Past International President Wayne A. Madden, who served in 2012-2013, passed away on May 30, 2020.

Originally from the town of Auburn, Indiana, USA, the late Past President Madden was influenced by old fashioned values of family and hard work. His caring nature drove him to give back to his community. In 1984, when a letter from the Auburn Lions came in the mail asking him to join, he immediately said yes. It was the perfect opportunity to share his belief of helping people live better lives by providing needed services.

His defining moment as a Lion was an eyeglass mission trip to Honduras in 1995, a decade after he became a Lion. A young man with a disability slowly made his way to the eyeglass tent. “He asked if I had a pair of sunglasses. He tried on a pair of sunglasses and got a big smile on his face. When you see service actually do something for somebody is when you really become a Lion,” Madden said.

Over the years his warm and friendly personality drew people of all walks of life to him. As president, he promoted the Reading Action Program, and especially enjoyed reading Dr. Seuss books to children around the world. In the spring of 2013, the late Past President Madden and Lions Clubs International hosted the Reading and Literacy Summit where leading literacy experts, researchers, educators, vision health providers, entrepreneurs, and civil society partners from around the world came together to explore the state of global literacy and the challenges and opportunities it represents. The goal of the summit was to develop plans to strengthen the capacity of the education sector and enhance community involvement to meet the needs of children, youth, and adults that face a variety of barriers to literacy.

He also supported Operation Kid Sight in Indiana. His slogan In a World of Service, truly defined his desire to promote the work of Lions and peace throughout the world.

In recognition of his service to the association, the late Past President Madden received many awards, including the International President’s Leadership Medal, 15 International President’s Medals and the Ambassador of Good Will Award, the highest honor the association bestows upon its members. He was also a multi-level Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow. In 2008, he was recognized for his humanitarian service by the governor of Indiana as a Sagamore of the Wabash, the highest honor the governor can bestow.

The late Past President Madden enjoyed a successful career as teacher and businessman. He was well-known and respected in the community and would often be found chatting with friends at the local hardware store about his much-loved subject, classic cars.

His dedication to his spouse Linda and his daughters was unsurpassed. He was always there to encourage and support his family. When daughter Jennifer, then in college, secured an internship in Washington, D.C., he arranged to surprise her. “When I got off the plane in D.C. there was my dad. I was never so happy to see him in my life. I really needed that little transition of getting safely to where I was going to be,” she says.

He cared for everyone as if they were part of his family. Everyone felt special in his presence and he will be remembered for his warmth and kindness always. He possessed the unique ability to draw people to him; making others feel comfortable with his genuine warmth and friendly sense of humor. He had a large presence with a soft caring heart.