Submitted photo Shown L to R, Past District Governor Lion LeRoy Levorson, Lions Club of New Ulm current President Gayle O’Connor and Lion Mary Jo Levorson.

NEW ULM — Past District Governor Lion LeRoy Levorson and Lion Mary Jo Levorson were each presented with their second, or Progressive, Helen Keller Sight Awards at the Lions Club of New Ulm’s June 13th meeting.

Lion LeRoy has served 6 years as a Trustee for the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation and is a past president of the Lions Club of New Ulm. He has been a member for 24 years. Lion Mary Jo has served along side Lion LeRoy and served as the club’s secretary for 7 years. Lion Mary Jo has been a member for 15 years.

This award is named for the famous blind and deaf lady, Helen Keller. In 1925, at their International Convention, the Lions invited Helen Keller to speak. She spoke eloquently and challenged Lions to become the “Knights of the Blind.” Since then Lions have responded to her challenge and have indeed become the “Knights of the Blind.” The Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation has responded by establishing several ways to combat blindness. Among these are the Lions Gift of Sight and Cornea Transplant Unit at the University of Minnesota, the Children’s Eye Center, the MAC which deals with Macular Degeneration and the Used Eye Glass Collection Center.