Post 748 Antioch, Illinois

Post 748

Antioch, Illinois

Post 748 Antioch, Illinois

About This Post

Post Namesake

Antioch American Legion Post 748

Notable Members

Raymond L. Webb (1st Post Commander) John Horan (5th, 32rd Post Commander) Floyd Horton (19th Post Commander, Recipient of the French Legion of Honour [French Medal of Honor], lived to be 108.) Franz A. Swenson (20th Post Commander, 10th District ... READ MORE

What Makes this Post Unique

We are one of the oldest Posts in Lake County, IL (10th District). We are celebrating our 91st year in existence. We are the furtherest north post in the State of Illinois; literally on the border of Illinois and Wisconsin. ... READ MORE

Photos

HISTORY

1920

Post Charter Date

Feb 26, 1926
This is the day our Post was granted its charter.
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Raymond L. Webb (WWI Veteran) 1926-1927

Jun 1, 1926
Our first Post Commander took the helms of our post in June of 1926 through the rest of the Legion year in 1927.
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Dr. George W. Jensen (WWI Veteran) 1927-1928

Jul 1, 1927
Our second Post Commander took over on June 1, 1927 through the Legion Year to June of 1927.
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Arthur Maplethorpe (WWI Veteran) 1928-1929

Jul 1, 1928
The 3rd Post Commander took over on June 1, 1928 and continued his year of service through June of 1929. He served in France in 1918 during WWI.
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Paul L. Chase (WWI Veteran) 1929-1930

Jul 1, 1929
4th Commadner of our Post in Antioch, IL. Took office June 1, 1929 and continued his year of Commandership until June of 1930.
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1930

John L. Horan (WWI Veteran) 1930-1931

John L. Horan (WWI Veteran) 1930-1931

Jun 1, 1930
Commander Horan took over for P. L. Chase in June of 1930 through the Legion year until June 1931. John Horan also worked for the News Sun Times, was a volunteer Firefighter for Antioch, and involved in many community events and organizations.
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Samuel M. Walance (WWI Veteran) 1931-1932

Jun 1, 1931
Commander Walance became Commander of the post June of 1931 through in 1932.
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Alonzo R. Runyard (WWI Veteran) 1932-1933

Jun 1, 1932
Commander Runyard was elected to Commadner in June of 1932 and his Commadnership ended June of 1933.
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Dr. L. John Zimmerman (WWI Veteran)

Jun 1, 1932
Commander (Dr.) Zimmerman was sworn into office June of 1932 and commanded thru June of 1933.
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Walter K. Hills (WWI Veteran)

Jun 1, 1933
Commander Hills was elected into position in June of 1933 and finished his year in June of 1934.
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Otto S. Klass (WWI Veteran)

Jun 1, 1934
Otto Class was elected Commander of Antioch American Legion Post 748 in Jne of 1934 - June 1935.
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Frank T. Hattrem (WWI Veteran)

Jun 1, 1935
Commander Hattrem was sworn into being Commander Jne of 1935 and had a good year of Commander until June of 1936.
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James L. Waters (WWI Veteran)

Jun 1, 1936
James L. Waters was Commander of Antioch Post 748 for the year June 1936 through June 1937.
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Ernest H. Glenn (WWI Veteran)

Jun 1, 1937
Commander Ernest H. Glenn was placed into the Commanders position by his peers in June of 1937 through June of 1938.
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Warren L. Edwards

Jun 1, 1938
In June of 1938, Commander Edwards was elected into position to lead Antioch American Legion Post 748 through June of 1939.
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Clarence J. White

Jun 1, 1939
Our last Commander of the 1930's, Commander White lead our post from June of 1939 through June of 1940.
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1940

J. Harry Message

Jun 1, 1940
Our 1st Commander of the 1940's, Commander Message took charge of Antioch Post 748 from June 1940 through June of 1941.
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Roman B. Vos

Jun 1, 1941
Roman B. Vos was elected in May of 1941 and took command of the post in June of 1941. Shortly after he took over for commander, on Dec. 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese. He was our First Commander after the US was drawn into WWII. He continued his year as commander and relinquished his duties in June of 1942.
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Clarence L. Heath (WWI Veteran)

