Post 74 Chesterfield, South Carolina
Post 74
Chesterfield, South Carolina
About This Post
Post Namesake
Chesterfield American Legion Post 74 is named after the town of Chesterfield. The town of Chesterfield was named in honor of English statesman, Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield.
Notable Members
Post Commander Hough;
1st Vice Commander Benton;
Adjutant R. Sowell;
Chaplain J. Rhonemus;
Finance Officer R. Oakley;
Membership Chair E. Davis;
Oratorical Chair & Post Historian - Commander Hough;
District 12 Commander C. Davis;
District 12 Area Commander Hough (2020-2021)
Past District 12 Adjutant H. Sellers;
What Makes this Post Unique
Due to COVID-19, onsite post meetings are suspended indefinitely, in compliance with Gov. Henry McMaster's mandate.
Post 74 meets on the second Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the Community Hut, Craig Park, in Chesterfield, SC.
We have several WWII ... READ MORE
Photos
2017 Veterans Day Luncheon
2017 Veterans Day Parade
December 2017 Post Holiday Celebration
May 2018 High School Award Program
September 2018 Hurricane Florence Damage at Post Location
Chesterfield Gospel Fest Parade and Festival - October 2018
October 18, 2018, American Legion Post 74 Members Attended the Fourth Annual Veteran's Appreciation Banquet
2018 October 20 Post 74 Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser
2018 Rotary Club of Cheraw Veterans Program
2018 Veterans Day Program - Chesterfield County South Carolina
Buck White Memorial Veteran Breakfast at Sandhill Telephone
December 2018 Christmas Social
HISTORY
1920
1st Commander, Robert L. Gardner, 1920 - 1927
Mar 3, 1920
Post 74 elects first commander, Robert L. Gardner, 1920 - 1927 (Adjutants - L. A. Munn, 1920-1921; W. J. Douglass, 1921 - 1925; L. A. Munn, 1925 - 1926; James E. Leppard, Sr., 1926-1927)
American Legion Post 74 received its Temporary Charter
Mar 30, 1920
American Legion Post 74 received its Temporary Charter on March 30, 1920.
2nd Commander, James E. Leppard elected, 1927 - 1928
Jul 1, 1927
2nd Commander James E. Leppard selected, 1927 - 1928 (Adjutant L. A. Munn, 1927 - 1928)
3rd Commander, L. A. Munn elected, 1928 - 1929
Jul 1, 1928
Post 74 3rd Commander L. A. Munn selected (Adjutant Kirby Melton)
4th Commander, A. J. Huntley elected, 1929 - 1930
Jul 1, 1929
Post 74 4th Commander A. J. Huntley elected (Adjutant Kirby Melton)
1930
5th Commander, B. M. Ellis elected, 1930 - 1931
Jul 1, 1930
Post 74 5th Commander B. M. Ellis elected 1930-1931; (Adjutant Kirby Melton)
6th Commander, Kirby Melton Elected, 1931 - 1932
Jul 1, 1931
Post 74 6th Commander Kirby Melton Elected, 1931 - 1932 (Adjutant L. A. Munn)
7th Commander, Thornwell F. Sowell Elected, 1932 - 1933
Jul 1, 1932
Post 74 7th Commander Thornwell F. Sowell Elected, 1932 - 1933 (Adjutant L. A. Munn)
8th Commander, Robert L. Gardner elected, 1933 - 1934
Jul 1, 1933
Post 74 8th Commander Robert L. Gardner elected, 1933 - 1934 (Adjutant L. A. Munn)
9th Commander, Arthur B. Rivers elected, 1934 - 1935
Jul 1, 1934
Post 74 9th Commander Arthur B. Rivers elected, 1934 - 1935 (Adjutant L. A. Mann)
10th Commander, James E. Leppard, Sr., Elected, 1935 - 1936
Jul 1, 1935
Post 74 10th Commander James E. Leppard, Sr., Elected, 1935 - 1936 (Adjutant L. A. Mann)
Rustic log cabin, meeting place for American Legion Post 74, completed in Craig Park in 1935
Jul 1935
Rustic log cabin, current meeting place of American Legion Post 74, was completed in Craig Park in 1935.
