• P.O. Box 3191, Charleston, WV 25332
  • +1 (888) 534-4667
  • department@wvlegion.org
The American Legion Department of West Virginia
  • Home
  • About
  • News
  • Events
  • Locator
  • Links
  • Store
  • Membership Join Today
The American Legion Department of West Virginia




Veterans Strengthening America

  • Home
  • About
  • News
  • Events
  • Locator
  • Links
  • Store
  • Membership Join Today

The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation’s largest veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow servicemembers and veterans.

Hundreds of local American Legion programs and activities strengthen the nation one community at a time. American Legion Baseball is one of the nation’s most successful amateur athletic programs, educating young people about the importance of sportsmanship, citizenship and fitness. The Heroes to Hometowns program connects local Legionnaires with recovering wounded warriors and their families, providing a variety of support activities. The Legion raises millions of dollars in donations at the local, state and national levels to help veterans and their families and to provide college scholarship opportunities.

The American Legion is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization with great political influence perpetuated by its grass-roots involvement in the legislation process from local districts to Capitol Hill. Legionnaires’ sense of obligation to community, state and nation drives an honest advocacy for veterans in Washington. The Legion stands behind the issues most important to the nation's veterans community, backed by resolutions passed by volunteer leadership.

The American Legion’s success depends entirely on active membership, participation and volunteerism. The organization belongs to the people it serves and the communities in which it thrives.

Find out more information about our organization on https://legion.org.

2020-2021 Department Officers

Department Commander William Haught

Commander William Haught

Born and raised in Follansbee in Brooke County, he lived there all his life and attended public schools graduating in 1968 from Follansbee High School. Commander Haught attended West Liberty College for on year then joined the Navy in June 1969. After boot camp he served on the USS Hank (DD 702). Then it was Washington, DC for further assignment. He had to take a complete physical and the eye doctor said he couldn't stay because of a birth defect in his eyes. He was honorably discharged from active duty in August of 1970.

When he got back home, he got a job at Weirton Steel Corporation until he retired with 30 years of service in 2001. Commander Haught also served as the Chief of Police from 1977-1979. Then he joined the Brooke County Ambulance Service as CPR/First Aid driver. Commander Haught retired from there in 2006 after 26 years as a National Registry EMT/Paramedic. Commander Haught also taught the difference aspects of emergency medicine after completing classes at WVNCC and WVU.

Commander Haught's father signed him up as a member and he has held many office in his Post including Adjutant when his father was Post Commander in 1984-1985.

Commander Haught was elected Commander of his Post in June of 2010 and served until July of 2015. Then he served as Finance Officer from July 2015 till July 2021. Commander Haught served 8 years as the First District Adjutant and gave that up this year to become Department Commander.

Commander Haught's goal for his term in office is to bring our Posts and Districts up to 100%. The COVID pandemic has hurt our membership. Now is the time to begin working on getting our membership back up a lot higher than what it has been the last 2 years. The Department membership team, Commander Haught included, District Commanders and Vice Commanders, and Post membership teams need to get on the ball and get our members signed up. Commander Haught has a challenge. 100% in 100 days. This starts October 1st till December 31st. Do "Buddy Checks," phone calls, visits and make sure everyone has a blank membership application. The Department membership team and Commander Haught will be checking how your doing and if you need help.

Department Officers

Commander- William Haught, Point Pleasant, WV 25550
Vice Commanders- Charlie Straley, Jane Lew, WV 26378
Vice Commanders - Jeff Wilsey, Lavalette, WV 25535
Vice Commanders - Theo Chambers, Inwood, WV 25428
Judge Advocate - Richard H. Davison, Aleppo, PA 15310
Historian- Robin Shingleton, Shinnston, WV 26431
Sgt.-at-Arms – Richard Crumm, Moundsville, WV 26041
Asst. Sgt.-at-Arms – Mike Immel - Martinsburg, WV 25404
Asst. Sgt.-at-Arms - John Groves - Jane Lew, WV 26378
Asst. Sgt.-at-Arms - Bob Bragg - Charleston, WV 25361
Membership Chairman – Ellis J. Vest Jr., Beckley, WV 25801
Membership Vice-Chairmen– Tom Willis, Fairmont, WV 26554
Membership Vice-Chairmen - Delbert Brannon, Scott Depot, WV 25560
Membership Vice-Chairmen - Matt Sampson, Morgantown, WV 26508
NEC - William Kile, Petersburg, WV 26847
Alternate NEC - Frank Cooley, Welch, WV 24801
Service Officer - Robbie Robinson, Grafton WV 26354
Asst. Service Officer - Doug Robinson, Grafton, WV 26354
Chaplain - David Bush, Hurricane, WV 25526
Adjutant - Miles S. Epling, Charleston, WV 25332

