Amarillo in Potter County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
American Legion Hanson Post No. 54
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, November 18, 2015
1. American Legion Hanson Post No. 54 Marker
Inscription.
American Legion Hanson Post No. 54. . Amarillo’s American Legion Post, organized in July 1919, is one of the oldest in Texas, formed two months after the group’s organizational caucus in St. Louis. The post, which officially received its charter in Sep. 1919, is named for David T. Hanson, a popular Amarillo doctor who served in the Spanish-American War and World War I. Volunteering as a surgeon with the 142nd infantry, he was killed while attending to a wounded soldier at St. Etienne, France. Ernest O. Thompson, later mayor of Amarillo, was the first post commander. Hanson Post worked to secure jobs and medical care for veterans, and promoted creation of a veterans hospital in the region. The post also helped coordinate veterans’ affairs before Amarillo received a branch of the Veterans Bureau in 1927. Hanson post also donated clothes, food and toys to needy veterans’ families at Christmas., The post first met in the district courtroom of the Potter County Courthouse before moving to the Woodmen of the World Hall. In 1923, the Municipal Auditorium, dedicated to the war dead, included meeting space for the Legion Post; national post commander Alvin Owsley attended the dedication ceremony. The post later bought a building at Seventh and Madison streets which has been its headquarters ever since. Hanson post developed a ladies auxiliary (1920), junior auxiliary (1923), an early R. O. T. C. Unit (1928) and a Sons of the Legion (1934). In 1939, Amarillo got the Veterans Hospital which Hanson Post and civic leaders worked so hard to secure, bringing an important source of construction and medical jobs for the region. Post membership peaked around 1,200 members following World War II. The post continues to support active duty military personnel and veterans throughout the world.,
175 years of Texas Independence ★ 1836-2011 , Marker is property of the State of Texas.
Amarillo’s American Legion Post, organized in July 1919, is one of the oldest in Texas, formed two months after the group’s organizational caucus in St. Louis. The post, which officially received its charter in Sep. 1919, is named for David T. Hanson, a popular Amarillo doctor who served in the Spanish-American War and World War I. Volunteering as a surgeon with the 142nd infantry, he was killed while attending to a wounded soldier at St. Etienne, France. Ernest O. Thompson, later mayor of Amarillo, was the first post commander. Hanson Post worked to secure jobs and medical care for veterans, and promoted creation of a veterans hospital in the region. The post also helped coordinate veterans’ affairs before Amarillo received a branch of the Veterans Bureau in 1927. Hanson post also donated clothes, food and toys to needy veterans’ families at Christmas.
The post first met in the district courtroom of the Potter County Courthouse before moving to the Woodmen of the World Hall. In 1923, the Municipal Auditorium, dedicated to the war dead, included meeting space for the Legion Post; national post commander Alvin Owsley attended the dedication ceremony. The post later bought a building at Seventh and Madison streets which has been its headquarters ever since. Hanson post developed a ladies auxiliary (1920), junior auxiliary (1923),
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an early R. O. T. C. Unit (1928) and a Sons of the Legion (1934). In 1939, Amarillo got the Veterans Hospital which Hanson Post and civic leaders worked so hard to secure, bringing an important source of construction and medical jobs for the region. Post membership peaked around 1,200 members following World War II. The post continues to support active duty military personnel and veterans throughout the world.
175 years of Texas Independence ★ 1836-2011
Marker is property of the State of Texas
Erected 2011 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 16905.)
Location. 35° 12.452′ N, 101° 50.67′ W. Marker is in Amarillo, Texas, in Potter County. Marker is on SW 7th Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 615 SW 7th Avenue, Amarillo TX 79101, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 16, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 469 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on December 16, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.