There are more than 7,000 Kiwanis club chapters in the world. The Paris club is now the 13th largest.
With 166 local members, Kiwanis Club of Paris is the largest in the Texas-Oklahoma district and celebrates its 80th anniversary this year.
Longtime membership chairman Darrell Hawkes, who passed away earlier this year, was the driving force for the membership milestone being achieved, said outgoing president Keith Flowers.
“Darrell was our inspiration. We work hard as a service club and being a member is an honor. Darrell wanted to see as many people serving in this community as possible and we’re glad to know his work has paid off,” Flowers said.
Known for their annual pancake days event at the Lamar County Fairgrounds, where some 11,000 people gather over a weekend, Kiwanis also builds ramps for handicapped and elderly, puts out more than 1,400 American flags on patriotic holidays, and distributes Christmas food boxes while also sponsoring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library where free books are mailed to children under age five.
In local middle and high schools, Kiwanis service leadership programs like Key Club and Builders Club give opportunities for future service leaders to get plugged in helping in the Paris area.
At its annual banquet held this week, new officers installed were Shannon Jones, president; Bob Hundley, vice president; Denise Kornegay, secretary; Rick Mackey, treasurer.
Board members for 2026 are Desiree Garza, Frank McHam, Joanie Moore, Gary Pirtle, Johnny Williams, Lynn Patterson, James Mazy and Tim Shelton.
Kiwanis meets in the Paris Junior College student center ballroom at noon on Tuesdays and welcomes people interested in becoming part of the club.
To find out more, visit https://k02588.site.kiwanis.org/
Photo cutline: Outgoing Kiwanis president Keith Flowers (right) welcomes incoming president Shannon Jones at the club’s annual banquet held September 9.
