Blackwell-Frazier American Legion Post #142 Hominy, Oklahoma

NEWS FROM THE HUT by John Hamilton

Bill Walls had a long history in Hominy as the owner of the Bill Walls Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Buick dealership for 30 years that Bill purchased from Cal Newport, a former American Legion Post 142 Commander (1948-1949). Bill was not a member of the American Legion but was still an honored veteran in the Hominy community.

Bill was born to Earl Lee Walls and Lela May (Mitchell) Walls on March 9,1932 and raised in Ralston, Oklahoma. After graduating high school in 1950, Bill went to work at Walls Motor Company in Ralston and attended Oklahoma State University (A&M) where he graduated with an Associate of Science Degree in Business. After graduating from A&M, Bill married the love of his life, Joyce Martin, on August 18, 1952 and they made their home in Ralston, Oklahoma.

Just like many other young men during WWII and Korea, Bill was drafted on December 7, 1955 and opted to enter the Navy during the Korean Conflict. Bill completed his active duty on August 30, 1957 and completed his Naval Reserve obligation on December 6, 1961 with an Honorable Discharge.

NEWS FROM THE HUT by John Hamilton

Since this darn COVID has seemed to take over the entire world, and to a smaller extent, subordinating the posts normal activities has provided far less than previously. Last year we were having two meetings a month and there were also several more events a year that the post held and participated in. All this makes it hard to find something to write about.

I have not had as many experiences as most of the veterans at our post, especially veterans like Charlie O’Leary, Gary Lanham, Don Rainwater, or Jimmy Himes, but I have had a couple.

NEWS FROM THE HUT by John Hamilton

Well, we are already into the second month of 2021. Can you believe it? I think it is clear by the news media, and all the online medias that the consensus is that the year 2020 was not one of the best to look back on. The center of unhappiness, fear, and unrest was the COVID-19 Pandemic of 2020.

The year started out great with Charlie O’Leary and John Hamilton attending the Mid-Winter Conference in January at the Hotel and Casino in Shawnee, and a successful flag deployment for Martin Luther King Day. We were having our Monday morning breakfasts and planning for the annual Legion-Auxiliary Valentine Dinner in February. The Sons of the American Legion (SAL) were in full swing with several outings in 2019. Boys State was moving forward with a nice Chicken Noodle Fundraiser in March netting the Post plenty of funds to send two or more Juniors from Hominy High School to Boys State. The positive beginning for Post 142 in 2020 did not last.

NEWS FROM THE HUT by John Hamilton

It is an incredibly sad time at the Hut since last Thursday, January 21, 2021, when Bob Hough passed away at home in his own bed, surrounded by family members. Bob had just turned 100 years old this last September 23^rd.

Bob Hough was born on September 23, 1920 in Coalgate, Oklahoma but was raised in the hill country near Kerrville, TX. Bob was born out in the countryside but the closest town to where he was born is Coalgate, OK. Bob had eight siblings, five brothers and three sisters. The only surviving sibling is his 83-year-old brother, Jack, who lives in Owasso, OK. Bob has five children: two daughters and three sons.

Bob Hough has been an active member of The American Legion, Post 142, Hominy, Department of Oklahoma for many years. Bob has been a faithful attendee at the bi-monthly meetings and the weekly Monday morning Coffee Klatch, although it has been put on hold recently due to the COVID-19 virous. Bob loved to spin a yarn about the good old days in Hominy and his time in the United States Marine Corps.

NEWS FROM THE HUT by John Hamilton

Gary Lanham has been a member of the American Legion for the past nine years at Post 142 in Hominy Oklahoma. During that time Gary has participated as the Post 142 1st Vice Commander and the Post Historian. As the Post Historian Gary participated in the creation of the very first Post 142 History Book that won first place at the 2018 Department of Oklahoma Summer Convention. Gary also transferred from Squadron 131 Sons of the American Legion in Skiatook, OK to Squadron 142 in Hominy in 2019 and Gary has been an especially important member strongly involved in the organization and planning of multiple outings to various military bases and memorials.