Her voice cracked a little and her pace slowed down.

It was apparent Lucille Meador of Union was more than touched by the sentiments of her fellow Civitans during the club’s celebration on Tuesday.

She was overwhelmed.

“It was really wonderful for them to recognize me like that,” she said.

“This was a great opportunity to recognize her,” said Union Civitan President Henry Sparrow.

The reason Meador was recognized during the Union Civitan bash Tuesday celebrating its 52nd year of existence was because the 85-year-old has been with the club nearly since day one.

Meador became a Civitan 51 years ago after she attended a meeting on an invitation.

She hadn’t heard of the club before attending that meeting and instantly became interested in what the organization stands for and its service to the community.

“I was just interested,” Meador confessed. “And it was appealing to me.”

She said the club’s involvement with and desire to help people in Union County who couldn’t help themselves fit perfectly with her convictions.

Meador also was happy to be the club’s first woman member.

Up until she joined more than a half-century ago the club had only accepted men as its members. When club members told her they’d enjoy having her as a part of the group, she jumped on the opportunity.

“So I joined immediately,” Meador said.

She was surprised that the club didn’t have any women members but just as surprised when they asked her to join.

“They welcomed me greatly,” Meador said. “They were glad to get a woman in the club.”

Interestingly enough, the present Union Civitan roster, she added, is comprised of at least half women.

Meador wasted no time getting involved, either. She participated in any and all events and activities the club held until she became no longer able to. She now is a resident of Oakmont of Union and isn’t able to get to many of the club’s meetings or events.

She remembers, however, being an active member, helping with birthday events and all the other Civitan activities. She couldn’t even begin to estimate how many hours she volunteered not just for the club but for the community.

She was — and still is — happy to serve.

“It’s been wonderful,” Meador said about being a Civitan. “Everything about the club is so great. We do so much for so many people and we care about one another.”

She misses not being able to attend Civitan meetings regularly on the first and third Tuesdays of each month and helping with the club’s activities but still goes as much as she’s able. She also receives updates about what the Civitans are doing every now and then.

Meador is probably the club’s biggest fan, too.

“It’s a great club and we do great things,” she said.

Meador said the club might not always get recognition in the press and while people know it exists there’s a lot to the club that the public doesn’t see. She wants people to realize even though the club’s not always in the spotlight, it’s there.

“We are involved,” she said. “If there’s any way we can help people in the community, let us know and we’ll see what we can do.”

She also encourages people to get involved with Union Civitan.

“I hope people continue to join and participate,” Meador said.

And after 51 years on the club roster, she’s just as excited now about being a Civitan as she was then.

“I’m glad they let me join,” Meador said. “I feel like I’m a part of it — I really do.”