Lions Clubs International - Biography       

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PCC Michael “Mike” Rourke is a charter member of the San Antonio Edgewood Lions Club and has 28 years of perfect attendance. In addition, he also holds Honorary Memberships in four other clubs within District 2-A2. He has served in all club Officer positions, achieving the 100% Secretary and Presidents award. He was chosen by his fellow Lions as “Lion of the Year” and holds the distinction of being the only member of his home club to be recognized as “Mr. Edgewood Lion”, and was the first member of his club to be honored as a “Melvin Jones Fellow” and has become a progressive fellow since that time.  He is also a Century Club Member of the Texas Lions Camp and a recent recipient of the Texas Lions Low Vision Fellowship.  At the district level, he has served in twenty-seven District Cabinet positions including Zone Chairman, Deputy District Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and District Governor.

As Governor of District 2-A2 he was the driving force in securing pledges from Lions and Lions Clubs, in the approximate amount of $312,000.00, in support of Campaign SightFirst. Lion Mike was named a 100% Governor and received the District Governors Excellence Award from Lions Clubs International and was further recognized for his efforts by International President James Coffey who presented him with the Presidential Medal of Merit. Lion Mike has attained the status of Advancement Key Member and has received eight International Membership Awards. For his Lionistic efforts, in District 2-A2, he was named a “Life Member” of the Texas Lions Camp, the Lions Sight Research Foundation, the Past District Governors of Texas and was recently named a Life Member of Lions Clubs International.

Lion Mike has served as President of the Lions Sight Research Foundation and was instrumental in planning and implementing the largest District 2-A2 service project ever undertaken, the Mobile Eye Screening Unit (MESU) a $500,000.00 financial commitment. He also served as the first chairman of the Marion Jones Stride for Sight project which is the largest annual fundraising effort in District 2-A2. Lion Mike was asked to chair the District 2-A2 effort in support of “Campaign 2000” which was the statewide effort to renovate and upgrade the facilities at the Texas Lions Camp. Lion Mike encouraged Lions and Lions Clubs to support the number one project of Texas Lions and in doing so, helped District 2-A2 lead the state with donations exceeding $315,000.00. In recognition of this outstanding effort, Lion Mike was named a “Jack Weich Fellow”.

Over his many years of service, Lion Mike has been imminently responsible for raising well over $1,750,000.00 for projects that continue to serve the needs of our community, state and Lions Clubs International. Because of his life long commitment to serve the needs of others, Lion Mike was nominated by his fellow Lions to the Texas Lions Hall of Fame and he was inducted as one of its youngest members in May, 2000. Lion Mike has also been named as a Charter Member of the Herb C. Petry District 2-A2 Hall of Fame.

Following his third capital campaign, Lion Michael “Mike” Rourke was elected by his fellow Lions to serve as Council Chairman for MD-2 Texas. While serving in this office he worked tirelessly with the 16 District Governors and visited all of the districts throughout the state supporting the Governors efforts.

His 2000-2001 Council of Governors became the first Council in the Association’s history to all be recognized with the Presidential Leadership Metal and then he continued to assist the Governors by working with them to have them further recognized by all achieving the status of 100% Governor, which was the first time an entire Council ever attained this highest level of recognition. International President Dr. Jean Bejar recognized Lion Mike with his second Presidential Metal of Merit because of his outstanding leadership as Council Chairman.

Under the appointment of past International President Kay K. Fukushima, Lion Mike served a three-year term as Impact Coordinator for MD-2 Texas with the responsibility of implementing a program of growth through the extension of new clubs. During this 3 year term, MD-2 Texas chartered 58 new Lions Clubs.  Lion Mike also serves as an advisor for International First Vice President Lion Jimmy Ross, Director of the Texas Lions Long Range Planning Commission, Chairman for the Lions Eye Health Program (LEHP), LCIF Core 4 Grant Administrator, Vice Chairman for the Lions Sight Research Foundation and Secretary for the Lions Low Vision Center of Texas.  Even though he has achieved some of the highest levels of recognition and has served in so many offices, he still likes to be introduced simply as Lion Mike.