Since it started in 1917, the Lions International Club has provided services for the blind, poor and others. For 70 years, one man from Austin has been a part of it.

Thursday night at the Austin Lions annual award banquet, Harold “Matt” Mattfeld will receive his 70-year pin, something not many have achieved.

Mattfeld, who was born Jan. 1, 1912, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, joined the Fort Dodge Lions Club in 1941. His friend, who was a doctor, convinced Mattfeld to join.

“He told me about all the wonderful things the Lions Club is and does,” Mattfeld said. Though Mattfeld moved to Austin in 1951, his membership with the Lions didn’t lapse. According to him, he joined “right away” when he came to Austin.

Mattfeld was always busy, but he never quit the Lions Club. The year he moved to Austin, he started his own company, Cashway Lumber. He also loved to fly, as he was an Air Force flight instructor during World War II and held his pilot license for 62 years, until he was 90.

Through all the busy times, the biggest thing that kept Mattfeld a Lion was friendship.

“I enjoy it,” he said. “I like it. I have a lot of friends there.”

Mattfeld can’t guess anywhere close to the number of people he’s met through the Lions.

“I wouldn’t even offer a guess,” he said. “When you live 100 years, you have a lot of friends.”

Mattfeld also can’t guess how much he’s paid in membership dues for 70 years, but he still shows up to nearly every meeting on Thursdays. Not only has he made friends, he and his friends have made a difference.

“They’re all good people because they do a lot of volunteer work,” he said, with emphasis about help toward the blind. Within the community, the Lions also hold fundraisers during sporting events and are now helping those who are hard of hearing.

Mattfeld received Austin’s Lion of the Year award in 2007, and last year he received the highest Lions International award, the Melvin Jones Fellow award.

Mattfeld said he’s never met any other 70-year Lions. The accomplishment is rare, even internationally. Jerry Wolesky, Austin Noon Lions secretary, found out first-hand how rare the occasion is.

“I went into Lions Club International to order chevrons, or pins for each five years you go, and it only went to 65 in the catalog,” he said. “I couldn’t order 70.”

Wolesky isn’t sure, but someone may have made Mattfeld a special pin, as one arrived in the mail unexpectedly. Wolesky said Mattfeld will also be featured in the Lions Club International’s magazine this fall.

Though he’ll be 100 on New Year’s Day, Mattfeld will also continue to live an active life. He lives independently, drives and still likes to get up in the airplane with the friend who bought his airplane.

“I’ve had a full life,” Mattfeld said. “I’ve traveled around the world.”

The Austin Noon Lions Club awards banquet begins with a 5:30 p.m. social hour on Thursday. Awards will begin at 7 p.m.