The First Year
1920 was a period of great change in America. The third wave of the 1918 influenza pandemic had receded at the beginning of the year, and fears of the virus were finally receding. In early August, the Treaty of Sevres finally ended the war with the Ottoman Empire, bringing to a close the last conflict of World War I. The United States banned alcohol at the beginning of the year and finally certified the 19th amendment at the end of August giving women the right to vote (though Georgia didn’t ratify it until 1970). In Georgia, Atlanta was reinventing itself yet again and undergoing rapid modernization. The city was exploring new solutions to traffic problems and securing utilities to supply the growing city. Henry Grady and other community leaders were pushing Atlanta towards a more diverse economy and developing a “New South”. They were seeking to make Atlanta a more industrious and modern metropolis in the image of New York City. The 1920’s were the peak of post-civil war reconstruction in Georgia. Atlanta was expanding and absorbing smaller neighboring communities, bringing in new business, and becoming the new capital of the south. This rebuilding didn’t come to an end until the depression of the 1930’s. 1920 was also a time of major societal change. In this rapidly changing environment, local civic groups sought to help guide the city towards the future. In December 17, 1920, a group of 20 men met with Thomas Marriott of Chicago. Mr. Marriott was the International Secretary of the International Lions Club, and he met with this group in the Ansley Hotel on Williams Street to set up a new civic organization, the Atlanta Lions Club.
At the first full meeting on December 28th, the Atlanta Lions included 35 members and had 75 applications for membership under consideration. This was the culmination of work by the members of the new club and Tom Marriott to expand the Lions organization into Georgia. Back in 1920 this was a men’s club. Many of the club members had wives who were in The Atlanta Women’s Club which was organized in 1895. The Atlanta Women’s Club and that Atlanta Lions club would be recurring partners in fund raising efforts throughout the 1920’s. Mr. Marriott told the new club that “Since time immemorial, the lion has been the symbol of strength, of greatness, of unrivaled courage. The man only is lionized who has accomplished something remarkable for the betterment of humanity. It is therefore plainly seen that Lionism stands for the greatest strength and courage: the highest and best that is. This has always been true. Lions are great builders, for they have a sure foundation on which to build. Everywhere they go they build. Install a Lions Club in a little city and the city begins to thrive and grow. To build, one must not only have the proper materials, but must understand construction. The standard embraced in the principles of Lionism, such as cooperation, loyalty to government, education and high ideals, attract men of the finest caliber, who joined in a common unit, the club, have the requisite materials. That is, the will to do and the means with which to build.”