Turnbow-Higgs American Legion Post 240 Stephenville, Texas chartered in 1920, was named Ammon Turnbow Post 240.
Ammon Turnbow, a Marine, died November 1, 1918, just ten days before the Armistice was signed between the Allies and Germany on November 11, 1918. His death resulted from being hit by German machine gun fire during the Meuse-Argonne battle, the last great battle of World War I. He was a former student at John Tarleton College located in Stephenville, TX. His body was returned to America and interred at Turnbow Cemetery near the community of Alexander located a few miles southeast of Stephenville, TX.
On July 24, 1947, the Post name was changed to Turnbow-Higgs Post 240. This was in honor of all servicemen killed in WWII and specifically for John Fielding Higgs, son of Rufus F. Higgs, one of Post 240 founders and long-time publisher of local newspaper, The Empire-Tribune. John graduated from Stephenville High School and Tarleton College. He was a student at Texas University when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. A B-17 Bomber pilot, he was killed on a mission over Germany and was buried in France. His body was later brought to Stephenville for reburial.
The founding members of American Legion Turnbow-Higgs Post 240 were Harry A. Baker (The First Commander); E. A. Blanchard (The First Adjutant); Joe E. Boyd, J. W. Clements, Harold E. Curtis, P. L. Davis, E. L. Frey, Ben Higginbotham, Nick Higginbotham, Thurman Higginbotham, Rufus Higgs, W. H. Main, M. M. Morrow, Lonnie D. Pickard, Sam M. Russell, T. W. Tidwell and Alden S. Young.
One of the founding members, Rufus Higgs, was the longtime publisher of the local newspaper, The Empire-Tribune. Another founding member, Sam Russell, would later serve as a District Attorney and U.S. Congressman.
The Employment Agency portion of The King and Neblett building located at the junction of Washington & Belknap streets on the northwest corner of The Stephenville Courthouse Square was Post 240’s first meeting place.
