Bartlett Lion Honored in School Libraries
By Anthony Louis Troyke
Libraries throughout Bartlett saw their collections grow a little as part of public memorial last week.
The Bartlett Lions Club, in honor of recently departed Lion Roger Lawson, purchased four books for each of Bartlett's eight elementary schools, as well as for Eastview Middle School. In a brief presentation ceremony at the Bartlett Public Library, which also received five new books, Lawson's life was celebrated and remembered.
An active Lion for more the 20 years, Lawson was struck down by ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) last year. Before his passing, however, Lawson left behind a proud legacy of community service. Though serving on the Lions Club board in several capacities over the years, Lawson was likely the best known Lion to the children of Bartlett. Lawson not only coordinated and gave Flag Day presentations to Bartlett first-graders for a decade, every Christmas he donned a red suit and 
performed the duties of Santa Claus over the same period.
performed the duties of Santa Claus over the same period. Accordingly, the Bartlett Lions thought it apt to honor Lawson with a final gift in his behalf to the children of Bartlett. The donated books cover two of Lawson's passions-patriotism and aviation. Lawson was a commercial pilot for many years.
Over the course of his career as a Lion, Lawson was awarded the club's two highest honors. In 1988, he was named Lion of the Year, and in 2001
received a Melvin Jones-the club's most prestigious award named after its founder.
Bartlett Public Library Director Todd Morning, who welcomed the attendees to the dedication, was joined by members of his staff, several Bartlett Lions, and Centennial Elementary School Librarian Kathy Noviskis and Nature Ridge Elementary School Librarian Joan Brauer.
Lion Tom Arends, who chaired the memorial effort, expressed his pleasure in fulfilling the Lions' goal of honoring Lawson's memory: “Roger was a great Lion, a wonderful asset to Bartlett. That his legacy of service will live on through these books brings joy to the many Lions who knew and loved Roger.”
