Cleveland Lions Club to hold annual scholarship breakfast

Sunday, February 22, 2009 3:09 AM  |  Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend |

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Lions Club will hold its annual Joe Hall Memorial Scholarship Breakfast Saturday to raise money for the long-time West Rowan scholarship.

The Lions Club asks people to make a donation for the meal. The clubhouse is located at 106 W. Cemetery St.

Seniors at West Rowan High School apply for the scholarship through the guidance office. The guidance office ranks the applicants according to need, academic achievements and demonstrated contribution to the school, student body and community.

The scholarship is among the longest-running awards in western Rowan County, dating back to 1981.

It began as a joint effort with the Mount Ulla Lions Club, but the Cleveland Lions later took it on as that club’s project.

For 1989 and 1990, the scholarship was funded and presented as the OTC scholarship. Former Lions Curtis and Mary Jane Ribelin and their company, Old Time Craftsmanship Construction, led the fundraising efforts for those two years.

Joe W. Hall was a charter member of the Mount Ulla Lions Club and a life member of the Cleveland Lions. He served the clubs for more than 40 years and was active in the Cleveland Community Volunteer Fire Department. He also served as chairman of the Cleveland precinct of the Democratic Party and president of the Rowan County Farm Bureau.

Because of the commitment Hall and his wife, Suzanne, had for education, his family chose to honor his memory with the scholarship after his death in 1991. The family also endowed a scholarship fund at Catawba College.

Since 1995, the Hall family has contributed $1,000 to the Lions’ efforts each year. Proceeds above the scholarship amount go to a savings account with the intent that it will grow to become self-sustaining.

In 1998, with an agreement between the family and the Cleveland Lions, the scholarship grew to $1,500 and is given as The Joe W. Hall Memorial Scholarship, presented by the Cleveland Lions.

The annual breakfast began years ago as a bunch of friends gathered for fun before the races at Darlington, S.C. It became a fundraiser after Hall’s death.

The Lions Club chooses the scholarship winner from among the applications forwarded by the high school.

The scholarship is paid directly to the college the student attends after classes begin.

The recipients for the past five years are: Jerica Sherrill and Christopher Martin, 2007; Zachary Carscaddon, 2006; Treymane Smith, 2005; Susan Gullett, 2004; and Danielle McKnight, 2003.