Made with Xara Web Designer Lions Club of Rutherford (NJ) The oldest continually chartered Lions Club in District 16A Serving Rutherford for 88 Years - We Serve History of the Rutherford Lions Club Midnight Ride to Atlantic City (from conversations with Theodore Van Winkle, Charter Member, and lrvine Mathews, first non- charter member and Past District Governor) At the 1923 New Jersey Lions State Convention in Atlantic City, Lester H. Clee, Pastor of the Rutherford Baptist Church and Charter Member of the Lions Club of Rutherford, was put up for election to the Office of District Governor. In those days, the entire State of New Jersey was one District, and each Lion was entitled to vote, not just the delegates. On Friday evening, one of the Rutherford Delegates at the convention called Theodore Van Winkle and reported that the vote on Saturday morning would be very close, but that he felt that a few more votes would win the election for Lester Clee. Theodore Van Winkle then began calling members, who responded by arriving at his house at 20 Montross Avenue. They piled into several automobiles and left at midnight for the long ride to Atlantic City. After a number of breakdowns to replace tires, they finished the arduous trip only a few minutes before the 9:00 a.m. vote. As a result, Lester H. Clee was elected District Governor, and became one of the very few District Governors to serve two terms. --Written by Lion Ted Van Winkle Lions Clubs International New Jersey Lions