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Boardman Lions plant Buckeye for Bud
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Boardman Lions president Terry Shears (left) presented the buckeye tree the organization planted on Oct. 26 for the exceptional service of Lloyd "Bud" Jenkins in the Lions club.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Jenkins' wife, Jean Jenkins (center) added a scoop of soil to the base of the buckeye tree as Boardman Lions president Terry Shears (right) and honoree Bud Jenkins (left) looked on.
By SARAH FOOR
Anyone who has met Lloyd Bud Jenkins knows he truly has the heart of a lion – a Boardman Lion, that is.
As a 38-year member of the Boardman Lions Club, Jenkins has chaired almost every program and office the group offers on the local and state level.
He has amassed 32 years of perfect attendance, sponsored 11 new Lions and is credited with single-handedly rescuing the club from an unwelcome end and helping it flourish once again.
For all that he has done for the Lions and the Boardman community, Jenkins was honored with the planting of an Ohio Buckeye tree near Georgianna Parker Community Center at Boardman Park on Oct. 26.
When Boardman Lions President Terry Shears presented the tree to Jenkins, his wife Jean, and a crowd of well-wishers, Shears offered admiration to the man who he called the “root” of the Boardman club.
“It’s been said that planting a tree is an unselfish act. We may never see this tree grow to fruition. But our children and grandchildren will enjoy its shade and see Bud’s name and his very deep roots in Boardman,” said Shears.
The celebration of Jenkins then moved inside the community center, where Lions officials offered words of admiration as well as good-natured ribbing to Jenkins.
Shears shared a list of reasons why Jenkins and a Buckeye tree are similar, noting that both have a strong bark and are tough nuts to crack.
“Every building has to have – Bud is the foundation for the Boardman Lions. He is the reason our club exists today,” Shears added.
Jenkins closed the event by thanking his fellow Lions.
“This club has been my life and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. When my tree begins to make buckeyes, I want you to take one and bring it wherever you go. When someone asks you what that nut is, proudly tell them that it is a buckeye from Boardman, Ohio,” Jenkins shared.