Retired officer's focus on being good Lion

Randy Rhue was born in Ruidoso. He moved to Clovis in 1991.

link Staff photo: D'Nieka Hartsfield

Rhue at an April 2015 Lions Club meeting in Clovis.

In 1978, Rhue joined the New Mexico State Police. He retired in August 1999. He continued working 12 years after that. Rhue met his wife, Peggy Rhue, in 1989 and they married in 1991.

Rhue has been an active member of the Lions Club since 1982.

“After I retired, I really started concentrating on being a good Lion,” he said. He was elected second vice district governor and worked his way through the ranks.

On June 30, Rhue took a trip to Hawaii for the Lions Club International Convention to be sworn in by the international president of Japan and become the district governor of Lions Club District 40 North, which includes the northern half of New Mexico and part of Arizona. Rhue will serve in his position for one year.

Tell us something people may not know about the Lion’s Club.

Melvin Jones, a business leader from Chicago, Illinois founded the Lions Club in 1917. We are volunteers who help those in need in our communities. In 1925, Helen Keller challenged the club to be knights of the blind …not only serve the community but to have a purpose. The Lions Club accepted that challenge.

We refurbish eyeglasses and give them away to the people who need them all over the world. We do eye surgeries for people. Every state has an eye bank. We do hearing aids for people who can’t afford them.

We help diabetics with their medicines. We help with natural disasters. We are 1.4 million members, in 320 countries worldwide and we have 50,000 clubs in the world. We are the only volunteer organization where 100 percent of donations collected go back into the community. No other organization does that. When there’s a need, there’s a Lion.

What’s your least favorite part about the Club?

We’re the second largest club in the state. We do a lot for our community. I guess the least favorite thing is that we don’t get recognized for what we do. We’re a well-kept secret in town and we don’t want to be a secret. We don’t want to brag, we just want people to know we’re here to help.

When you were a kid, what did you envision your life being like as an adult?

I thought about driving race cars for a living. But then I got a little big for that (he laughs). My passion now is my Harley. I do all my club visits on my Harley.

What’s your idea of a perfect day?

I enjoy spending time with family and friends more than anything else. If I can have a cup of coffee and visit with friends, have dinner with my wife. That makes me happy. I’m a people’s person …I don’t like to be alone and if I can help somebody I some way, that’s a perfect day for me.

What’s your greatest individual accomplishment?

At this point it is becoming the district governor for the club because it gives me the opportunity to help even more people. I get to coordinate the efforts of 30 more Lions Clubs helping their communities.

What is your greatest fear?

Having no people around …being alone.

What is your favorite taste?

Oh, that’s chocolate.

What is your favorite smell?

Pine trees after a rain. The forest smells …you can’t beat it.

Who’s invited to your fantasy dinner party?

My wife, my two best friends John and Jennifer. I have to say John Wayne. It would be real nice to have Jesus there. It would be nice to ask him a lot of questions.

What are your futures plans?

I would love to continue moving up the ladder in the Lions and I’d love to live back by the mountains again.

— Compiled by CMI Advertorial/ Editorial Writer D’Nieka Hartsfield