The following speech was read by Lion Flora Ancona before the presentation to Lion Abel. The fact that we have a Melvin Jones Award to present tonight is a very big reward for the San Pedro Lions Club. It means that we have been very active and been recognized by Lions International.

    Tonight my speech has been made extra simple because our club has chosen to present this award to a very open and deserving member. We will all agree that this is "Our Guy." We are honoring a man of no excuses and lots of action. He is one of our island's best known tourist guides, a Senior Minister of the Catholic Church, a Commissioner of the Courts, and still finds time to be a very active Lion member. He is a Charter member of our club, attends most of our activities, is one of our great chefs for Lions weekend barbecues and has been the Club's treasurer for as far back as I can remember.

    Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we would like to present this Melvin Jones Fellow Award to Lion Abel Guerrero Sr. as a token of our great appreciation for his friendship and service as a Lion. It is more people like Abel that we need in our club, our community, our country, our world for it to be a more peaceful and enjoyable place to be. Let us give him a big ROAR!

    With this announcement, the gathering gave Lion Abel a standing ovation. In accepting, he pledged to continue serving as a Lion until the end of his life. Lion Abel Guerrero is the fourth person in San Pedro to be appointed a Melvin Jones Fellow. The other distinguished recipients are Lion Edilberto "Beto" Marin, Lion Alfredito "Fred" Alamilla (deceased) and Mrs. Celi McCorkle.