POST HISTORY
SIOUX FALLS POST NO. 15 ~ SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA
In Sioux Falls we are known as The American Legion Post #15. Our Post home is presently located at 1701 W. Legion Drive and our American Legion Post #15 telephone number is (605) 336-3470.
The original Post in Sioux Falls was named Harold Mason Post 15 in memory of Harold E. Mason, Corporal in E. Company 58th Infantry, the first Sioux Falls soldier to be killed in World War I. He was the son of Eli and Minnie Mason. He enlisted February 22, 1918, and was killed in action on July 21, 1918, during the Alsne-Marne offensive in France.
For a number of years the Post met in old Germania Hall, and after this building was torn down its meeting places were varied and indefinite until it acquired its own building at 208 W. 9th Street in 1939. This building was used as a Club Room and meeting hall until increased membership required larger quarters.
In 1942 the building at Dakota Avenue and 9th Street was purchased and leased to the Federal Government for use as an U.S.O. during the remainder of 1942 and through 1944. When returned to the Post in 1945 the building was completely remodeled to produce one of the finest Legion homes in the northwest. This building consisted of a basement and two floors and was free of debt.
In September 1945, The Sioux Valley Post No. 253 was merged with The Harold Mason Post No. 15 to charter the present Sioux Falls Post No. 15. The Post has been and is financed by maintenance of a Club Lounge and Bar, and by various social events at all times during the year.
The Post supports many activities. The new Post home at 1701 W. Legion Drive is the result of splendid cooperation by its members and those directly responsible for its being, who are too numerous to mention by name.
That is the history of the amazing American Legion in action in this great State
of South Dakota and Sioux Falls Post #15, a Post that has had much
involvement in history.
South Dakota American Legion
The South Dakota Department of the American Legion was organized simultaneously with the national organization. South Dakota Adjutant General William A. Morris named Theodore R. Johnson of Sioux Falls to select a committee of representative ex-service men to attend the first caucus in St Louis, Missouri, May 8-10, 1919. After the first national caucus, a temporary South Dakota organization was formed at Vermillion on May 15, 1919 with Theodore R. Johnson as chairman. The first state convention was held in Sioux Falls on July 14 and 15, 1919. Myron L. Shade of Mitchell was elected the first Department Commander. Forty-eight posts had been organized by convention time. The South Dakota Department now consists of about 260 posts with about 26,000 members. The Official activities and interests of the American Legion are in four areas: Rehabilitation, including all aid to veterans; Americanism; Child Welfare; and National Security. One of the Americanism programs with South Dakota roots is American Legion baseball, now a nationwide program. It was conceived at the state convention at Milbank in 1925. Frank Sieh of Aberdeen originated the idea. A granite monument at Milbank commemorates the formation of Legion Baseball there. The South Dakota American Legion Department Headquarters is located in the Codington County courthouse in Watertown. The South Dakota Legion contributed to the construction cost of that courthouse and thus was granted rent-free space in the courthouse for the life of the building. Date of Charter, July 1, 1919
Sioux Falls Post 15 Commanders *Deceased Year Commander Year Commander
1918-19 James Knewell* 1959-60 Roland Wick*1919-20 Art Muchow* 1960-61 Chet Lien 1920-21 Dr. G. I. Cottam* 1961-62 Ozzie Zender*
1921-22 James Parliman* 1962-63 Jim Kirshman 1922-23 Henry Mundt* 1963-64 Jim Wheeler 1923-24 Fred Schultz* 1964 Wayne Herreid* 1924-25 William Snitkey* 1964-66 Arlo Lyng 1925-26 James C. Mann* . 1966-67 Al DeGroot* 1926-27 Tom Manchester* 1967-68 Harold Huber* 1927 A. L. Bodley* 1968-69 Ken Fladgard 1927-28 Fred Whitfield* 1969-70 Art White* 1928-29 Mark McMahon* 1970-71 Dale Norstrom 1929 Claude Hamilton* 1971-72 Robert Brekke 1929-30 V. W. Widstrand* 1972-73 Paul Bankson* 1930-31 Ben Stark* 1973-74 Wally Sorum* 1931-32 George Brochardt* 1974- 75 Jim Haight 1932-33 Lawrence Green* 1975-76 Orville Hill 1933-34 Dee Richardson* 1976-77 Jack Mulkey 1934-35 Joe Suebert* 1977-79 Bryce Selix* 1935-36 Chan Gurney* 1979 Les Bradberry* 1936 AI Rabe* 1979-80 Ed Brown 1936-37 Ben Abel* 1980-81 Milt Simons*