11th Commander, Thornwell F. Sowell elected, 1936 - 1937
Jul 1, 1936
Post 74 11th Commander Thornwell F. Sowell elected, 1936 - 1937 (Adjutant L. A. Munn)
12th Commander, Grady D. McGill elected, 1937 - 1938
Jul 1, 1937
Post 74 12th Commander Grady D. McGill elected, 1937 - 1938 (Adjutants: L. A. Munn and W. J. Douglass)
13th Commander, Andrew J. Huntley elected, 1938 - 1939
Jul 1, 1938
Post 74 13th Commander Andrew J. Huntley elected, 1938 - 1939 (Adjutant W. J. Douglass)
14th Commander, Ray V. Phillips elected, 1939 - 1940
Jul 1, 1939
Post 74 14th Commander Ray V. Phillips elected, 1939 - 1940 (Adjutant John B. White)
World War II begins
Sep 1, 1939
On September 1, 1939, the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein opened fire on a Polish fortress on the Westerplatte Peninsula as assault troops hidden aboard the vessel stormed the shoreline. On September 3, Britain and France declared war on Germany.
1940
15th Commander, P. B. Willingham elected, 1940 - 1941
Jul 1, 1940
Post 74 15th Commander P. B. Willingham elected, 1940 - 1941 (Adjutant Thornwell F. Sowell)
16th Commander, Ray V. Phillips elected, 1941 - 1942
Jul 1, 1941
Post 74 16th Commander Ray V. Phillips elected, 1941 - 1942 (Adjutant John B. White)
17th Commander, William T. Hunt elected, 1942 - 1943
Jul 1, 1942
Post 74 17th Commander William T. Hunt elected, 1942 - 1943 (Adjutant John B. White)
18th Commander, Francis B. Mobley elected, 1943 - 1944
Jul 1, 1943
Post 74 18th Commander Francis B. Mobley elected, 1943 - 1944 (Adjutant Thornwell F. Sowell)
19th Commander, Grady D. McGill elected, 1944 - 1945
Jul 1, 1944
Post 74 19th Commander Grady D. McGill elected, 1944 - 1945 (Adjutant W. J. Douglass)
American Legion Post 74 Celebrates 25th Anniversary
Mar 30, 1945
On March 30, 1945, American Legion Post 74, in Chesterfield, SC, had its 25th anniversary.
20th Commander, Alfred R. Rivers elected, 1945 - 1946
Jul 1, 1945
Post 74 20th Commander Alfred R. Rivers elected, 1945 - 1946 (Adjutant R. J. Hursey)
21st Commander, R. J. Hursey elected, 1946 - 1947
Jul 1, 1946
Post 74 21st Commander R. J. Hursey elected, 1946 - 1947 (Adjutant James C. Willis)
22nd Commander, R. Marion Ellis elected, 1947 - 1948
Jul 1, 1947
Post 74 22nd Commander R. Marion Ellis elected, 1947 - 1948 (Adjutant John E. Lucas)
23rd Commander, George L. Harmon elected, 1948 - 1949
Jul 1, 1948
Post 74 23rd Commander George L. Harmon elected, 1948 - 1949 (Adjutant James F. Henderson)
24th Commander, James F. Henderson elected, 1949 - 1950
Jul 1, 1949
Post 74 24th Commander James F. Henderson elected, 1949 - 1950 (Adjutant James E. Jordan)
1950
Korean War Begins
May 25, 1950
The Korean War (1950-1953) began when the North Korean Communist army crossed the 38th Parallel and invaded non-Communist South Korea.
