News : 125 years of service through the Lions Club: Mossman, Davis honored

Mark Mossman accepts a 60-year Lions International membership award for his father, Keith Mossman.

Burt Davis receives his 60-year Lions Intl. Membership Award from club president Julie Zimmer.

District 9NE Governor Paul Scherner presents a Grass Roots Award for Keith Mossman to his son Mark.

Fishing buddy and fellow Lion Keith Elwick stops to look at the award presented to Burt Davis.

The cake that honors Keith Mossman and Burt Davis.

Two long-time members of Vinton's oldest service club were honored Wednesday for their service to the community and the club. Lions Burton Davis and Keith Mossman, members for 62 and 63 years respectively, received recognition from Lions Club International and their local contemporaries. They also received Grass Roots Awards from visiting District Governor Paul Scherner of Dubuque.

Both men returned from active duty in World War II to their homes in BentonCounty, where they joined the Lions and went into business, Mossman with his attorney father and Davis into his father's farm implement dealership. Mossman's father, Hugh, was already a member of the Vinton Lions Club which was founded in 1921.

In their remarks during the presentations, Lions President Julie Zimmer and District Governor Sherner lauded the men for their loyalty, vision, dedication and good humor. The presenters said Davis and Mossman distinguished themselves in community and club leadership roles over the years.
Both men served on VirginiaGayHospitalboards during renovations and expansions, and both were president of that body at different times.

Davis' many contributions local included serving as a charter member of the Isaac Walton League, serving on the Vinton Airport Commission and serving with the committee that established Vinton's swimming pool. He helped start a new Lions Club as an associate member in Mesa, Ariz., while wintering there, but declined a listing as a charter member, choosing to maintain his membership in Vinton's Club. Davis' wife, Geri, was a guest at the meeting as he received his awards

Mossman's awards were received by his son, Mark, also a member of the club. The family has had four generations of members in the Vinton Lions, including Hugh, Keith, Mark and Mark's son, John, all lawyers in the family firm. Keith Mossman received state and national recognition in his long and distinguished legal career and served as national president of the American District Attorneys Association. He provided leadership to scores of community projects over the years in addition to spearheading a million-dollar foundation campaign for Virginia Gay Hospital. In a lighter note, he was one of the original members of ACT I Community Theater, acted in a number of productions, and he led committees to re-establish Vinton's Palace Theatre in 1999.