Jun 1, 1942
Commander Heath took over for Commander Vos. He served from June 1942 to June of 1943.
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Floyd W. Horton (WWI Veteran)

Floyd W. Horton (WWI Veteran)

Jun 1, 1943
Floyd Horton was elected and served as Commander for Antioch post 748 for one year from June 1943 to June of 1944. Recipient of the French Legion of Honour Medal (French Medal of Honor). Commander Horton lived to be 108 years old and passed away in May of 1999.
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Franz A. Swenson

Jun 1, 1944
Commander Swenson was elected to Commander in June 1944 and served for 2 years through June of 1946. In 1965 Commander Swenson would go on to serve as the 10th District Service Officer (appointed by his son George Swenson Sr.), where he would swear in his son as District Commander. He served for many years as the Superintendent for the Lake County Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) and would retire from that in 1976. Commander Swenson..
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Franz A. Swenson

Everett R. Hatfield

Jun 1, 1946
Commander Hatfield took over for Commander Swenson in June of 1946 and served until June of 1947.
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Edward J. Frazier

Jun 1, 1947
Ed Frazier served as Commander here at Antioch Post 748 for one year in June of 1947 until his term ended in June of 1948.
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Raymond D. Morton

Jun 1, 1948
Commander R. D. Morton was elected by his peers in June of 1948 to take the Commandership over in Antioch. He served until June of 1949.
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Edward H. Jahneke

Jun 1, 1949
Commander Edward H. Jahneke served one term as Commander for our post from June of 1949 through June of 1950; ending our decade of the 40's bringing us into the 50's.
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1950

Harold Christensen

Jun 1, 1950
Harold Christensen was voted into the position of Commander by his peers in June of 1950 and served until his term ended in June of 1951; bringing the 50's to a good start for the post.
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Oscar I. Onsted

Jun 1, 1951
Oscar Onsted, selected by his fellow Legionnaires, was elected to Commander in June of 1951 and finished his term in June of 1953.
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Daniel H. Lightsey

Jun 1, 1953
Commander Lightsey was Commander of this post from June 1953 until his term expired in June of 1954.
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Jack W. Horan

Jun 1, 1954
Jack Horan served, like his father before him, as Commander of the Post from June 1954 to June of 1955.
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William V. Lahti

Jun 1, 1955
William "Bill" Lahti was elected to Command Antioch Legion Post 748 in June of 1955 and served his one year term until June of 1956.
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Dr. Harry Mizock

Jun 1, 1956
Commander (Dr.) Mizock was Commander for Antioch Post 748 from June 1956 through June of 1957.
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Dr. George W. Jensen

Jun 1, 1957
Commander (Dr.) Jensen (Past Commander 1926-27) was re-elected as Commander for the post again in 1957 and served another one year term until June of 1958.
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John L. Horan

Jun 1, 1958
Commander Horan (Past Commander 1929-30) served again as Commander of Antioch Post 748 for another 1 year term from June 1958 June of 1959.
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John L. Horan
George A. Swenson Sr.

George A. Swenson Sr.

Jun 1, 1959
Commander George Swenson (son of Franz A. Swenson 1944-46) was elected by his peers to the position of Commander of Antioch American Legion Post 748. His father swore him in. George would go on to serve in the 10th District and ran up the chairs to Commander in 1965. His father, whom he appointed as Service Officer, once again swore him in. After serving as District Commander, he would transfer to Gurnee Post 771. George..
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1960

William E. Chase

Jun 1, 1960
Commander Chase, like his father before him (P. L. Chase 1928-29), was sworn in as Commander in June of 1960 to June of 1961.
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David Kuiken

Jun 1, 1961
David Kuiken was elected to Post Commander for Antioch in June of 1961 and served one year until June of 1962.
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John L. Volk

Jun 1, 1962
Commander Volk served as Commander from June of 1962 through June of 1963.
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George A. Ott

Jun 1, 1963
Commander Ott served one year as Commander of Antioch Post 748 from June of 1963 to June of 1964.
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Donald R. Gaston

Jun 1, 1964
Don R. Gaston was selected by his peers to lead the post as Commander from June 1964 to June of 1965.
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James A. Ferrier

