POST HISTORY

POST HISTORY

On August 15, 1949, Post 61 received its temporary charter with 65 members, and in 1950, it received its permanent charter. The first Commander of the post was Jim Reily, and the first Adjutant was E.G. Gage. Lino Aragon and E.G. Gage were the last two charter members, both of whom have since passed away. Member James Cagle was the last World War I veteran to die. He was born on March 26, 1896, in Warren County, Tennessee, and moved to Goodyear, Arizona, in 1970. Post 61 also had three World War II veterans: Raymond Battersby (Norman, OK), Raymond Bedoya (Avondale, AZ), and James Couch (Goodyear, AZ).

Since 1950, Post 61 and Unit 61 have co-sponsored over 1,100 students at Boys' and Girls' State. The post has presented school awards to six primary schools in the Greater Southwest Valley of the Sun for the last 50 years. Recently, they have started an Americanism scholarship award program in place of the medallion awards. Additionally, they have presented JROTC and Commander's Trophy awards to Agua Fria and Tolleson High Schools since 1970, as well as Westview High School. Crandall-Palmer has sponsored American Legion Baseball Teams (A & B) for 40 years.

The post has had three women serve as Post Commanders: Helen Daley, Marian Black, and Patricia Thompson. Four other Post 61 members have gone on to become Department of Arizona Area “B” Vice Commanders: George Jefferies, James Flannery, Frank Whitten, and James Burke.

This historical information was provided by past Post Commanders and former Post Adjutant Joe Solano.