Meet International Director Candidate for Ohio Endorsement — PCC Lydia Houser

Lion Lydia joined the Mad River Lions Club, Dayton, Ohio, in March of 1999. Since joining, she has served as Tail Twister, Board Director, Membership Chairman, Service Chairman, Assistant Secretary, Vice President (3rd, 2nd, 1st) and President. She is chairperson of the Mad River Lions Constitution & By-Laws Committee, Vision Committee, Morale and Welfare Committee, Food Pantry and the Scholarship Committee and is on numerous other committees of the club. Lion Lydia stays involved in her club’s fundraisers and service projects. She has served as Zone Chair, District 13H Newsletter editor (2008-2012), Lioness Liaison, North American Membership Initiative Chairperson, GLT, New Voices Chairperson and, Convention Tail Twister for many years. She is the district committee Region 1 Chairperson, USA/Canada Forum representative, and Convention Chairperson.

Lion Lydia served as OH6 2VDG, 1VDG and DG then was elected as Council Chairperson (2019-2020) where she led the way utilizing creative ways of communications/meeting due to COVID. From 2022-2025, she was a member of the Liaison Committee, where she served as secretary for two years. She is the Executive Director for the Ohio Lions Eye Research Foundation since 2019 and board member since 2012. She is also on the board of the Lions Eye Bank of West Central Ohio (2022) as well as on the Executive Board of Prevent Blindness Ohio Miami Valley (2022) where she is Community Services Committee Chairperson (2024). She was previously on the board and Executive Board of Pilot Dogs (2019-2023). Lion Lydia was also on the USA/Canada Forum Ohio committee for the 2018 USA/Canada Forum in Columbus, Ohio. She has been a moderator at the USA/Canada Forum multiple years. She also participates in the Alliance of Lions Foundations. Lydia has taught and continues to conduct numerous seminars at many Lions training events and conventions. She has her Bachelor’s from Lions University.

Lion Lydia is a progressive Melvin Jones Fellow. She has 100% attendance since joining the Lions. Lion Lydia has received numerous awards: two International President’s Letters of Commendation and Awards, five International Presidents Certificates of Appreciation, James T. Coffey Fellow, three Council of Governor’s Awards of Merit, Council Chairman’s Award of Excellence, and the WR “Dick” Bryan Award. She became a Guiding Lion in 2016 (currently guiding the Miami Valley Lions and previously the Peebles Lions) and has been a Club Excellence Facilitator.

Lion Lydia is married to fellow Lion PDG Ric Houser. They have four children – Chris, Jason, Jeremy and Rachelle – and eleven grandchildren. Lydia’s parents, PDG Freda and Lion Buck, were instrumental in her becoming a Lion. Lions is a family affair with her parents, husband, daughter (DG Rachelle), son-in-law Josh and now granddaughter working to form a Leos club. Serving together is extra special when the family works together to make a difference.

Lion Lydia retired from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base after 39 years as the Chief, Configuration/Data Management, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Special Operations Forces Directorate managing a multi-billion-dollar portfolio of programs. She was also an instructor teaching many classes for Air Force employees and contractors. She is involved in her church, schools, Hope for Riverside, clothes distribution for families in need, and women shelter projects.

Lion Lydia has served as a Sunday school teacher for youth and named Sunday school teacher of the year. She coached cheerleading for ten+ years for grade school and high school youth and served as Cheer Athletic Director for six years where her squads received numerous awards. She also coached co-ed volleyball and softball for adults. She is recognized on the United States Air Force Museum Hall of Fame for her leadership and received numerous awards for her service to the government. She was named in Who’s Who of American Professionals.

In her spare time, Lion Lydia enjoys traveling (especially cruising and going to the Smoky Mountains), reading, shopping and sports. She is an avid Kentucky Wildcats basketball fan and Ohio State football fan who loves watching her beloved teams.

As you can see by my “Bio” above, Lions are a large and very important part of my life. My personal involvement in my community and my professional career, training and experience have prepared me to be a candidate for International Director. I respectfully ask all Lions to consider supporting me as the Ohio Lions candidate for International Director.