Coach Jim Graver
started the Leo ball rolling in 1957 and chances are that ball was a baseball.
Graver was the baseball coach of the Abington High School in Pennsylvania, USA
and an active member of the Glenside Lions Club. With help from his
fellow Lion, William Ernst, the first Leo club was charted on December 5, 1957.
As the world's first Leo club, the Abington High School Leo Club created the
Leo acronym – Leadership, Equality, and Opportunity – and they chose their
school colors, maroon and gold to serve as the Leo club colors. Later,
Equality was changed to Experience.
In October 1967, the board of directors of Lions Clubs International adopted
the Leo Club Program as an official program of the association.
The Leo Club Program as been growing strong for over 50 years. Community
service remains the cornerstone of the program. Like their Lion
counterparts, Leo club members enjoy serving their neighbors and watching
positive results unfold.
1957 – First Leo club founded by Glenside Lions Club in Abington, PA with
35 Abington High School boys.
1964 – The Leo Club Program became an official
district project and started to grow rapidly in PA and other surrounding
states.
1967– Became an official program of Lions Club of
International.