NEWS FROM THE HUT by John Hamilton

This is going to be a “Flashback” series about veterans who have been part of the history of the HUT, Post 142 in Hominy, Oklahoma, and part of the history of the Hominy community. All veterans are special patriots and deserve to be honored, but the veterans who are no longer with us also deserve to be honored, and that is the purpose of this “Flashback” series for veterans that have passed into the Hominy Post 142 Post Everlasting Memorial in our hearts

Cecil Owens

Cecil was born April 1, 1923, in Lawrence, Missouri. He was the son of William L. and Martha E. (Lassley) Owens. At a young age, Cecil moved with his parents to Cleveland, Oklahoma. The family moved in the early 1930’s to Arizona. In 1937, they returned to Oklahoma. Cecil joined the United States Army on October 11, 1945. Cecil remained in the U.S. Army during World War II and was honorably discharged on November 7, 1946. Cecil returned to Cleveland and was united in marriage on June 27, 1944, to the love of his life, M. Louise Killingsworth. The couple caught the midnight train to Bartlesville for their honeymoon. The couple established their home in Cleveland where they raised their four daughters. Cecil gained employment with Johnson Refinery which was later purchased by Kerr-McGee. In the early 1970’s, Cecil was transferred to Wynnewood, Oklahoma. They remained in Wynnewood until 1986 when Cecil retired. The two returned to Cleveland where he has continued to reside.

Cecil was continually active working around his home. He enjoyed tending to his yard, garden, and growing flowers. Cecil walked five miles daily for many years around the neighborhood and Feyodi Park enjoying the wildlife. He always enjoyed the opportunity to go fishing anytime he could. Traveling with Louise in their travel trailer to Birch Lake was always a time that he looked forward to. Cecil was an important part of establishing the Cleveland Round Up Club and spent many hours volunteering to keep it up and operational. FFA, as well as 4H/FHA, was especially important to Cecil as he was an avid supporter. Cecil enjoyed football and supported the Cleveland Tigers. Cecil was an OU Sooner, Dallas Cowboy, Denver Bronco and OKC Thunder Basketball. He was a long time member of the American Legion and served as Commander. Cecil was also known for his cooking abilities and keeping “Herman” going from 1981 till the late 1990’s. Cecil was very instrumental in the iconic symbol of Cleveland; the American Flag that is flown south of town on the hill. He helped maintain the flag as well as helping put out the American Flags for special events on Main Street for many years. Most of all in life, Cecil loved being with his family and loved the Lord immensely as well as being an active member of the First Assembly of God Church in Cleveland for many years.

Roy David Arian

Roy David Arian was born November 20, 1943, in Cleveland, Ohio to Harry and Betty (Becker) Arian. Roy graduated from Monrovia High School in 1961, and after acquiring a bachelor’s degree Roy enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 1962. He was one of the first to graduate in the class of Physicians Assistant Program conducted at the Baylor University by the U.S. Army. Roy served in the U.S. Army until retiring in May 1983, after 22 years of service with nine years of that serving as a Physician’s Assistant. He served three terms in the Vietnam War from 1966-1971. During his time in the Army, he received the Good Conduct Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Combat Medical Badge, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with ten Service Stars, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal Second Class, Five Overseas Service Bars, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Army Service Ribbon. His rank in the Army was Chief Warrant Officer, Three. When Roy retired from the Army, he worked in the private sector service in El Paso, Texas and Farmington, New Mexico in the Veterans Department in Ft. Lyon, Colorado and Kerrville, Texas. He also worked in the Oklahoma State Prison in Helena, Oklahoma and retired in 2007. On November 11, 1990, Roy married Martha Joan Rider in Las Animas, Colorado. Martha passed away July 7, 2011. They lived together in Hominy since 2007. Roy was a member of the Hominy American Legion Post 142. Roy David Arian, age 68 of Hominy, Oklahoma passed away Tuesday, November 13, 2012, at the Integris Bass Baptist Health Center, Enid, Oklahoma. Fort Sill Honor Guard served as casket bearers and gave full military honors at the A.J. Powell Cemetery.

If anyone has a photo of Roy David Arian, please notify Hominy News-Progress or the writer of this article.

Until further notice, our regular Legion meeting will be the third Thursday of each month. Our next meeting will be on Thursday, July 22^nd at 7:00 PM. The Sons of the American Legion meetings have been suspended until further notice, depending on the future COVID-19 situation. We have resumed the tradition of the dinner at the meetings now on the third Thursday of each month. The Monday morning Koffee Klatch meetings have been resumed at 8:00 AM. If you are a veteran, come by for our monthly meeting, and/or the Monday morning Koffee Klatch meetings. Several of the Post 142 members meet on Wednesday’s at Daylight Donuts on OK-99 around 8:00 AM in Hominy for coffee and breakfast treats. If you have a good story, it may end up in print. Also, keep up with us at the Post 142 website “americanlegion142.org” and Hominy Legion on Facebook.