Lions District 2-A1, the A-1 District!

In 1959, District 2-A1 was created out of the original Texas 2-A which contained 58 Texas counties covering 70,806 square miles. Districts 2-A2 and 2-A3 were created at the same time. When 2-A1 was created, it had 54 clubs and 2800 members. The original District 2-A started on the Gulf Coast where District "S" left off and ran southward to the tip of Texas at Brownsville, the farthest south that Lionism extended in the USA. The district boundary then followed the Rio Grande westward for about one-half of the Texas-Mexico border. It contained one Founders' Club--- San Antonio

The first Mid-Winter Conference was held at the San Angelo Country Club. The first District 2A-1 Convention was held in Colorado City, for the purpose of electing the first District 2-A1 Governor, and organizing the District, which is the 3rd largest in size in the state. Lion J.W. Jones of San Angelo, was elected the first District Governor of 2-A1.

Lions Club International was founded in Chicago, Illinois in the year 1917 by insurance agent Melvin Jones. Lions are recognized for their services to the blind, the visually impaired, and other charitable causes such as diabetic awareness for children. This service began when American author and lecturer Helen Keller, deaf and blind since infancy, challenged the Lions at the 1925 International Convention to become her "Knights of the Blind in the crusade against darkness." Lions International is both non-political and non-sectarian. It is the world's largest service organization.

Born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, USA, in 1880, Helen Keller developed a fever at 18 months of age that left her blind and deaf.

With the help of an exceptional teacher, Anne Mansfield Sullivan of the Perkins School for the Blind, Helen Keller learned sign language and braille. A few years later, she learned to speak. As an adult she became a tireless advocate for people with disabilities. And in 1925, she attended the Lions Clubs International Convention and challenged Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness."

The Lions accepted her challenge and our work ever since has included sight programs aimed at preventable blindness.

Helen Keller Day

In 1971, the Board of Directors of Lions Clubs International declared that June 1 would be remembered as Helen Keller Day. Lions around the world implement sight-related service projects on Helen Keller Day.