25th Commander, J. E. Jordan elected, 1950 - 1951
Jul 1, 1950
Post 74 25th Commander J. E. Jordan elected, 1950 - 1951 (Adjutant J. C. Willis)
26th Commander, J. C. Willis elected, 1951 - 1952
Jul 1, 1951
Post 74 26th Commander J. C. Willis elected, 1951 - 1952 (Adjutant Morris Lisenby)
27th Commander Harry Goldsmith, 1952 - 1953
Jul 1, 1952
Post 74 27th Commander Harry Goldsmith, 1952 - 1953 (Adjutant Morris Lisenby)
28th Commander, Edgar L. Rivers elected, 1953 - 1954
Jul 1, 1953
Post 74 28th Commander Edgar L. Rivers elected, 1953 - 1954 (Adjutant W. H. Hunt)
29th Commander, R. Marion Ellis elected, 1954 - 1955
Jul 1, 1954
Post 74 29th Commander R. Marion Ellis elected, 1954 - 1955 (Adjutant W. H. Hunt)
30th Commander, J. E. Williams elected, 1955 - 1958
Jul 1, 1955
Post 74 30th Commander J. E. Williams elected, 1955 - 1958 (Adjutant W. H. Hunt (1955 - 1958)
31st Commander, J. Melvin Campbell elected, 1958 - 1959
Jul 1, 1958
Post 74 31st Commander J. Melvin Campbell elected, 1958 - 1959 (Adjutant W. H. Hunt)
32nd Commander, J. E. Williams elected, 1959 - 1965
Jul 1, 1959
Post 74 32nd Commander J. E. Williams elected, 1959 - 1965 (Adjutants: 1959 - 1964, W. H. Hunt; 1964 - 1965, George B. Laney)
1960
First American Combat troops entered Vietnam
Mar 8, 1965
On March 8, 1965, the first American combat troops – the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade – waded ashore at China Beach north of Da Nang. There had already been limited U.S.naval action, and the bombing of North Vietnam had commenced. There were also 23,000 military advisors already on the ground.
33rd Commander, Bill J. Rivers elected, 1965 - 1966
Jul 1, 1965
Post 74 33rd Commander Bill J. Rivers elected, 1965 - 1966 (Adjutant George B. Laney)
34th Commander, Ben W. Mangum elected, 1966 - 1969
Jul 1, 1966
Post 74 34th Commander Ben W. Mangum elected, 1966 - 1969 (Adjutants: George B. Laney, 1966 - 1968; W. Arthur Griggs, 1968 - 1969)
35th Commander, Fred W. Oliver elected, 1969 - 1971
Jul 1, 1969
Post 74 35th Commander Fred W. Oliver elected, 1969 - 1971 (Adjutant W. Arthur Griggs)
1970
American Legion Post 74 Celebrates 50th Anniversary
Mar 30, 1970
On March 30, 1970, American Legion Post 74, in Chesterfield, SC, had its 50th anniversary.
36th Commander, Everette D. Campbell elected, 1971 - 1975
Jul 1, 1971
Post 74 36th Commander Everette D. Campbell elected, 1971 - 1975 (Adjutants: L. W. Arthur Griggs, 1971 - 1973; J. B. Rivers, 1973 - 1974; Robert H. Mason, 1974 - 1975)
37th Commander, Bill J. Rivers elected, 1975 - 1976
Jul 1, 1975
Post 74 37th Commander Bill J. Rivers elected, 1975 - 1976 (Adjutant J Perry Brock)
38th Commander, O. H. Campbell elected, 1976 - 1981
Jul 1, 1976
Post 74 38th Commander O. H. Campbell elected, 1976 - 1981 (Adjutant J. Perry Brock, 1976 - 1981)
1980
39th Commander, Edwin M. Davis elected, 1981 - 1987
Jul 1, 1981
Post 74 39th Commander Edwin M. Davis elected, 1981 - 1987 (Adjutants: Rawlie Rivers, 1981 - 1983;J. Perry Brock, 1983 - 1987)
40th Commander, Hardy R. Sellers elected, 1987 - 1994
Jul 1, 1987
Post 74 40th Commander Hardy R. Sellers elected, 1987 - 1994 (Adjutants: J. Perry Brock, 1987 - 1993; Hazel E. Davidson, 1993 - 1994)
1990
41st Commander, Hazel E. Davidson elected, 1994 - 1996
Jul 1, 1994
Post 74 41st Commander Hazel E. Davidson elected, 1994 - 1996 (Adjutant Billy G. Ratliff, 1994 - 1996)
American Legion Post 74 Celebrates 75th Anniversary
Mar 30, 1995
On March 30, 1995, American Legion Post 74, in Chesterfield, SC, had its 75th anniversary.
