SAGINAW DOWNTOWN LIONS CLUB SAGINAW, MICHIGAN  U.S.A.

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Photo courtesy of Michigan District 11 D-1

Lion Bob Heft District 11 D-1 Governor

Saginaw Downtown Lions Club District Governors Robert Curry       1921-1922 Ward Keller         1951-1952 Ken Radcliff        1966-1967 Don Bellsky        1974-1975 G. Peter Jensen   1979-1980 Robert Heft         2005-2006

The Saginaw Downtown Lions Club has long been known as a top quality Lions Club in the state of Michigan.  The history of the club speaks for itself, as it is one of the oldest and most respected clubs in Michigan.  Adding to its long list of achievements, in 2002 our club became Michigan's Club of the Year. Now, once again, the Saginaw Downtown Lions Club demonstrates the quality of its membership with the installation of Robert (Bob) G. Heft, a true American icon, as Michigan 11 D-1 District Governor, as it marks the fifth member in club history to hold this office. With Governor Heft's background it is no mistake that he has achieved this status. Lion Bob was born in Saginaw, Michigan and later moved to Ohio where he attended Lancaster High School.  For a class project in 1958, he designed a new 50-star version of the United States flag.  Through both his foresight of predicting Alaska and Hawaii would become the 49th and 50th states, and his tenacity to impress his design upon his congressmen, on July 4, 1960, his high school project became the accepted design for the new flag of the Untied States of America.  His place in American history keeps him busy traveling all over the world telling his unique story. Bob later became a 7-term mayor of Napolian, Ohio.  He is a retired high school and college instructor. He first joined the Napolian Lions Club in 1991, where he served on the Board of Directors from 1992-1998.  In 1999 Lion Bob returned to his roots in Saginaw, Michigan, transferring his club membership to the Saginaw Downtown Lions Club. Lion Bob became an immediate force within the Saginaw Downtown Lions Club.  He has served on the Board of Directors since 2000, including president in 2001-02.  It was under his leadership that the Saginaw Downtown Lions Club received Michigan's Club of the Year honors in 2002.  Lion Bob is a 2001 graduate of Lions International Leadership Institute for Emerging Lions; 2002 graduate of Lions International for Senior Leadership; and 2002 graduate of Michigan Lions Leadership Institute.  He is the recipient of the Lorenz A. Loos Lion of the Year Memorial Award from the Saginaw Downtown Lions Club; in 2004-2005 was recognized for 15 years of perfect attendance, and is a Melvin Jones Fellow. Lion Bob has also served District 11 D-1 as a two-term Zone Chairman from 2001-02 to 2002-03; Region Chairman in 2003-04; then elected to Vice District Governor in 2004-05. He has attended several International Conventions, including, Honolulu, Hawaii in 2000; Indianapolis, Indiana in 2001; Detroit / Windsor in 2004, and Hong Kong, China in 2005. The Saginaw Downtown Lions Club is honored to have Lion Governor Bob Heft as one if its own.