Missouri House and Nevada Lions Club honor Ernsbarger

Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Jessica Bland, president of Nevada Lions, presents a Key of State and Medallion to long-time Lions member Leonard Ernsbarger. Ernsbarger joined the Lions in 1962, has served in numerous offices including chapter president and been the recipient of numerous awards.
Gabe Franklin

Leonard Ernsbarger, former 4-H Youth Specialist for the University of Missouri and 56-year member of the Nevada Lions Club was honored during a noon meeting Tuesday in the Community Room at Moore-Few Care Center.

“Lion Leonard exemplifies the motto of the Lions Club International and that is ‘we serve’,” Rudy Spann said.

Spann was recruited by Ernsbarger a decade ago after they met at the KNEM/KNMO Home Show at Nevada Middle School.

“I’m kind of the young kid on the block,” Spann said. “I’ve only known lion Leonard ten years.”

Wayne Reinert was the next to speak.

“Lion Leonard has served the Lions well,” Reinert said. “He’s been an officer, he’s worked many many projects, he’s done numerous things for our club and he has shared his talents — served Vernon County, 4-H. He has done all those things so well.”

Dr. Ron Schownegerdt was next.

“I’ve known Leonard for 49 years,” Schowengerdt said.

Schowengerdt’s wife Linda is Ernsbarger’s first cousin. Ernsbarger recruited Schowengerdt into the Nevada Lions Club in 1991 and would often pick him up for meetings.

“He picked me up regularly for quite a while,” Schowengerdt said.

“I’m not sure that he felt that I was a flight risk or something like that but it was just kind of a courtesy,” he said, bringing laughter from the audience.

Schowengerdt read a resolution from the Missouri House of Representatives offered by Representative Patricia Pike, District No. 126 and signed by Speaker Todd Richardson as Resolution No. 5672 adopted on March 6, 2018.

The resolution commends Ernsbarger for earning the Lion’s Key of State Award recognizing his recruitment efforts and his many other accomplishments.

Ernsarger is perhaps most well known for his career with the University of Missouri Extension where has was a long time 4-H Youth Specialist for Vernon County.

According to the Resolution, he is the namesake of the Leonard Ernsbarger Community Service Award, and recipient of the 2006 Missouri Lieutenant Governer’s Senior Service Award, the 2007 Missouri 4-H Foundation Hall of Fame award, the Individual Pacemaker Award, the Agribusiness Pacemaker award, the Friend of 4-H award, the Extension Leaders Honor Roll, the Chamber of Commerce President’s award, the National 4-H Agents Association Distinguished Service Award and the Lion of the Year award.

During his time with the Nevada Lions Club, he has recruited 75 individuals. He is also a recipient of the Life Membership Award and Melvin Jones Fellowship award — the highest recognition bestowed by Lions Club International.

Ernsbarger worked as an insurance agent and served as a First Lieutenant in the US Army in Vietnam. He is a member of the Rotary Club and Nevada/Vernon County Chamber of Commerce.

He holds a Masters Degree from the University of Missouri.

He will celebrate 60 years of marriage to his wife Marylyn later this year. They have three children and eight grandchildren.

“As you might expect, I was quite surprised when I walked in and there was Leslie taking a picture of me,” Ernsbarger said. “I knew something was going on and I am still overwhelmed because I am not sure what just happened but that was really nice of y’all. I’ve had a lot of recognition in the Lion Club. I felt like I had enough before today, but you added to it.”

Ernsbarger mentioned his receipt of the Life Membership Award and Melvin Jones Fellowship Award.

“I was the third one in the chapter to receive that as far as I know,” he said, referring to the Life Membership Award. “It’s been really wonderful.”

Of those he has recruited into the Lion Club, he said, “Rudy and Ron and many others — it’s great to see them accomplish so much. One of the things that really pleases me is to see the ones I’ve sponsored sponsor somebody else. That’s really great.”

He told of his first encounter with the Lions Club. He had won grand champion cow at the FFA show in Butler. The Lions Club rewarded him with a registered heifer and an invitation to speak at a club meeting.

“‘Mr. president, members of the Lions Club’ — something like that — I couldn’t think of any other words,” he said. “They started asking questions and we went through it real fine.”

“There’s been a lot of hamburgers cooked, a lot of pancakes turned over,” he said. “Many of you have done far more than I ever have. I appreciate what you’re doing. Thank you for this honor and recognition. It’s greatly appreciated.”

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