If you read the headline and you see the words Kovatch and the initials DG, you’re probably thinking the initials stand for Do-Gooder. And you wouldn’t be wrong. But in this case Kovatch, as of July 1, is now the Lions Club District Governor for our area, which is known as 2-S1.
A 15 year member of the Orange Lions Club, Kovatch oversees a district that includes 45 clubs in the East Texas area. From Winnie, north to the Jacksonville area, Kovatch has a goal of visiting every club during his year. He’ll be promoting Lionism and their “We Serve” motto while encouraging those clubs to complete the goals that each has set for the 2022-23 year.
Kovatch, 41, is one of sixteen District Governors representing the great state of Texas. And he joins a short list of District Governors that have come from the Orange Club. They include Ellis Carter (1945), Bob Appel (1989), Stump Weatherford (1997), and Chris Gunstream (2019). It was Gunstream that asked Kovatch if he would be interested after he served as club president.
“We talk a lot about getting younger people involved in the Lions Club,” he said. Kovatch walks the walk as he started in his 20’s as he was mentored by his father-in-law, the late Ken Thayer. Kovatch is also the youngest District Governor among this years group.
“No matter how we show it, we should always want to strive to make things better for others,” he said. “The Lions Club is a great example of that.” Besides helping their communities, the Lions are committed in the areas of vision, hunger, environment, diabetes, and childhood cancer.
Of course around here we’re all familiar with the long running Orange Lions Club Carnival. The money raised supports those programs. Kovatch called this years Carnival in the spring a success thanks to better weather and a generous community.
Kovatch is building an impressive resume. He’s currently an elected member of the Orangefield School Board. Chris and his wife Christi have six children in the district. He just joined the Lamar University Alumni Advisory Board, and last year was the Chamber President. Is city or county politics in his future? “It’s certainly a possibility,” he said. “I’ve moved away and have come back and this is where I want to raise my family. Whatever I can do to help.”
If you’re interested in joining the Lions Club, there are four in Orange County. You can contact DG Kovatch chris.kovatch@sbcglobal.net
-Gary Stelly, KOGT-
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