2020-2021 District Officers

Commanders

First District – Richard Crumm, Moundsville, WV 26041
Second District – Frank Mel lie, Morgantown, WV 2650
Third District – Charlie Straley, Jane Lew, WV 26370
Fourth District – Stuart Bennett, Parkersburg, WV 26101
Fifth District – Shannon Harshbarger, Huntington, WV 25704
Sixth District – Ellis J. Vest Jr , Beckley, WV 25801
Eighth District – Sonja Adkins, Hurricane, WV 25526
Ninth District – Donald Lambert, Elkins, WV 26241
Tenth District – Georgina Smith, Capon Bridge, WV 26711

Vice Commanders

First District – Robert Pope, Newell, WV 26050
Second District – Matt Sampson, Morgantown, WV 26508
Third District – Joe Loureiro, Shinnston, WV 26431
Fourth District – James H. Viers, Washington WV 26181
Fifth District – Gary Johngrass, Branchland, WV 25506
Sixth District – Brian Krabbe, Bluefield WV 24701
Eighth District – Andrea Hammock, South Charleston, WV 25303
Ninth District – Ralph Baumgardner, Belington, WV 26250
Tenth District – Jon Rubenstein, Capon Bridge, WV 26711

Past Department Commanders

  • 1910s
  • 1920s
  • 1930s
  • 1940s
  • 1950s
  • 1960s
  • 1970s
  • 1980s
  • 1990s
  • 2000s
  • 2010s
  • 2020s

1910s

1919 Past Department Commander

  • 1919 *Jackson Arnold, Weston

*Deceased

1920s

1920-1929 Past Department Commanders

  • 1921 *J. B. Nickerson, Wheeling
  • 1922 *A. Edmiston, Jr., Weston
  • 1923 *Spiller Hicks, Bluefield
  • 1924 *R. E. O’Connor, Elkins
  • 1925 *J. H. MCGinnis, Beckley
  • 1926 *A. G. Yates, Grafton
  • 1927 *R. B. McDougle, Parkersburg
  • 1928 *A. E. Haan, Huntington
  • 1929 *S. C. Morris, Clarksburg

*Deceased

1930s

1930-1939 Past Department Commanders

  • 1930 *J. A. Duff, Martinsburg
  • 1931 *L. A. Johnson, Clarksburg
  • 1932 *J. H. Thornton, Sistersville
  • 1933 *H. S. Pownall, Moorefield
  • 1934 *H. S. Ellis, Huntington
  • 1935 *C. L. Smith, St. Albans
  • 1936 *W. G. Stathers, Clarksburg
  • 1937 *C. E. Booth, Huntington
  • 1938 *F. W. Turner, Charleston
  • 1939 *W. E. Nefflen, Keyser

* Deceased

1940s

1940-1949 Past Department Commanders

  • 1940 *F. B. Poling, Philippi
    *T. F. Williams, Logan
  • 1941 *R. C. Hall, Elkins
  • 1942 *R. H. Patterson, Wellsburg
    *E. Mck. Hardesty, Mt Hope
  • 1943 *Heatherington, Clarksburg
  • 1944 *T. H. MCGovran, Charleston
  • 1945 *P. E. Kercheval, Kingwood
  • 1946 *R. C. Burg, Piedmont
  • 1947 *E. L. Jones, Wheeling
  • 1948 *W. R. Fugitt, Beckley
  • 1949 *D. R. Wilson, Clarksburg

* Deceased

1950s

1950-1959 Past Department Commanders

  • 1950 *Walker Long, Huntington
  • 1951 *Frank Everhart, Kingwood
  • 1952 *Tommy E. Jones, Beckley
  • 1953 *Harry W. Miller, Fayetteville
  • 1954 *Gaujot Bias, Williamson
  • 1955 *L. O. Bickel, Fairmont
  • 1956 *Chester Phillips, Elkins
  • 1957 *E. D. Hardman, Charleston
  • 1958 *W. Dewey Mentz, Welch
  • 1959 *Lincoln Cox, Kirby

