HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN LEGION                                              ALABAMA POST 347 After World War II, many Black service men and women across the country returned to their homes after serving their country.  They gathered at meeting places under trees, ‘juke joints’, ‘shotgun houses’, and other places to tell war stories of their exploits and adventures in foreign lands.  The men and women in Fairfield, Alabama were no different. In Fairfield, many servicemen met at the ‘Salvage Building’ and the ‘Elks Lodge’, a popular nightspot  in downtown Birmingham on Fourth Avenue North.  Around 1952, this group of men began to bond as they looked forward to meeting together after long hours of working, mainly at the United States Steel Works in Fairfield.  Their joint concerns were civil rights injustices, provision of life insurance, and the proper burial of Black veterans. Between 1952 and 1957, Jimmie Lee Williams, with the help of a White officer from the Alabama Department of the American Legion, began to organize Fairfield’s Black veterans.   The first organizational meeting was held at Eddie L. Baker’s house on 54th Street in Inter Urban Heights.  After years of painstaking work, the group was chartered, July 22, 1957, as the American Legion, Post 347 in the Tenth ‘Colored’ District.  The Post was named after Booker T. Oliver.  He was the husband of Julie Merchant of Fairfield.  He died in 1947 from wounds inflicted as a Sailor in the U.S. Navy, over the Pacific.  For his service, he received the Purple Heart.  His in-laws, Comrades Willis J. Merchant and Willie Merchant, Jr., were charter members of the Post.   Comrade Jimmie Lee Williams, the founder, served as the first Post Commander.  His vision was to establish the foundation necessary to support veterans and the Fairfield community.  The Post was chartered with 96 members.  Bernard F. Thomas served as the 1st Vice Commander, Joseph Rembert as 2nd Vice commander, Eddie L. Baker as Adjutant, and Clifford Barnett as Service Officer.  These first meetings were held at the A. G. Gaston Funeral Home on 56th Street and Avenue C.  Commander Jimmie Lee Williams served three consecutive terms until Commander Bernard Thomas was elected. In the early sixties, the membership moved to 6412 Avenue E, or the ‘Greystone Building’ under the leadership of Commander Bernard F. Thomas.  The Post, except for a brief period, remained at this location for over thirty years.  Commander Thomas served approximately six months and Commander Joseph Rembert completed his term.  The following year, Comrade Joseph Rembert was elected as Commander for a full term.  Under his leadership, the Post grew to approximately 113 members.  After Commander Joseph Rembert completed his term, Commander Clifford Barnett was elected in 1962.  During Commander Clifford Barnett’s administration, many older citizens of Fairfield received assistance in obtaining their birth certificates. In 1959, the Women’s Auxiliary to the Post was chartered.  The first president of the organization was Mrs. Cecil Noland.  The Business Manager was Mrs. Ollie M. Barnett, who was instrumental in raising funds to assist the Post in purchasing kitchen appliances and assisting in the payment of rent and other bills. As the Post grew, so did the community projects.  These projects included the establishment of the first water system on what is now known as Willie Mays park, which was led by Past Commander Jimmie Lee Williams; organization of an American Legion Baseball Team, under the leadership of Comrade Calvin Hasberry; establishment of a Firing Squad by Comrade Eddie L. Vickers and Past Commander Clifford Barnett;  and the sponsorship of a High School Debate Contest. Many members of Post 347, in the days of the Civil Rights Movement, went on to hold positions in city, county, and state governments.  Their efforts propelled the Post as one of the leading Black political groups.  Past Commander Jimmie Lee Williams and Comrades Charles Willis were elected to serve as two of the first African-Americans on the Fairfield City Council.   Comrade Larry Langford became the city’s first African-American Mayor, followed by Comrade Charles Willis.  Comrade Demetrius C. Newton, an Attorney, became the Alabama Pro- Temp in the Alabama State House of Representatives. In the late sixties, Commander Isaac Whiten Sr. moved the Post from Avenue E to 58th Street and Avenue C, the old Masonic building.  It was at that time that the old Post was rented to another group who named it the ‘Flame Club’, which became a major hang out for the students of Miles College.  As the troops returned from the Vietnam War, Commander Ned Crawford was elected in 1970 and moved the Post back to Avenue E.  A World War II Marine, Commander Ned Crawford served nine years as the Post Commander making improvements to the building, increasing the support to Fairfield High School, and re-establishing the Post to it’ s renowned position at the District and State level. The Fairfield Post was known throughout the state as outspoken with Past commanders Jimmie Lee Williams and Clifford Barnett both serving as 10th Colored District Commanders.  They were instrumental in the integration of the Alabama Department of the American Legion, thereby dissolving the 10th Colored District consisting of notably minority Posts such as Ensley, Brighton, and Fairfield. During the eighties, several Commanders were elected and maintained the posture and political position of the Post.  These included Commander Grady Baker, Commander Julius A. Jones, and most notably, Commander Jesse Williams, Jr. Under Commander Jesse Williams leadership, the Post grew to approximately 120 members, the Auxiliary was vibrant, and the district, county, and state American Legion governing bodies received various input on Corporate Resolutions.  