Early in 1978,
Dr. William E. Humphrey, a faculty member of the Department of
Ophthalmology at the Eastern Virginia Medical School, planted the idea
of establishing a Lions eye bank at EVMS in a speech to the Norfolk
Host Lions Club. Dr. Humphrey had already initiated a residency
program with a research fellow, and one of the fellow’s duties was
to investigate the feasibility of assisting the Richmond based Old
Dominion Eye Bank in establishing a branch office at EVMS. The fellow
would participate as an active eye bank technician in the new branch.
On April 10,
1978, a letter was sent to Dr. Walter Mayer, Medical Director of the
Old Dominion Eye Bank about this project. Past International Director
Edward M. "Moon" Kosjer suggested that the Old Dominion Eye
Bank help support the branch in the amount of $15,000 per year.
Dr. Mayer put
the project on hold until August 1, 1978, at which time he suggested
establishing an independent eye bank in eastern Virginia.
Subsequently, Dr. Humphrey, Dr. John A. Waiters, PID Edward M. Kosjer,
and Past District Governor Ernest F. Hardee met with Dr. Mayer and his
asssociates.
The local Red
Cross was also very interested in the project, and was willing to
provide personnel and material. Coincident with these meetings, the
faculty of the Eastern Virginia Medical School endorsed the proposal.
On March 16,
1979, District Governor A. N. "Buddy" Branch wrote to Past
International Director John Gregory, Chairman of the Board of the Old
Dominion Eye Bank, advising him that a study committee had been
formed. Members of the committee were PID Edward M. Kosjer (Wards
Corner), PDG Arthur Lazarow (Gloucester), PDG Luther Mallory (York),
PDG Ernest F. Hardee (Churchland), Dr. Bertram M. Brown (Hampton
Mercury), Dr. John A. Waiters (EVMS), and PDG Roland R.
"Bob" Larmore (Kempsville)
After a
thorough investigation, which included a mutual agreement for an
independent eye bank in eastern Virginia with ODEB funding up to
$30,000, the committee recommended adoption of the proposal to
District 24-D delegates meeting at the state convention in Richmond.
On May 19, 1979, the delegates approved the recommendation.
The new eye
bank was incorporated on July 23, 1979. The Wards Corner Lions Club
agreed to match the $30,000 grant from ODEB. The organizational
meeting was held on August 1, and the following officers elected:
chairman of the board, PID Edward M. Kosjer; secretary, Lion James N.
Garrett, Jr. (Churchland); treasurer, PDG Ernest F. Hardee; medical
director, Dr. Bruce I. Bodner. District Governor Roland R.
"Bob" Larmore appointed PDG Ernest F. Hardee as the first
district chairman. An additional $17,335 was received from the other
Lions clubs in the district during the first year.
An agreement
was entered into with Norfolk General Hospital to provide a
laboratory, office space and services for the new Lions Eye Bank and
Research Center of Eastern Virginia, Inc
Ms. Roxann
Crocco, Jacksonville, Florida, was employed as the first eye bank
administrator. The office and laboratory, located in Royster Hall at
Norfolk General Hospital, were officially dedicated on October 12,
1979, by Everett J. "Ebb" Grindstaff, Lions International
Third Vice President.
District
Governor George Byrd (Norview) appointed Lion Doug Hugo (Norview) to
serve as the district chairman for the Lions year 1980-81. Dr. John
Waiters was elected chairman of the board of directors and Carl G.
Meredith was hired as the eye bank technician. On January 5, 1981, Ms.
Crocco resigned and on February 18, PID Edward "Moon" Kosjer
was appointed acting administrator. On June 29, 1981, Lion Moon was
named executive director. The eye bank purchased a video specular
microscope and accepted ownership of the sight and hearing van from
the Warwick Lions Club.
In Lions year
1981-82, District Governor T. P. Bob Tolbert (Warwick) appointed Lion
Edward M. Berdick (Churchland) as the district chairman. PDG Ernest F.
Hardee was re-elected chairman of the board of directors. Equipment
costing $7,800 was purchased and a full time eye bank technician,
James E. Lang, was hired
District
Governor John C. Ross (Aragona-Pembroke) appointed Lion Bynum J.
Whitehurst (Southside) as the district chairman for the 1983-84 Lions
year. Mr. Thomas W. Atkinson, a mortician, was elected chairman of the
board of directors. James Lang was accepted into the Eastern Virginia
Medical School and became a part time employee.
