Earlier this year, Bruce Stevens received the highest honor offered by the Lions Clubs International Foundation.

Stevens, a member of the Christiansburg Lions Club for the past 50 years, was named a Melvin Jones Fellow in recognition of his commitment to humanitarian service. The award is named for the founder of Lions Club International.

With 1.3 million members, the Lions' fellowship is among the world's largest service club organizations.

Calling Stevens a "model member of our club," Christiansburg club president Joe Wade praised Stevens' dedication to the club's purpose of helping others, particularly in the worldwide effort to significantly reduce preventable blindness.

"Bruce has always been one of the individuals who you could count on to show up at every service event," Wade said.

Stevens, 80, said he joined the Lions Club in 1958 because it was "the thing to do."

"Back then, you were either in the Rotary Club or the Lions Club," he said. "I liked what they stood for, the work they did."

A Botetourt County native, Stevens moved to Christiansburg where he worked for 33 years in Montgomery County Schools, first as a coach and teacher at Auburn High School. He went on to serve as principal of Price's Fork Elementary School and then the old Shawsville High School. During his last 20 years in the school system, he was the physical plant and transportation manager for the administrative branch.

Stevens worked another 22 years at Reed Lumber Co. in Christiansburg and still continues his part-time career as a nurseryman and vegetable farmer.

"Daddy's one of those fellows who doesn't like to draw attention to himself," said his daughter, Susan Huckle said. "He has done so much for the Lions Club."

"He was always helping with everything that came along," agreed his wife, Mary Joyce Stevens. "He was always there."

In addition to receiving the Lions' highest award, Stevens also received recognition for 50 years of perfect attendance.

Although he hasn't been able to attend every meeting, he said he made up time missed through service projects and volunteerism.