* Deceased

1960s

1960-1969 Past Department Commanders

  • 1960 *Bonn Brown, Elkins
  • 1961 *Robert Lester, St. Albans
  • 1962 *Jack R. Adams, Wheeling
  • 1963 *Chester M. Matney, Welch
  • 1964 *H. Paige Bell, Parkersburg
  • 1965 *Isaac Mayfield, Bridgeport
  • 1966 *William T. Black, Bartley
  • 1967 *Richard Davies,Morgantown
  • 1968 *John A. Jones, Weirton
  • 1969 *Charles A. Kuhn, Fairmont

* Deceased

1970s

1970-1979 Past Department Commanders

  • 1970 *Thomas Malloy, Parkersburg
  • 1971 *J. H. Ashcraft, Hundred
  • 1972 *George Siehl, Fayetteville
  • 1973 *Charles Forsythe, Clarksburg
  • 1974 *Harry Slaughter, St. Albans
  • 1975 *M. D. Herzburn, Welch
  • 1976 *Jack Miller, Parkersburg
  • 1977 *Jack T. Gribben, Hurricane
  • 1978 *Roderick Devison, Fairmont
  • 1979 *Robert Vass, Sr, Barboursville

*Deceased

1980s

1980-1989 Past Department Commanders

  • 1980 *George Zanos,Sr.,Wellsburg
  • 1981 *Dana Orndorff, St. Albans
  • 1982 *James Shade, Martinsburg
  • 1983 *Paul Brewster, Welch
  • 1984 Miles S. Epling, Pt. Pleasant
  • 1985 *Olin Wharton, Parkersburg
  • 1986 *George Vickers, Ranson
  • 1987 *Eugene Billmeyer, Rio
  • 1988 *J. Carl Durhan, Newell
  • 1989 *Thomas Wimmer, Bradshaw

* Deceased

1990s

1990-1999 Past Department Commanders

  • 1990 *William Kile, Petersburg
  • 1991 *Robert Rulen, Mason
  • 1992 *John E. Shumate, Beckley
  • 1993 *Glenwood Burton, Capon Bridge
  • 1994 *Donal Squires, Fairmont
  • 1995 *Dale E. Hoover, Keyser
  • 1996 William Burkett, Moundsville
    Honorary *David Baker, Huntington
  • 1997 *Forrest Simpson, Bridgeport
  • 1998 *Jack P. McConnell, Mannington
  • 1999 *Dale Lutman, Berkeley Springs

* Deceased

2000s

2000-2009 Past Department Commanders

  • 2000 *Arthur P. Oger, Paden City
  • 2001 *Ada Henderson, Ceredo
  • 2002 Billy Karnes, Huntington
  • 2003 James Davis, McMechen
  • 2004 W. A. “Webb” Holley, Vienna
  • 2005 *Joseph Grahame, Elkins
  • 2006 Robert Mayo, Williamstown
  • 2007 *Harold Plants, Capon Bridge
  • 2008 George Sinkewitz, Huntington
  • 2009 David R. Hall, New Haven

* Deceased

2010s

2010-2019 Past Department Commanders

  • 2010 Gary Wolfe, McMechen
  • 2011 *Robert “Greek” Fochalis, Augusta
  • 2012 Tom Hayes, Kenova
  • 2013 Jack Gerrard, Clarksburg
  • 2014 Frank Nicholson, Shinnston
  • 2015 Fred Buchanan, Ona
    Honorary C. William Harris, Glen Easton
  • 2016 Kenneth Smith, Barboursville
  • 2017 Sherman W. Baxa Jr., Buckhannon
  • 2018 Frank Cooley, Welch
  • 2019 William “Bill” Combs, Pt. Pleasant

* Deceased

2020s

2020-2029 Past Department Commanders

  • 2020 Barbara Burdette, Lewisburg
  • 2021 John A. Powell, Wheeling
  • 2022
  • 2023
  • 2024
  • 2025
  • 2026
  • 2027
  • 2028
  • 2029

* Deceased

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
by The American Legion Department of West Virginia © All rights reserved
  • Home
  • About
  • News
  • Events
  • Locator
  • Links
  • Store
  • Membership Join Today
  • Shop
  • Cart
  • Checkout
  • My account