In Lions year
1984-85, District Governor Gilbert P. "Bob" Roberts (York)
appointed Lion Frank H. Catlett (Little Creek) to serve as the
district chairman. Mr.Thomas W. Atkinson was re-elected chairman of
the board of directors. In December 1984, a new wide lens specular
microscope was purchased and in February 1984, the directors approved
a contribution of $25,000 to the Lions Sight and Hearing Center.
District
Governor Joseph Z. Brown (Denbigh) appointed Lion Roland Genereux (Churchland)
as the district chairman in 1985-86. Dr. Harold H. Weiler, U.S. Navy,
was elected chairman of the board of directors. On February 26, 1986,
the board approved changing the name of the eye bank to the Lions
Medical Eye Bank and Hearing Research Center of Eastern Virginia. At
the same time, the temporal bone bank became part of the eye bank. Dr.
Gary L. Schecter was elected to the board of directors and named
co-medical director.
In 1986-87,
District Governor William F. Tubbs reappointed Lion Roland. Dr. Harold
H. Weiler was re-elected chairman of the board of directors. In August
1986, Technical Director Wayne T. Frei was accepted into the Eastern
Virginia Medical School and John M. Limperis replaced him as full-time
technical director. In February 1987, the eye bank offices and labs
were relocated to their present location in the Lions Sight and
Hearing Center.
In 1987-88,
District Governor Edward M. Berdick (Churchland) appointed Lion Thomas
A. Williams (Northumberland County) to serve as the district chairman.
PDG W. Meredith McKenney was elected chairman of the board of
directors. Among the highlights of the year was the funding of a
research project on "The Development of Lateral Surgical
Approaches for the Removal of Tumors at the Skull Base" and the
purchase of a BKS-1000 corneal lathe
District
Governor Thomas A. Williams (Northumberland County) appointed Lion
Francis L. "Bud" Warren (Kempsville) as the district
chairman in Lions year 1988-89. PDG W. Meredith McKenney was
re-elected chairman of the board of directors. The first cochlear
implant was performed.
Lion LeRoy Ludi
served as the district chairman in 1989-90 for District Governor
Francis L. "Bud" Warren (Kempsville). Dr. Paul Layman was
elected chairman of the board of directors.
District
Governor Frank T. Kroboth (Woodstock) appointed Lion John Beacham
(Southside) as the district chairman in 1990-91. Dr. Paul Layman was
re-elected chairman of the board of directors. He was replaced on
December 5, 1990, by Lion James N. Garrett (Churchland). The board
approved the purchase of equipment for the temporal bone bank.
In 1991-92,
District Governor C. Daniel Atwood (Windsor) appointed Lion Richard D.
Boone (Warwick) to serve as the district chairman. Lion Roland A.
Genereux (Churchland) served as chairman of the board of directors.
Technical director John Limperis was accepted into EVMS
.Lion Roger
Reinhold was appointed as the district chairman in 1992-93 by District
Governor Richard D. Boone (Warwick). Lion Roland Genereux (Churchland)
was re-elected chairman of the board of directors. The board approved
a grant for the study of amino caproic acid. In December 1992, David
Korroch was appointed technical executive director.
District
Governor J. Dudley Godwin (Plaza Golden) re-appointed Lion Roger
Reinhold as the district chairman in 1993-94. PDG Roland R.
"Bob" Larmore was elected chairman of the board of
directors. The sight and hearing van was turned over to District 24-D
with donation of $8,000. The board and EVMS agreed to share the
funding of a high pressure liquid chromatograph for research.The board
approved a name change from the "Lions Sight and Hearing
Center" to the "Lions Center for Sight." A needs
assessment survey was conducted among area hospital nurses.
In Lions year
1994-95, District Governor C. E. Charlie Cunningham (York) appointed
Lion James M. Oglesby (Lynnhaven) as the district chairman. PDG Roland
R. "Bob" Larmore was re-elected chairman of the board of
directors. During the year, the eye bank offices were renovated, the
newly created position of hospital development specialist was filled
by Jeannette Poole Wright, Teri Barnes took over as administrative
services coordinator, and a two year strategic plan was developed.
Since then the
District 24D Eye Bank has grown into a highly recognized organiztion
which has led the way for all other eyebanks.