42nd Commander, Lynn D. Widemer elected, 1996 - 1999
Jul 1, 1996
Post 74 42nd Commander Lynn D. Widemer elected, 1996 - 1999 (Adjutant Randy Sowell, 1996 - 1999)
43rd Commander, Robert H. (Bobby) Griffith elected, 1999 - 2018
Jul 1, 1999
In 1999, Robert H. (Bobby) Griffith became the post commander and served in this capacity until 2018. (Adjutant Randy Sowell, 1999 - 2018)
2000
American Legion Post 74 received its permanent charter
Aug 25, 2003
On August 25, 2003, American Legion Post 74 received its permanent charter.
American Legion Post 74 received its Supplemental Charter
Aug 27, 2003
On August 27, 2003, American Legion Post 74 received its supplemental charter.
2010
2016 December 12 - Post Everlasting Memorial
Dec 12, 2016
December 11, 2016 - Carl Edwin "Ed" Campbell, US Navy WWII moved into Post Everlasting.
2017 December 11 - Post Everlasting Memorial
Dec 11, 2017
August 14, 2017 - Pauline Anna Skibras;
September 20, 2017 - Donald Webster, SCNG (Ret.);
November 26, 2017 - Clinton "CJ" Eddins, US Army Signal Corp;
44th Commander, Hough, elected, 2018 - 2019; 2019 - 2020
Jul 1, 2018
American Legion Post 74 members elected Dr. Hough, a Paid Up for Life Legionnaire with 16 years membership, to be the new post commander. (Adjutant Randy Sowell, 2018 - 2020)
2018 December 10 - Post Everlasting Memorial
Dec 10, 2018
December 21, 2017 - Tracy Dotson, US Navy, 1951 - 1955;
October 2, 2018 - Dewey Hurst, US Army Air Corp, WWII;
November 11, 2018 - Mitchel R. Gulledge, US Army, MSG Ret;
2019 May 29 American Legion Recognizes Boys State Attendees at Chesterfield High School Awards Day
May 24, 2019
AMERICAN LEGION POST 74 Boys State Attendees
Congratulations to Donovan Dows, Patrick Driggers, and Robert J. Oakley, III, for being selected by American Legion Post 74 to attend Palmetto Boys State.
American Legion Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction..
2019 May 29 American Legion Presents Scholarships at Chesterfield High School Awards Day
May 24, 2019
AMERICAN LEGION POST 74 Scholarships Awarded
Congratulations to Abigail Griffith and Sara Beth Evans for being awarded scholarships from American Legion Post 74 for the coming college year of 2019-2020.
Abigail plans to..
2019 May 24 Memorial Day Program
May 27, 2019
Chesterfield County, SC, 2019 Memorial Day program was planned by the Chesterfield County Veterans Advisory Council and held at the Chesterfield County Courthouse.
Commander Hough, American Legion Post 74, officiated at the event. Cheraw High JROTC, under the supervision of Gunny Sgt Henry, posted the colors. Invocation was given by Elder Margo Gillespie, DAV Cheraw.
After the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Commander Hough, the guest speaker was introduced. Mrs. Theresa Hicks, Gold Star Mother from Pageland,..
Baseball Team Members & Raffle Winners Join Post to Celebrate
Sep 9, 2019
The raffle winner(s) for the baseball season were Linda and Ricky Mills. They are shown receiving the U. S. Flag and State of South Carolina Flag Certification signed by Rep.Richie Yow and James H. Lucas, Speaker of the House of Representatives. The flag was flown over the State Capital building in Columbia, South Carolina.
Shown are the team members, coaches,..