All earlier Legion programs, which had withered during the late seventies, and early eighties were revived.  Commander Jesse Williams served four (4) consecutive terms. After four years, Commander Jesse Williams nominated the first woman as Commander, Hattie Hawkins Moore.  Commander Moore was a strong leader and kept the Post factions together along with making significant improvements to the bar operations.  After her terms in office, Commander Glenn Thomas was elected, followed by Commander James Williams, and Commander Willie Moore.  During their tenure, all Legion programs were kept intact as several Post members served in various positions for over ten years.  These notable members were Chaplain William Noland, Adjutant Roy Williams, Bar Manager Joe Washington, and Boy Scouts Leader Clarence Starks. In 1991, Jesse Williams was reelected as Commander, and served two years before moving into American Legion positions at the district and state levels.  He was followed by Commander Roy Dennis, and then reelected as Commander until the Post was closed in July 1996, as the ‘Next Generation’ of Legionaries joined the Post. In July 1996, Comrade Sidney O. Brewer joined the Post for the specific purpose of acquiring a building in downtown Fairfield.  After personally recruiting Comrades Lester Reasor and Earl Sanders, the nucleus of the ‘Next Generation’ was born.  Comrade Brewer was elected as Commander, and Comrades Lester Reasor and Earl Sanders were elected 1st Vice Commander and Finance Officer.  On July 6, 1997, these three members spearheaded the purchase of 5021 Gary Avenue as the new home of the American Legion, Post 347, Fairfield, Alabama.  It is the first building ever owned by the Post. During Commander Brewer’s administration, the 7,000 square feet building was renovated by Madison Construction, which is owned by Comrade Bill Madison.  Membership increased and an expanded bar operations was managed by Comrades Lell Horton, Past Commander Willie Moore, Comrade Anthony Winsor, and Gabriel Green.  Under nonprofit status, Commander Brewer established the American Legion Post 347 Scholarship Program. As the Post continued to grow, so did the American Legion Auxiliary.  The wives of new Legionaries quickly assumed their roles as leaders.  New additions in the name of Brenda Craig, Jackie Brewer, Juanita Reasor, Ann Lawson, and JoAnn Sanders made headway as they joined mainstay presidents such as Barbara Williams and Ada Riggs.  The Auxiliary expanded their nonprofit programs in Girls State, Youth Leadership Camp, and the Annual Children’s Christmas Party, and increased their involvement at the district and state levels.   The Sons of the American Legion was chartered in 1999 during the tenure of Commander Lester Reasor.  The Sons established itself as a viable organization within the Post under the leadership of its first Commander, Vernell ‘Lell’ Horton.  It’s 2nd Commander, SAL Commander Bretford Brewer spearheaded a major community project with the adoption of the flagpole at the entrance of the City of Fairfield. During Commander Reasor’s administration, the ballroom area was expanded, doubling the Post’s bar operations revenue.  Also, a Corporate Resolution was passed, adopting Fairfield Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp (JROTC) as the Post’s primary sponsored youth program.   Realizing the Post was heavily in debt, the next Commander, Rico Hall recruited heavily, propelling the Post past the three hundred membership mark.  Thereby reducing half of the Post’s debt and completing many major capital projects including the parking area sound system.  Commander Rico Hall then moved to the District level where he became the 21st District Commander, and served on the Department Executive Committee, joining Comrade Adessa Naylor, who was hired from the Post by National Headquarters; first serving in Washington, DC, and later in Indianapolis, IN.  Past Commander Rico Hall and Comrade Adessa Naylor both have been instrumental in continuing the progress, and ensuring that Post 347 is heard at all levels within the American Legion. As the century turned, the Post elected its second female Commander, Commander Gwendelyn D. Knight.  An inspiring orator, Commander Knight took the Post to new heights with membership, over five hundred members, and nonprofit contributions going to levels unsurpassed.  During her administration, the Post’s Scholarship Program provided over $50,000 in scholarships to the sons, daughters, and grandchildren of American Veterans.   Additionally, the Post Building Association was incorporated and the Post was reincorporated to include revisions of the Constitution and By-Laws to meet changing legal and insurance requirements. In 2005, American legion Baseball returned to Fairfield, and the American Legion Riders were established under the leadership of Commander William ‘Bill’ Madison.  The return of American Legion Baseball under the leadership of Comrade Robert Wright, and the establishment of the American Legion Riders under the direction of Director Leevell Dansby, forever changed the social climate of the Post.  Commander Madison continued all of the Post programs and solidified contracts. Today, Commander Ralph Moten leads the Post.  He has increased the financial stability, with an increase in advertisement and public relations, with emphasis on the American legion’s purpose in the community.  He coined the phrase ‘partying with a purpose’.  We have a rich history, and much to be proud of as the members of American Legion Post 347 make preparations for their GOLDEN (50th) ANNIVERSARY.