Temple, Bell County
The city of Temple arose from a sparse blackland prairie into a railroad boomtown in the 1880s. Within a generation, a nucleus of railroad workers and stores and businesses built to serve them gave way to a diverse population and economy with many homes, businesses, schools and churches. To promote and improve their businesses and their cities, merchants established commercial clubs and chambers of commerce in the early twentieth century. In the spring of 1917, George M. Cunningham of Houston, a Lions Club National Officer, spent several days in temple. He enlisted the aid of two temple businessmen, real estate agent Henry K. Orgain and insurance executive William J. Bassett, to launch the city’s club. The organization held its first meeting in a downtown hotel on May 30, 1917, with banker Pinckney Downs presiding as temporary president. Early club minutes document that members were interested in community cleanliness and appearance, patriotism and high ideals for membership. Projects included the sale of liberty bonds during World War I, cleanup campaigns for beautification and public health, and fundraising for children and the visually impaired. The largest project the club undertook was the creation and continued development of the 100-acre Temple Lions Park. The temple founder Lions Club remains a strong group in temple and continues to give back to the community with funds raised from the annual follies variety show, auctions, raffles and golf tournaments. Throughout its existence, the Lions have worked with other civic organizations to accomplish large-scale projects. With special attention to neighbors in need, the Lions Club has endeavored to improve temple’s spirit of cooperation and its quality of life.