Post # 283 was chartered on Saturday, February 12, 1921, and named for Rufus K. Anderson (Born – January 16, 1897, Died – March 19, 1918).  He Died on a Tuesday at the Naval Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. of Tuberculosis.  He joined the U. S. Navy in the spring of 1917.  He was assigned to the U.S.S Louisiana, but got sick.  He was buried Saturday, March 25, 1918 in Willow Wild Cemetery (Section 1).  He was the son of Milam D. Anderson, ex Fannin County Sheriff, who lived five (5) miles east of Bonham, and was killed in a farming accident on March 25, 1929.

On June 6, 1934 the permanent charter for Rufus K. Anderson Post # 283 was signed by National Commander Edward A. Hayes from Illinois.

On February 24, 1947, Post 283 was permanently changed to Anderson-Roberts Post # 283.  The second part of its name was taken from Ellis H. Roberts, Jr. (Born – 1912, Died – January 14, 1943).  He was an Army Air Corps.  S/Sgt. Killed in a plane crash on the coast of Dutch Guinea while on a secret mission to South America during WWII.  He is believed to be the first person from Bonham killed during the war. 

 4th District Commanders             

Dr. Oscar Clyde Nevill - 1926 * 

Joseph Cravens Denton, Sr. - 1928 *

Ronald K. "Ronnie" VanZandt - 1992-1994                        

4th District Vice Commanders                          

Dr. Oscar Clyde Nevill - 1925 *

Arthur Wellesley Wainwright - 1946-1948 * 

Ronald K. "Ronnie" VanZandt - 1990-1992                        

1st Division Commanders                         

Dr. Oscar Clyde Nevill * - 1931 *

4th District Adjutants                         

Joseph Cravens Denton, Sr. -

Dr. Oscar Clyde Nevill -

Weldon Arch Giles -

Ronald K. VanZandt -

Post 283 was not the first Post in Bonham.  The first Post was Rufus S. Anderson Post # 58, chartered 9/27/1919 and cancelled 2/26/1921. 

The First Commander of Rufus K. Anderson Post # 283, Major Fred S. Rogers, ran for the office of Governor of the State of Texas in 1922.  He did not win, but it was close.  He came in second in a three-man race.  He was elected Fannin County Attorney in 1927.

On March 26, 1921, Post # 283 brought Past Vice President of the United States, Thomas R. Marshall, to Bonham to give a speech.  He was Vice President during Woodrow Wilson’s Administration.  He died in 1926.

During 1921, Post # 283 held a Minstrel show.  This activity was held for several years thereafter.

On August 25, 1921, Post # 283 held a parade and three days of picnicking and carnivals.  The activities held on August 25-26-27, 1921 became known as the Legion Picnic, It was held on August 23-24-25-26-, in 1922 and September 12-13-14-15, 1923.

The first Adjutant for Post $ 283, Sgt. Ural L. Darling, was the County Clerk for Fannin County from 1922 – 1926.  He ran the Cash and Carry Grocery Store in 1933.

In 1924, Post # 283 sponsored and coached a baseball team that played different teams from all over the North Texas area.

In 1925, Post # 283 held a Festival on May 4th at the Circus Grounds on Cedar Street.  During late Spring and all summer during 1925, Post # 283 sponsored wrestling matches that brought people in from all over the state.

On Sunday, November 15, 1925, the 4th District Convention was held in Bonham, sponsored by Post # 283.  The State Commander, Dr. W. T. Dunning from Gonzales, was a guest.  There were 60 delegates from several Posts in the District.  At this convention three members from Post # 283 were elected to District office (Commander – Dr. Oscar C. Nevill, Adjutant – Joe C. Denton, and Chaplain – Rev. C. P. Owen).  District Commander William Tell Stringer from Greenville Post # 17 was in charge of the Convention.  This was the third (3rd) 4th District Convention.