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Bill Wells of Spindale was a young 37-year-old man when he joined the Rutherfordton Lions Club 50 years ago. When the club met recently, Bill was recognized for his half century of service with the Rutherfordton Lions. During those years he served as club president twice and held all the other offices of the club at one time or another.
"I will be there 'til I die," Bill said of his interest and loyalty to the club and its mission.
"He is the true meaning of what a Lions Club member represents," said Ricky Ledbetter, Lions Club president.
"He is involved with many different things in the community and has been a mentor to me in the 10 years I have been involved. He is always willing to help," Ricky said of Bill.
Bill came to Rutherford County in 1972 with Duke Power after he received a position with Duke Power. Don Charles, who was at Duke Power at the time, but was having to retire due to his health, invited Bill to attend a Lions Club meeting. Bill joined and has been there ever since.
Bill chuckled when he said of the club, "We're known as an all-old-man's club" these days as the younger generations aren't joining service clubs because of family obligations.
"We have 13 active members," he added.
Bill talked about the work of the Lions Club, the reason he joined and the reason he's still a member.
The Lions Club provides glasses, eye exams, doctor appointments and other needs for those in Rutherford County and all over the world.
The Lions Club also assists with simple home renovations in the community for visually impaired residents who can't do the work.
The Club supports five churches in the county that provide food and other necessities in their respective communities.
Years ago, the Lions Club members sold candy and brooms at traffic stops in Rutherfordton to help raise money
But as the members grew older, they decided to sponsor golf tournaments to help raise money, knowing it would be safer for all involved.
The club hopes to sponsor a second golf tournament this fall.
There are several locations in the county where the Lions Club members have drop-off boxes where the public can place eyeglasses they can no longer use.
"When people have their prescriptions changed, they give us their glasses and they are sent to Third World Countries," Bill said.
Just a few years ago this area of North Carolina and part of South Carolina sent more than 85,000 glasses to help the visually impaired across the world.
There are eyeglass collection boxes at McMahan's Funeral Home in Rutherfordton, at Habitat for Humanity's offices on West Main Street in Forest City and other areas.
The eyeglasses are taken to Camp Dogwood at Lake Norman where they are packed and shipped.
Camp Dogwood is a free camp for visually impaired during two months of the summer. There is no charge for campers, also thanks to the support of Lions clubs.
When Bill retired from Duke Power in 1994 he began the very next day volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in Rutherford County. He is still helping to build Habitat homes in Spindale and across the county each Tuesday and Wednesday.
He enjoys his Habitat work and of the Lions Club, he added, "I love the fellowship,the people and we have fun."
Bill is a member of Spencer Baptist Church. He came to Rutherford County with his wife, the late Peggy Wells, and their family.
