sigma Chi fraternity. Mike also attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Mike began his career in Philadelphia before returning to Chicago where he worked for a number of architecture firms before establishing the Wheaton-based partnership Williams-Pollock Associates. After several years of growth, Mike founded Williams Architects in 1994, and followed with the introduction of an affiliate construction management company. Under Mike's leadership Williams Architects and Williams Construction Management served more than 160 park districts, private clubs and recreation departments in Illinois and elsewhere. Since its inception, Williams Architects has focused on designing public facilities to serve the community. Notable area buildings designed by the firm include the Lisle Village Hall and Police Station, the Barrington Village Hall and Public Safety Building, the Rice Community Center and Pool in Wheaton, the Bartlett Community Center, the Glenview Park Center, and the 185,000-square-foot Centre of Elgin, which has been featured on an Art Institute of Chicago tour. Other significant projects are Lisle's Sea Lion Pool, Woodridge's Cypress Cove Water Park, the Downers Grove Recreation & Fitness Center, the Wheaton Park District's Park Services Center, Barrington Citizens Park, and significant additions to St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Glen Ellyn and Gary Memorial United Methodist Church in Wheaton.

Many projects designed by the firm have been recognized with industry awards. Most notably, the Centre of Elgin was recognized with an American Public Works Association Facility of the Year Over $20M award in 2003; a 2003 Chicago Building Congress Merit Award: Finalist for New Construction - Suburbs; and a 2003 Illinois Park and Recreation Association Outstanding Facility and Parks Award. Another multiple award-winning project was the addition to St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Glen Ellyn. The project was recognized by the Illinois-Indiana Masonry Council with the "Best Religious Award" in 2004, and was the recipient of the Village of Glen Ellyn Architectural Review Commission's "Traveling Trophy" in 2003.

Mike himself was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence by the Business Ledger. Mike's belief in community service inspired his participation in a number of civic and charitable organizations. He served on a Village of Carol Stream advisory committee, was a member of the City of Wheaton's Public Building Commission, and the School District 200 (Wheaton Warrenville) Board, served on Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Central Business District Study and Planning and Development committees, and was chairman of the Wheaton Plan Commission.

Mike was a member of the board of directors of the Friends of West Chicago Parks Foundation and the Lisle Park District Partners for Parks, as well as a trustee of the Bartlett Parks Foundation. He served as the president of the Wheaton Lions Club, was a member of the University of Illinois Sigma Chi Fraternity Corporation board, and was president of the Cosley Zoo Foundation board for more than 20 years. Under his leadership, the Foundation raised nearly $4 million for improvements to the park. Mike also served on the boards of directors of Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital and the Deicke Center for Visual Rehabilitation.

He was a member of the American Institute of Architects, the Wheaton Jaycees and The Conservation Foundation, and served on the Citizens Advisory Council of the League of Women Voters. In 1995 Mike was recognized with a Service to Youth award by the B.R. Ryall YMCA in Glen Ellyn. Mike was named as a life member of the National Register of Who's Who, 1999 Edition.

And, in March 2009 Mike was inducted into the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association Foundation's Hall of Fame, in acknowledgment of his outstanding record of service to the cause of creating accessible recreational opportunities for all. Arrangements were made by Toynton Funeral Home, Walworth, Wis.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. July 17, at Gary Memorial United Methodist Church, Main Street and Seminary Avenue, Wheaton. In lieu of flowers, the Williams family asks that memorials be made to The Cosley Foundation, 1356 Gary Ave., Wheaton, IL 60187, 630-665-5534 or the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association Foundation, 116 N. Schmale Road, Carol Stream, IL 60188, www.wdsra.com.

Published in the Chicago Suburban Daily Herald from 6/7/2009 - 6/8/2009

LION George Newitt was celebrated at the Spectrios Gala in May, 2009, for earning the honor of “Partner with Vision” by the Spectrios Institute for Low Vision.

LION Ruth Carlson was voted Citizen of the Year by the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce. As you may recall, Ruth heroically lead her employees to safety during a hostage taking event late last year.

Dr. Terri Lightbody of Hearing Specialists of DuPage appeared on WGN television

Dr. Terri Lightbody of Hearing Specialists of DuPage appeared on WGN television mid-day news program. Dr. Lightbody was asked to appear as an expert on hearing loss. The medical segment was about noise induced hearing loss and I-Pod usage.

LION Keith Carlson, left, won the coveted Pink Golf Shoe award for selling the most raffle tickets at our 2008 Christmas Auction Bash. That is our Wheaton Lion President Jim Atten presenting.

LION Mike Gresk, who also happens to be Wheaton’s Mayor, has been instrumental in bringing approximately 400 employees to a new five story building in Downtown Wheaton. Along with that project, we now enjoy a new parking deck at Willow Avenue and Cross Street.

LION Dr. Tracy Williams appeared in an article in the Wheaton Leader, Thursday, January 15, 2009 about his work as executive director of Spectrios Institute of Low Vision, formally called Deicke Center for Visual Rehabilitation.

Lion President Jim Atten presented Past President Lion Dr. Terri Lightbody with a LIONS International pin award recognizing Lion Terri for increasing our den’s membership during her reign as President last fiscal year.

Wine Festival A Great Success

Our third annual Wine Festival membership party was held November 13, 2008, in the historic Wheaton Grand Theater. Thanks to Lion Ray Shepardson, who is director of the mammoth renovation project, all the guest and members enjoyed a wonderful event in a classic venue.

