Lion Cotton- 50 years of service

Lion Garrett “Cotton” Miller received his 50 year Lions Club membership chevron on Sunday, December 22, 2019.  Garrett joined Santa Fe Lions Club (Santa Fe, Texas- Texas MD District 2 S4) in 1969 and served in every office in the club over that time, as well as serving on the district level by serving as Zone Chair, Region Chair, Lion Tamer, Tail Twister, Retention Chair East, member of the Election Committee and as a Guiding Lion, helping to form several new Lions Clubs in the district. He was instrumental in saving the Club when it had only two members, by inviting women to join the club in 1999. His first recruit was his wife, Betty Miller, who is receiving her 20-year pin this year.

Garrett received his 50 year chevron pin from Past District Governor/Past Council Chair, Pete Rygaard, who is also a dear friend of the family.  Along with Garrett’s wife, Betty, their oldest daughter Carol and son-in-law Mike Mitchell became members of Santa Fe Lions Club, both earning their 20-year pins. Betty has been the Secretary/Treasurer of the club since 2000, and Carol has served as Vice President, President and Tail-Twister and Mike has served as Lion Tamer and Club Historian.  Middle daughter, Diane Miller, became a member of the Santa Fe Lions Club in 2010, then transferred to the Albuquerque Breakfast Lions Club (District 40-N) that same year and is now serving as Club President. Their youngest daughter, Sharon Kemp, became a member of Dripping Springs Lions Club (Texas MD District 2S3) in 2017 and is now serving as Membership/Service Chair. Her husband Kevin has also recently joined Dripping Springs Lions.

Garrett’s granddaughter, Rose Kemp (daughter of Sharon and Kevin) became a member of the Texas State University Lions Club (District 2S3) in 2017 serving as Membership Chair boosting the club’s membership and now serves as its Vice President. She has also served as a camp counselor at Texas Lions Camp in Kerrville Texas for three years and hopes to work there full time after her graduation from college in 2020.

Garrett’s favorite service project is our “Avenue of Flags,” where local businesses donate $30 per year to have American flags placed outside of their businesses on six holidays per year. He is also responsible for a proud three generation legacy of service in Lions.

Pictured (Top Row) Lions Sharon Kemp, Kevin Kemp, Diane Miller, Carol Mitchell, Mike Mitchell and PDG/PCC Lion Pete Rygaard (Bottom Row) Lions Rose Kemp, Garrett “Cotton” Miller and Betty Miller.