for American Legion Post #142; Hominy, Oklahoma.
>>>by Gary Lanham

“The Hominy News-Progress” recognized those who passed this last year.  The only one I knew personally from our ranks was Roy Arian.  I have shared in the past the special short time I had to get acquainted with him, starting with his weekly articles.  This year we also lost Wendall Graham (Vice-Commander) who I never had the pleasure of meeting, but heard good reports of.

One member, Dick Pope shared with me another special troop who answered the final roll call in 2011.  Morris Field passed September 28^th, 2011; at the age of eighty nine.  I studied up on this veteran and, as is usual for veterans with the volunteer spirit, I found another example of a life lived in excellence.

Having served in World War II, he returned to Oklahoma after learning his trade in newspaper press through training in Dallas Texas.  He worked with, and contributed to most of the local newspaper publications, including Tulsa, OK.  I was amazed working the ‘Main Street Halloween Candy’ event this year, to find his Museum as the store front.  I walked through the legacy of someone who contributed to the community with such a rare collection of printing memorabilia, as well as a few historical automobiles.  Being new to the Hominy community, I would also like to ask around about the historical significance of this location.

I think what really drew my interest in Morris…was his commitment to local youth.  He began his pursuit in martial arts training at the age of 46.  After winning major trophies and levels of achievement over the years, he opened the ‘Dragon’s Den School of Martial Arts’ in Hominy in 1984.  Through the years of operations, he taught over 5,000 young people the martial art discipline and living a healthy, drug free life style.  He did this at NO COST to the kids.  I would love to hear some testimony from those kids, who would now be adults in the “Hominy New-Progress” Letters and Opinion section.

Just a reminder, our regular meetings are the 1^st and 3^rd Thursdays of each month at 1900 hours (7:00 PM) and our Monday morning Koffee Klatch meetings over biscuits and gravy (or waffles) where we keep up on each other’s mischievous doings run generally from 7 am to 9 am . We will be anticipating updates on the Mid-Winter Conference from our Post Commander.