A letter from the Deike Center:
Hi Lion President Terri,
On behalf of the Deicke Center Staff and Board Members, I wanted to express our deep appreciation to you and the Wheaton Lions Club for your strong support of our 4th Annual Gala and our mission. We were all touched by Dorothy’s words that night and touched by the many Wheaton Lions who were present. The program add placed by the Wheaton Lion’s Club was so special to all of us and the generous check given that night was the icing on the cake. Where would we be without your great support? Many, many thanks to you and the Wheaton Lions!!!!!!
Regards, Lion Tracy

LION Dorothy Troyer Honored as Volunteered of the Year by
The Deicke Center

I can't tell you how honored I feel to be a recipient of the Clarance Troyer Volunteer award. Clarence and I have teamed up to do a lot of interesting things in the 56 years we have been married, but receiving this award has to be our most unique event ever.

Volunteering at the Deicke Center is unique. There are 26 Deicke volunteers and every hour we spend volunteering at the Deicke Center means that someone on the Deicke Staff is freed up to give direct service to persons who are struggling with severe vision loss. As volunteers, we too are helping to improve the quality of life for others and that gives a very special purpose to all our lives. That's an award we all receive every time we volunteer.

Thank you, Deicke Staff and Deicke Board of Directors for this wonderful evening and for giving both Clarence and me the opportunity to be Deicke volunteers. You have made us feel very loved and appreciated and very blessed.

I would really like to thank the Wheaton Lions for their generosity to the Deicke Center. I'm sure that Lions Tracy Williams, Mike Williams, and George Newitt are as grateful as I am that our own club is so supportive.

The Deicke Center for Visual Rehabilitation is an Illinois, not-for-profit whose mission is: “To provide the visually impaired with the tools and training necessary to maximize their vision and function independently at home, at school, at work, and within the community at large.” Deicke provides a comprehensive program for people, of all ages, with Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, Glaucoma, and other Low Vision Impairments. That is why we Wheaton Lions have made the Deicke Center our prime benefactor of our fund raising activities. For more information about the Deicke Center, log on to http://www.deicke.org

January 10, 2008

In memory of LION Tom Yule

Nuclear physicist's work was on the cutting edge

Right from the start of his career as an experimental physicist, Thomas J. Yule worked in cutting-edge technologies.

From his early work in nuclear reactor physics at Argonne National Laboratory to his later work with its Strategic Defense Initiative, or Star Wars project, he was considered an expert by his peers, and a mentor to his coworkers.

Now his colleagues are joining family members in mourning his passing. Mr. Yule died Jan. 10. The St. Charles resident was 67.

"In the early part of his career, he was seen as an expert in the instrumentation areas and helped developed the most sensitive of their type in the reactor program," says his colleague Brad Micklich, a radiation physicist and former professor of nuclear engineering and bioengineering at the University of Illinois.

Mr. Yule grew up on Chicago's Northwest side, where his father ran a cigar stand and his mother worked as a secretary. Both promoted education for their two sons.

"Right from the start, they could see that Tom was exceptionally bright," says his wife, Lee. "They saw great promise in him, and they took great pride in his accomplishments."

Mr. Yule attended Loyola Academy in Wilmette before earning a degree in physics and minor in philosophy at John Carroll University in Cleveland. He completed his postgraduate work, a master's and doctorate in physics, at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Family members say he chose to work at Argonne, one of the U.S. Department of Energy's largest research centers because of its proximity to Chicago and his family. It's near where Cook, DuPage and Will counties touch.

When he started in 1968, he worked in Argonne's project of developing nuclear reactors for peaceful purposes. Within three years, he was named chief investigator for a series of projects funded by the government's Office of Health and Environmental Research to detect radioactive substances.

One project led to the most sensitive monitor for airborne radioactive plutonium in the workplace, while the other led to a monitor for airborne tritium that distinguishes between its gaseous and water vapor form Both discoveries led to patents, Micklich adds.

In the 1980s, Mr. Yule switched gears and began working with the laboratory's Star Wars project. Specifically, he worked in its accelerator program, which worked to develop a particle beam that could detect an attack by nuclear ballistic missiles.

Mr. Yule spent the last part of his 34-year career at Argonne in administration, including managing its Decontamination and Decommissioning program for nuclear materials.

"He always said he enjoyed his years as an experimental physicist the best, where he got to try new things," his wife adds.

Besides his wife,Lee, Mr. Yule is survived by his daughters, Adrienne (Todd) of Denver, Colo., and Sharon Yule of New York City, as well as his brother, Rick (Donna) Yule, and his stepson, Andy (Amanda) Anderson, and a stepdaughter, Susan (Paul Gryglas) Anderson. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jean, and his parents.

Visitation took place at 10 a.m. Friday, January 18, 2008 before an 11 a.m. memorial service at St. Matthew United Church of Christ, 1420 S. Gables Blvd. in Wheaton.

Lion Harold Gaede Receives City Award

In recognition of their 53 years of doing business in Wheaton, Mayor Gresk presented a proclamation to Harold and Joan Gaede making Jan. 7, 2008, Harold and Joan Gaede Day in Wheaton. Harold Gaede opened a downtown Wheaton clothing store in 1954 that became Gaede’s Clothing Store. The proclamation recognized the Gaedes’ service to the community professionally and privately.

Link to City of Wheaton's website showing Harold and Joan receiving their award for 53 years of service.

http://www.wheaton.il.us/Announceme/Council-Me/2008-Highl/01-07-08original.htm_cvt.htm

Our President, Lion Dr. Terri Lightbody presented our Secretary Lion Bob Clavel with an award for sponsoring more than two members

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