Lady Lake Mayor Jim Rietz has been honored with the highest form of recognition awarded by Lions Club International.
Rietz was saluted at Monday night’s Lady Lake Commission meeting by members of the Orange Blossom Gardens Lions Club.
The Illinois native was lauded for his tremendous volunteer efforts and leadership, by longtime Lions Club leader Doris Turlo who presented the mayor with a plaque designating him as a Melvin Jones Fellow. This Fellowship Award is the highest form of recognition and embodies humanitarian ideas consistent with the nature and purpose of Lionism.
Jones is often referred to as “the original Lion.” A successful Chicago insurance agency owner, Jones gave up the insurance business in 1926 to become Lions’ de facto CEO and global goodwill ambassador. Jones’ hand can be seen in founding documents like the Lions Clubs Objects and Code of Ethics.