Lions In Sight of California and Nevada
Ed Lydon, PDG
Lion Ed was born June 13, 1938, in Buffalo, NY. When he was 10 his family moved to North Las Vegas, NV where he attended Elementary School. Ed attended Las Vegas High School, graduating in 1956. He moved to Reno to attend the University of Nevada.
Ed worked in the Casino Industry until he went to work for the Sherwin Williams Paint Company in 1973. In 1974 he was promoted to Manager of the company store in
Corvallis, Oregon. The store was closed in 1975. Ed moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon as the Assistant Manager of that store. In 1976 he was again named as Manager. He held this position until 1983 when he left the company rather than move to Portland, OR.
In 1985 Ed moved back to Reno, Nevada and went to work for a paint store. In 1991 Ed and his brother formed a Handyman business. Ed retired from this in 1997.
Ed has been a Volunteer Fireman, in Virginia City, Nevada, and Klamath Falls, Oregon, where he became a Volunteer Lieutenant.
Lion Ed joined the Lions Club in Klamath Falls, Oregon, in October 1977. He served as President of the club in 1982-83. Upon moving back to Reno he transferred to the Reno Pleasant Valley Lions Club. Lion Ed was named Lion of the year in 1992-93. Lion Ed served this club as President in 1990-91 and 1992-93. In 1996 Ed moved back to Las Vegas and transfered to the Henderson/Green Valley Lions Club. In 1998 he became the Charter President of the Summerlin Lions Club serving 1998, 1999 and 1999, 2000.
In 1993 Lion Ed was elected to serve as the districts first Vice District Governor. He was elected to serve as District Governor for the 1994-95 year at the District Convention held in Elko.
At the District level he served as Zone Chairman 1991-92 and was named Zone Chairman of the year. He has served on the Membership Committee, served twice on the Student Speakers Committee. He served for 6 years as Peace Poster Chairman, and as a Student Speaker Foundation District Trustee, as the Peace Poster Chairman on the Host Committee for the USA/CANADA Lions Leadership Forum held in Reno, NV in 2004. Ed has served as an Honorary District Chaplin for 6 years.
At the Multiple District level he has served as Chaplin during his year on the Council of Governors. He served a 4-year term on the International Convention Hospitality Committee. He has served as a Trustee on the Youth Exchange Foundation. He has also served as a Director on the Ear of the Lion Foundation, the Western Lions Ear Foundation, Lions in Sight and the District Four Student Speakers Foundation as a Director,
Lion Ed is a Melvin Jones Fellow, a 100% District Governor, a Helen Keller Fellow, a Life member of Camp Dat-So-La-Lee, He has received the Multiple District 4 Excellence Award and 3 International Presidents Certificates of Appreciation also a Certificate of Appreciation from the USA/CANADA Lions Leadership Forum Planning Committee.
Ed met Susan when he was District Governor. They married May 17, 1997. They have two children: Laura Matthiessen, age 21; and Andrew Lydon, age 17. Ed has 7 children by two previous marriages. Teri, Susan, Larry, Kenneth, Shawn, from the first marriage and Justin Lydon (Jenifer) and Erin Carey (Kevin) and two Grand children Taylor Blandon and Carson Lydon from the second.