19th District New Commander

August, 1973

Thomas a. Payne, past commander to the Shippensburg American Legion Post 223, was elected and installed as Commander of the 19th District of the American Legion of the Central Section of Pennsylvania. The 19th district is comprised of Cumberland, Dauphin and Lebanon counties and has the largest membership in the state, with 19,308 Legionnaires and 38 posts.

The first District Commander to come from Post 223, Payne is a native of Tifton Georgia and is employed by the United Telephone Co. of Pennsylvania.

He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1946 and was honorably discharged in 1949. He re-enlisted in 1952 and served during the Korean War and was again honorably discharged in 1946.

His membership in Post 223 dates back to 1946. He has held post offices as Commander, 1st Vice Commander, 2nd Vice Commander and Chaplain. He has also served as president of the Home Association of the Shippensburg Legion since 1971. District offices he has held were Scotland School chairman and 19th District Deputy Commander.