A community leader and former college educator has been honored by the civic club he has been a part of for over two decades.

Fred Bunyan was named “Lion of the Year” on Tuesday by the Seminole Lions Club, which meets weekly in the Student Union at Seminole State College.

“I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award than Fred,” said longtime Lions Club member Les Walker, who presented the honor to Bunyan.

“Fred doesn’t know how to say the word ‘no.’ He always says ‘yes’ to whatever he’s asked to do. He’s been involved in all of the Lions Club projects, including the Kids Sight program. Fred has been known to lead the singing at our meetings on occasion. He has also helped out with the state convention. He’s just always available to do whatever needs to be done,” Walker said.

Bunyan, who joined the Seminole Lions Club in October 2001, served three terms as president, and served as a board member of the Oklahoma Boys Ranch. He is a past recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellowship, the highest award a Lion can receive, and currently serves as “Lion Tamer.”

Walker said one time when Bunyan was dressed in a lion costume and handing out candy at the club’s Halloween Carnival, a young child told Bunyan, “I want to be just like you someday.”

Bunyan began his career at Seminole State College in 1976, when it was still known as Seminole Junior College. He taught accounting and other busi(See (Continued from Page 1) ness courses in the Business and Information Division for 38 years before his retirement in 2014. He also served as Chair of the Division.

Bunyan was a member of the Seminole Hospital Board for many years. He served as treasurer for state organizations – the Oklahoma Association of Community College and the Oklahoma Technical Society; and local organizations - Seminole Band Boosters and the SSC Faculty Senate.

He and his wife, Jonna, who retired from Seminole State College in 2013, were presented with Distinguished Service Awards at the Seminole State Educational Foundation banquet in 2023.