The Lions of Oklahoma established this memorial trust fund to perpetually memorialize and show appreciation to a fellow Oklahoma Lion, Dr. Eugene S. Briggs. He was Past District Governor, Past Director and Past President of Lions International. Because of Dr. Briggs' outstanding work and service to Oklahoma and International Lionism, this scholarship fund was established in his honor.
Individual Lions, local Lions Clubs, individuals, corporations, trusts, supporters, etc., are invited to make voluntary personal or designated gifts to the perpetual trust fund known as the Dr. Briggs Living Memorial.
The Dr. Briggs Scholarship Foundation annually awards three (3) $400 scholarships in each of the five Oklahoma Lions districts. Graduating high school seniors and current college students are eligible to apply.
The funds may be used for registration fees, tuition, entrance fees, books or school equipment.>
Who was Dr. Eugene S. Briggs?
Most Oklahomans would probably say he was President of Phillips University. Most Lions would say he was a Past President of Lions Clubs International. Both are correct.
Few really know that much about Dr. Briggs. In travels around Oklahoma, one sees Briggs Auditoriums or Briggs Centers on college campuses.
He was listed in Who's Who in America for several years. The Enid Public Library has a file on Dr. Briggs that contains many newspaper clippings.
He was born in Missouri on Feb. 1, 1890 and graduated from high school and college in Missouri. He then taught school and did his graduate work at several other colleges in the United States.
He first came to Oklahoma as superintendent of schools in Okmulgee and was there from 1919 until 1928. He was at Southeastern State University in Durant until 1933. In Durant, he was caught up in the political schemes of the state of Oklahoma.
Between 1933 and 1938, Dr. Briggs earned his doctor's degree at Columbia University in New York City and carved out an enviable position in Missouri educational circles as president of the Christian College in Columbia, Mo.
When Dr. Briggs came to Phillips University in 1938, he was only the third president of the school founded in 1907. While at Phillips, he was a builder: the student union, the gym and Clay Hall are examples. One newspaper article said that if the building was beige brick, it most likely was one of Dr. Briggs' projects. He left Phillips University in 1961 after serving for 23 years.
He was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1951.
In 1960, Dr. Briggs was made Honorary Chief of the Ohomo War Clan of the Kiowa tribe - his Kiowa name was Hoontigar (Hoe-owntee-gah) or
"One Who Leads the Way." The recipient of this honor prior to Dr. Briggs was Nelson Rockefeller.
What about Dr. Briggs the Lion?
1929-1930 District Governor (Lived in Durant)
1943-1944 International Director
1944-1947 Vice President of The International Association of Lions Clubs
1948-1949 President of The International Association of Lions Clubs
At the time of his death in 1979, Dr. Briggs was a resident of Enid.
Looking back over his life, the Lions of Oklahoma believed it was very important that this scholarship program be named in Dr. Briggs' honor. He was a true pioneer in the education field as well as a great Lion.