Lind Lions honor veteran members

Two charter members of the Lind Lions Club, who maintained perfect attendance with the club for 43 years, were honored Wednesday, Dec. 21, with Honorary Lifetime Memberships by the club.

Ruben Fode and Dick Nagamitsu attended the club’s Christmas dinner and were surprised to learn they were being honored as part of the program.

Current Lions Club President Josh Knodel delivered a prepared speech during the dinner, highlighting the long time accomplishments of the two men.

The Lind Lions Club chartered on Dec. 20, 1967, with Fode serving as president during the first and second years. Three times during his service Fode earned the E.K. Teague Inspirational award.

“During the club year, Ruben has also had an important role helping others by organizing the club sponsored blood drawings that have been held at least two times a year,” Knodel said. “His involvement also carried over to the club’s yearly raffle by being one of the top three sellers every year. One year his sales were well over 1,000 tickets.”

Knodel also honored Fode for playing a lead role in the creation of the combine demolition derby.

“Bill Loomis had the resources, and with Ruben’s idea the derby has become a 25-year success,” Knodel said.

Nagamitsu has also been there along the entire way as an active, dedicated member of the club.

He served as the club’s secretary for many years.

He was also zone chairman for two years while continuing to be active with his local club.

Nagamitsu earned the E.K. Teague Inspirational award three times during his 43 years of service.

He is well known in Lind for selling tickets for the club’s annual barbecue.

“Since I was a little kid, I cannot remember a time that Dick and Glady did not greet me with a smile in the barbecue line at the ticket stand,” Knodel said.

Nagamitsu is literally famous in Lind and among members from other Lions Clubs for his Chinese dinners. He prepared and served the meal for the club every year in March.

“This meeting date became one where many clubs from around the area chose to do visitations,” Knodel said. “To this day, I still hear people from around the area ask if Dick still does his special Chinese dinner.”