1937-38 Sid Wirzbach* 1981-82 Jim Hale* 1938-39 Hal Ranney* 1982-83 Bob Ashcroff* 1939-40 Ernest Hahn* 1983-84 Lloyd Tenneboe* 1940-41 Russell Powell* 1984-85 Arlen Johnson 1941-42 Clarence Akin* 1985-86 Ellwood Wilson 1942-43 Dan Dedrick* 1986-88 Bill Ranney 1943-44 Roy Burns* 1988-89 Don Kuck* 1944-45 George Elmen* 1989-90 G. D. "Hoot" Gibson 1945 W. F. Weiss* 1990-91 Dorothy Nash 1945-46 Tom Harkison* 1991-92 Vince Maag 1946-47 C. J. Rufer* 1992-93 George Havel* 1947-48 Doc. G. L. Clifton* 1993-94 Elmer Bjorum 1948-49 Gene Pruitt* 1994-95 Jim Hartsook I1949-50 Mike Schirmer* 1995-96 Roger Klos 1950-51 Dale Tuttle 1996-97 Glen Kelley 1951-52 W. F. Lenker* 1997-98 Benny Beiningen 1952-53 Leonard Miller* 1998-99 Jim Ellis 1953-54 Deming Smith* 1999-00 Harold Aulner* 1954-55 William Clayton 2000-01 Dennis Hirsch* 1955-56 Robert Reetz* 2001-02 Sue Erschens 1956-57 Joe Griffin* 2002-03 Dick Sievert1957-58 B. E. McCreedy* 2003-04 Gene Tornow1958-59 Leonard Martinek 2004-05 Dennis Hirsch* 2005-06 Darwin Wahlert
2006-067Richard Cobb
South Dakota American Legion
The South Dakota Department of the American Legion was organized simultaneously with the national organization. South Dakota Adjutant General William A. Morris named Theodore R. Johnson of Sioux Falls to select a committee of representative ex-service men to attend the first caucus in St Louis, Missouri, May 8-10, 1919. After the first national caucus, a temporary South Dakota organization was formed at Vermillion on May 15, 1919 with Theodore R. Johnson as chairman. The first state convention was held in Sioux Falls on July 14 and 15, 1919. Myron L. Shade of Mitchell was elected the first Department Commander. Forty-eight posts had been organized by convention time. The South Dakota Department now consists of about 260 posts with about 26,000 members. The Official activities and interests of the American Legion are in four areas: Rehabilitation, including all aid to veterans; Americanism; Child Welfare; and National Security. One of the Americanism programs with South Dakota roots is American Legion baseball, now a nationwide program. It was conceived at the state convention at Milbank in 1925. Frank Sieh of Aberdeen originated the idea. A granite monument at Milbank commemorates the formation of Legion Baseball there. The South Dakota American Legion Department Headquarters is located in the Codington County courthouse in Watertown. The South Dakota Legion contributed to the construction cost of that courthouse and thus was granted rent-free space in the courthouse for the life of the building.Year Commander Year Commander
1918-19 James Knewell* 1959-60 Roland Wick*
1919-20 Art Muchow* 1960-61 Chet Lien
1920-21 Dr. G. I. Cottam* 1961-62 Ozzie Zender*
1921-22 James Parliman* 1962-63 Jim Kirshman
1922-23 Henry Mundt* 1963-64 Jim Wheeler
1923-24 Fred Schultz* 1964 Wayne Herreid*
1924-25 William Snitkey* 1964-66 Arlo Lyng
1925-26 James C. Mann* . 1966-67 Al DeGroot*
1926-27 Tom Manchester* 1967-68 Harold Huber*
1927 A. L. Bodley* 1968-69 Ken Fladgard
1927-28 Fred Whitfield* 1969-70 Art White*
1928-29 Mark McMahon* 1970-71 Dale Norstrom
1929 Claude Hamilton* 1971-72 Robert Brekke
1929-30 V. W. Widstrand* 1972-73 Paul Bankson*
1930-31 Ben Stark* 1973-74 Wally Sorum*
1931-32 George Brochardt* 1974- 75 Jim Haight
1932-33 Lawrence Green* 1975-76 Orville Hill
1933-34 Dee Richardson* 1976-77 Jack Mulkey
1934-35 Joe Suebert* 1977-79 Bryce Selix*
1935-36 Chan Gurney* 1979 Les Bradberry*
1936 AI Rabe* 1979-80 Ed Brown
1936-37 Ben Abel* 1980-81 Milt Simons*
1937-38 Sid Wirzbach* 1981-82 Jim Hale*
1938-39 Hal Ranney* 1982-83 Bob Ashcroff*
1939-40 Ernest Hahn* 1983-84 Lloyd Tenneboe*
1940-41 Russell Powell* 1984-85 Arlen Johnson
1941-42 Clarence Akin* 1985-86 Ellwood Wilson
1942-43 Dan Dedrick* 1986-88 Bill Ranney
1943-44 Roy Burns* 1988-89 Don Kuck*
1944-45 George Elmen* 1989-90 G. D. "Hoot" Gibson
1945 W. F. Weiss* 1990-91 Dorothy Nash
1945-46 Tom Harkison* 1991-92 Vince Maag
1946-47 C. J. Rufer* 1992-93 George Havel*
1947-48 Doc. G. L. Clifton* 1993-94 Elmer Bjorum
1948-49 Gene Pruitt* 1994-95 Jim Hartsook I
1949-50 Mike Schirmer* 1995-96 Roger Klos
1950-51 Dale Tuttle 1996-97 Glen Kelley
1951-52 W. F. Lenker* 1997-98 Benny Beiningen
1952-53 Leonard Miller* 1998-99 Jim Ellis
1953-54 Deming Smith* 1999-00 Harold Aulner*
1954-55 William Clayton 2000-01 Dennis Hirsch*
1955-56 Robert Reetz* 2001-02 Sue Erschens
1956-57 Joe Griffin* 2002-03 Dick Sievert
1957-58 B. E. McCreedy* 2003-04 Gene Tornow
1958-59 Leonard Martinek 2004-05 Dennis Hirsch*
2005-06 Darwin Wahlert
2006-067Richard Cobb