Baseball Team Members & Raffle Winners Join Post to Celebrate
Sep 9, 2019
The raffle winner(s) for the baseball season were Linda and Ricky Mills. They are shown receiving the U. S. Flag and State of South Carolina Flag Certification signed by Rep.Richie Yow and James H. Lucas, Speaker of the House of Representatives. The flag was flown over the State Capital building in Columbia, South Carolina.
Shown are the team members, coaches,..
2019 Chesterfield County Veterans Day Parade & Program
Nov 11, 2019
Chesterfield County
Veterans Day Parade and Program
Main Street, Chesterfield
Monday, November 11, 2019
Lineup begins..
2020
Chloe Rorie Represents Post 74 at High School Oratorical Contest held in Sumter, SC on 2/8/2020
Feb 8, 2020
Chesterfield American Legion Post 74 is happy to announce that Chloe Rorie represented the post, Chesterfield High School, and the town of Chesterfield at the American Legion District Oratorical Contest in Sumter, SC, on February 8, 2020.
The purpose of The American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program "A Constitutional Speech Contest" is to..
American Legion Post 74 - 100th Birthday Celebration
Mar 9, 2020
Event Sponsors:
Gail Ingram; Probate Court Judge
Pamelia C. Mills
Ronnie Campbell, Cambo Company
W. Brent & Brook Taylor, Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home
Chesterfield AMERICAN LEGION POST 74 Announces Palmetto Boys State Designee
Apr 13, 2020
Congratulations to Chase Oakley for having been selected by American Legion Post 74 to attend Palmetto Boys State in June 2020. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the residency event was cancelled. However, by registering, he was recognized as an official delegate. Chase will receive a Certificate of Selection, a copy of the Proclamation signed by S. C. Department Commander..
Chesterfield AMERICAN LEGION POST 74 High School 2020 Scholarships Awarded
May 11, 2020
Congratulations to Connor Harvey, William Preston Huneycutt, and Robert J. Oakley, III, for being awarded scholarships from American Legion Post 74 for the coming college year of 2020-2021.
Connor is attending Coker University in Hartsville on a..
WWII Story: William J. Reid, 659th Tank Destroyer Battalion, one of the few African-American Tank Destroyer Units
Aug 7, 2020
In addition to being a WWII veteran, William J. Reid is also the oldest member of the Chesterfield American Legion Post 74, District 12, Department of S. C. He celebrated his 100th birthday in November 2019. Mr. Reid served three years in the U.S. Army 1943 – 1946 after being drafted in Fort Washington, New York, where he was living at the time. He was honored by the SC General Assembly, 123rd..
District 12 Oct Meeting - S. C. Dept. Cmdr Richardson visits
Oct 3, 2020
Full Story District 12 Commander Davis held the October meeting in Chesterfield, SC with Post 74 hosting at The Bank.
Congratulations to the posts that received district awards from SC Department Commander Richardson today:
Post 31-Lancaster = 100% Membership Award (plaque); 100% American Legion Family Ribbon;
Immediate Past Post Commander (43rd) Robert H. "Bobby" Griffith Passed
Nov 25, 2020
Commander Robert H. "Bobby" served as American Legion Post 74 Commander from 1998 - 2018. He also served as Chesterfield County Veterans Advisory Chairman. He received his Commander Award in recognition of loyalty, devoted service and leadership in upholding the principles of The American Legion for God and Country on July 9, 2018, from..
2019 December 9 - Post Everlasting Memorial
Dec 9, 2020
These members have been recorded in the Roll Book of Post Everlasting:
1) Jan 9, 2020 – P. F. Eason, US Army, WWII; 2) Jan 26, 2020 – John Luther Hill, Sr., US Navy, Vietnam; 3) Nov 4, 2020 – Richard M. Thomas, Jr., US..
2020 Dec 12 District 12 Meeting - SC Dept 3rd Vice Commander James V. Kvam Attends
Dec 12, 2020
Commander Kvam presented Commander Hough with The American Legion Department of South Carolina 2020
Category 1 Post Historian of the Year for Outstanding Service and Contributions to Chesterfield Post 74.
Commander Hough is shown with District 12 Commander Charlie Davis.
