Celebrating Service at the Apex Lions Anniversary Banquet

Annual Anniversary Banquet Honors Two Outstanding Lions

This evening the Apex Lions Club gathered for our annual anniversary banquet, an event that brings our members together to celebrate fellowship, reflect on our service, and honor those who have gone above and beyond for our community.

We were pleased to welcome Roger Repp as our guest speaker and entertainer. Roger worked with Lion Horace Johnson many years ago and later followed a calling into ministry, eventually becoming a Baptist ordained minister. His Christmas message combined with accordion based music offered encouragement, reflection, and a reminder of the values that drive our commitment to serving others.

William Jennings Booth Lion of the Year

One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the William Jennings Booth Lion of the Year Award. This prestigious honor was awarded to Lion Kevin Conroy.

Each year we select one Lion whose dedication, service, and leadership have made a significant impact on our club and our community. Lion Kevin has stepped forward in many important ways. He serves as our first vice president, he is our Lion Tamer, and he has taken on the demanding and essential task of frying the fish at our annual Fish Fry. This is only a small part of what he contributes. His steady leadership and enthusiasm made him the clear choice for the 2025 Lion of the Year.

Thank you, Lion Kevin, for your hard work, commitment, and willingness to lead by example. Our club is stronger because of your service.

Lifetime Membership Presentation

We also had the privilege of honoring Lion Horace Johnson with a Lifetime Membership, a recognition reserved for Lions whose dedication spans decades and whose contributions have shaped the very identity of their club.

Lion Horace joined the Apex Lions Club in the early 1980s. For more than forty years he has been one of the driving forces behind our success and our ability to serve the Apex community. Many people know him as the familiar voice on the microphone at the State Fair, where he earned the nickname “Piiieeee Man.” His leadership helped make our State Fair food booth our most successful fundraiser.

Through the years he managed the fair booth, led our Fish Fry, coordinated Azalea sales, organized broom sales, oversaw roadside cleanups, and ensured that we always remembered the widows of our past members with thoughtful gift baskets. He served as our Scout liaison and Chamber liaison, and he has been a guiding presence on our Board of Directors.

His service goes far beyond titles. Whenever a Lions project is underway, Lion Horace is there, working, encouraging others, and setting the standard for what it means to be a Lion’s Lion. He also sponsored many new members, helping grow and shape the future of our club.

We are deeply proud to recognize Lion Horace Johnson with a Lifetime Membership. His dedication represents the very best of Lionism.

Looking Ahead

Congratulations to both of these remarkable Lions. Their service reminds us why our mission matters and why our community depends on this work. As we celebrate their achievements, we also look toward the future with excitement and determination.

Here is to many more years of serving Apex with compassion, integrity, and the spirit of Lionism.