In July 1966 a group of local men met with representatives of the Manassas Host Lions Club at the Downtowner Motel Inn in Manassas, Virginia . The Manassas Host Lions Club agreed to sponsor a new club, and on July 27, 1966, passed a resolution to found the Park West Lions club. Lion John Gregory of the Manassas Host Lions Club served as the guiding Lion. On August 30, 1966, Park West was officially chartered as the fifth Lions Club in Prince William County. The charter night was held on November 18, 1966.
The name Park West was chosen for the new club after it was suggested by the Mayor of Manassas Park who wanted the name to show that the new club included both Manassas Park and the Westgate areas. Included in the original service territory were Manassas Park, Westgate, Loch Lomond and Yorkshire. Today the Park West Lions club serves the Sudley and West Gate areas of Manassas, the Bristow area north of Route 28, the Gainesville area north of Linton Hall Road and State Road 55, and the Haymarket, Bull Run Mountain and Catharpin areas in Northern Virginia.
Over the past thirty years, the Park West Lions club has sponsored two Lions clubs, a Lioness club, a High school Leo club and another high school group called the “Stonewall Jackson High school Lionettes.”
The Park West Lions are known throughout the world of Lionism as “The Red Derby club”. The club officially adopted the red derby, in December 1972, when Lion J.O.Ward was the club president. Lion J.O., as well as other club members, went on to serve as a District Governor. The red derby went on to become a very recognizable symbol for the club at state and international conventions. It is rather hard to lose a fellow Park West Lion when he has his red derby on.