Past International President W. R. ” Dick” Bryan
W. R. Bryan Diabetes Research Fund
Recent reports show that 15.7 million people in the USA suffer from diabetes. Also, every year 12,000 to 24,000 go blind because of diabetic eye disease. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in Americans between the ages of 20 – 65 years.
Diabetes can affect the eye in a number of ways. For example, blood vessels in the back of the eye (retina) can leak and result in the immediate loss of vision. Diabetes can also lead to cataracts, which results in cloudy vision and the need for cataract surgery. Diabetes can also lead to increased pressure in the eye – known as glaucoma.
In honor and recognition of Ohio’s Past International President (1969-1970) W. R. “Dick” Bryan, the Ohio LIONS Eye Research Foundation established a special endowment fund; the W. R. Bryan Diabetic Eye Disease Research fund, to support research into the prevention and cure of diabetic eye disease. With your help we will work toward the day when no one has to suffer the loss of vision due to this dreaded disease. See Simulations of vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy.
Awards
- A Knight for Sight certificate and Bryan pin tab are awarded for a contribution of $100 to the Bryan Diabetic Eye Disease Research fund.
- A Bryan Fellow plaque and Bryan pin are awarded for an accrued donation over time of $500 to the W. R. Bryan Diabetic Eye Disease Research fund. For both awards the club may designate the recipient. Also, for a second and third Bryan Fellow award to the same individual, a 14k Bryan pin with one (second award) or two (third award) red rubies will be awarded.
More About W.R. “Dick” Bryan
W. R. “Dick” Bryan, of Doylestown, Ohio, USA, was elected president of The International Association of Lions Clubs at the association’s 52nd annual convention, held in Tokyo, Japan, July 1969.
Past President Bryan was a retired Executive Director of Community Services for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.
Past President Bryan was a member of the Doylestown Lions Club and an associate member of the Pioneer Lions Clubs, Past President Bryan held all club and district offices, served as chairman of the State Council, International Convention Committee and held a two-year term as a member of the association’s board of directors from 1957-59. He also served on the faculty of the District Governors-elect Seminar for 30 years and had been a presenter at USA/Canada Forums.
For his work on behalf of the association, he received 24 International President’s Awards and the Ambassador of Good Will Award, the highest honor presented to Lions. He was also a Key Member and a Melvin Jones Fellow.
Past President Bryan was a member-at-large of the National Council of Boy Scouts of America, served on his local board of education, park board and village council. He has also headed both the United Way and Young Men’s Christian Association campaigns in Akron, Ohio, USA.
