Long time Kenai resident, Chamber board president and City Mayor Ron Malston was honored at a recent Kenai Chamber of Commerce meeting by the Kenai Lions Club with the prestigious Melvin Jones Award. According to Kenai Lion Hal Smalley the award recognizes outstanding individuals by bestowing on them an award that is named for its founder, Melvin Jones. “This award is the highest form of recognition and embodies humanitarian ideas consistent with the nature and purpose of ‘Lionism.’ The recipient of this award is a model of exemplary service to his club and the community which it serves. The Melvin Jones Fellowship Award is a nation-wide award,” said Smalley. The owner of Old Town Trophies in Kenai for the last 43 years Malston is a familiar face anywhere a helping hand is needed said Smalley, “Ron has been involved not only in the community service projects that Lions do, but in many other civic organizations as well. Raising funds for families where there may be medical needs to building sheds for school bus stops here in town and along K-beach. He of course has been involved with our Rubber Ducky race since its inception and has been actively involved a Lion since 1960 starting first when he lived in Fairbanks. Of course vision and the Lions clubs go hand in hand providing eye glasses or necessary surgeries. In 1925 Hellen Keller challenged Lions Clubs internationally to become knights of the blind and we stay committed to that task to this day,” said Smalley.
