Lions International Trading Pin Club

Meet Your Officers

Jerry E. Townsend, PCC

Mississippi

Lion Jerry Townsend joined the Meridian, Mississippi Lions Club in  October of 1970 and  has served his club in all the offices except Tail Twister. He was a 100% President in 1977-1978, and has been serving as Secretary/Treasurer since 1983. Lion Jerry has received the 100% Secretary award several times. Lion Jerry has 34 years of perfect attendance. While serving as President, he established the "Lion of the Year" award,and has  received that award in 1981-1982. He was presented a Melvin Jones Fellow by the Meridian Lions Club in 1990, and received the Master Advancement Key for sponsoring more than 25 new members.

Not only has Lion Jerry been active in his local Club, he has also been very active on the State level. He served on the organizational committee for the Hearing Impaired Program in 1977. In 1978-79 he served as Cabinet Secretary and as a 100% District Governor in 1979-1980. He has served as President of the Lions Sight Foundation of Mississippi, and chaired many of the State committees, including the Mississippi Lions Eye Bank. He has received many District and Multiple Districts Appreciation Awards and Certificates.  Lion Jerry received the International President’s Award in 1985, and in 2005, received the International Leadership Award. He has received several LCI Certificates of Appreciation since becoming a Lion.

Lion Jerry attended his first LCI convention in 1977 in New Orleans, Louisiana, where became interested in pin trading.  He joined the LITPC in 1980 and the race was on to find Friendship pins. With the help of PDG Bob Ganss and many phone calls to PCC Bill Smith, he was able to organize the “Mississippi Pin Trading Club” in May 1983 at Natchez, Mississippi during the Mississippi Lions State Convention. From 1985 to 1987, he served on the Board of Directors of the LIPTC, under the leadership of then LITPC President, PCC Bill Smith, and received the Spark Plug Award in 1986. He served on the LITPC Nominating Committee for several years with Dr O. J. “Doc” Ratcliff, PDG.  To Lion Jerry, pin trading is not only a favorite pastime, but camaraderie with fellow pin traders is an added bonus!

Locally, he has served on several boards of organizations in the community and President of the Meridian Life Underwriters Association. He has also received Underwriter of the Year Award. He has been a member of Highland Baptist Church in Meridian since 1969 and serving as a Deacon since 1973.  He has served in many capacities within Highland Baptist Church and currently serves as Merit Life Deacon and Usher.

Jerry was married to Rosemary Waldrup Townsend for 42 years before she passed away and is currently married to Carol Evans Townsend.  They have one son and three daughters and enjoy seven very active grandchildren, ranging in age from 2 years to 13 years!