James A. Ferrier

Jun 1, 1965
James Farrier was Commander of Antioch Legion Post 748 from June of 1965 to June of 1966.
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Bernard F. Stadick

Jun 1, 1966
Commander Stadick served for 2 years as Commander for Antioch Post 748 from June 1966 to June of 1968.
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Albert "Al" Fronek

Jun 1, 1968
Commander Fronek served his year as Commander here in Antioch from June of 1968 to June of 1969.
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Bernard F. DeVries

Jun 1, 1969
Bernard "Bernie" DeVries was elected in June of 1969 to serve his first term as Commander here in Antioch; endig the swinging 60's taking us right into the 70's.
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Bernard F. DeVries

1970

Donald R. Gaston

Jun 1, 1970
Past Commander Gaston (1964-65) was elected again to serve another 1 year term as Commander for the post from June 1970 to June 1971; starting the 70's out right!
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James A. Ferrier

Jun 1, 1971

Past Commander Ferrier (1965-66) was elected to another round of Commandership and served another 2 years for the post from June 1971 through June of 1973.


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James A. Ferrier

Bennis D. Beattie

Jun 1, 1973
Commander Beattie served the post faithfully from June of 1973 to June of 1975.
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Bernard F. DeVries

Jun 1, 1975
Past Commander DeVries (1969-70) was re-elected for another length of service from June of 1975 to June of 1979. Bringing his total years of commanding this post to 5 years thus far.
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Bernard F. DeVries
James A. Ferrier

James A. Ferrier

Jun 1, 1979

Past Commander Ferrier (1965-66, 1971-73) again was asked to lead this post to success from June of 1979 through 1980; ending the 70's with a bang! Bringing his total years as Commander of this post thus far to 4.


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1980

Bernard F. DeVries

Jun 1, 1980

Past Commander DeVries (1969-70, 1975-79) ran in and won the election for Post Commander and served a lengthy term of 7 more years from June 1980 to June of 1987. His total years as Commander are now at 12. Bernie would go on to serve as Post Adjutant until 2014 when he retired. He is deemed the most knowlegdgeable Antioch Legionnaire.


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Bernard F. DeVries
James A. Ferrier

James A. Ferrier

Jun 1, 1987
Past Commander Ferrier (1965-66, 1971-73, 1979-80) took the helms again from Past Commander DeVries in June 1987 and served until June of 1996. During his term, the post nearly closed after selling the post home in 1994 due to lack of participation and interest. They sold the home so they could continue to fund the programs for the Legion. From that point forward, we would meet at a variety of places from the Senior Center..
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1990

James Cole

Jun 1, 1996
Commander Cole was elected to Commander Antioch Post 748 in June 1997 to June 1998. James has been a pillar in the Antioch Community for many years and has been involved with several Veteran Service Organizations for the past decade.
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James Cole
Walter Bushie

Walter Bushie

Jun 1, 1998
Commander Walter "Wally" Bushie was elected to serve this post in June of 1998 and served with dedication and honor until his untimely death in December 2013. The position of Commander was left open in his honor until the coming election in June. Walter led this post for 14 years and was also involved in the VFW. He was the heart and soul of the post representing the post every where he went.
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2010

George A. Swenson Sr.

Jun 1, 2014
Past Commander George A. Swenson Sr. (1959-60) returned to Antioch Post 748 in 2012 transferring out of Gurnee 771. After the death of Commander Bushie, Commander Swenson took over and filled in until he was elected Commander in June of 2014 until his term ended in June of 2015. Commander Swenson appointed his grandson Michael Hellquist to Adjutant while he was Commander so he could start to learn how the Legion functions.
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George A. Swenson Sr.
Greggory P. Loui

Greggory P. Loui

Jun 1, 2015
Commander Loui was elected by his peers to lead the post in June of 2015 to June 2016.
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Michael A. Hellquist

Jun 1, 2016
Commander Hellquist was introduced to the post in 2012 when he and his grandfather Past Commander George Swenson (1959-60, 2014-15). He started his Legion career in Gurnee 771 in September 2007 when he returned from Basic Combat Training from Fort Sill, OK. He would start as District Historian and Assistant Sgt. At Arms for the 10th District. After being appointed to Adjutant for Post 748, he started to learn the value of the American Legion..
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Michael A. Hellquist