The Lions International Board of Directors officially designated Jones as the founder of Lions Clubs in 1958—more than four decades after Lions Clubs held its first meeting. But, no matter what his official title, Jones’ impact on the Lions has been far-reaching. He provided the leadership, the organizational ability, the tenacity and the muscle necessary to establish the foundation for Lions Clubs International to become what it is today.He also loved aphorisms. Never one to sugarcoat the truth, Jones had one favorite saying neatly framed in his office: “Truth and roses have thorns about them.Jones was a prolific writer who could be clear and forceful on some occasions, and sentimental the next. 

Babu Rao Ghattamaneni from Hyderabad, India, was elected to serve a two-year term as an international director of Lions Clubs International at the association’s 105th International Convention in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, July 7 through July 11, 2023. Director Babu Rao has more than 25 years of experience as a real estate developer and is managing partner for the Dollfine Group. He has been involved in a number of high profile construction projects within Hyderabad and Vijayawada cities and throughout the Indian states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.Striving to fulfill his life’s motto, “Living is Giving,” brought him to become a Lion in 1999 with the Hyderabad Serilingampally Lions Club. 

“Vijay Kumar Raju Vegesna, from Visakhapatnam, India, was elected to serve a two-year term as a director of Lions Clubs International at the association’s 99th International Convention held in Fukuoka, Japan, June 24 through 28, 2016.A member of the Visakhapatnam Samarasya Lions Club since 1996, he has held many offices within the association, including club president, zone chairperson, district governor, multiple district council secretary, multiple district LCIF coordinator and regional LCIF coordinator he has received numerous awards, including the 100% District Governor Excellence Award, 10 new club Extension Awards, four International Leadership Awards, five International President’s Awards and 14 International President’s Certificates of Appreciation.”