The following information is from a book published by the Bussey American Legion Post No. 505 in 1947. Businesses and individuals from Bussey, Albia, Knoxville, Tracy, Attica, Hamilton and Lovilia, Iowa provided financial assistance. The Post dedicated the book as "a memorial to our buddies, who were killed in action."
Establishment of the Post
Application for the Post's Charter was made June 1, 1920. On June 8, 1920, the Charter was recommended by Samuel Bolles and on June 16, 1920, the Charter was recommended by John McClar and mailed to the Bussey, Iowa Post 505. The first meeting was held in Redman Hall on June 20, 1920. Dr. J. J. Roberts and Carl Smith of the Oskaloosa Post helped the post to organize. The first Legion Hall was in the basement of the Way Building.
1920 Officers
Commander G. F. Whetzel Vice Commander Ontween Villont Adjutant Leo Hill Finance Officer William Moon Chaplain Robert W. Spaur Sergeant at Arms Leo Dale Schalk
1920 Charter Members
Fergus, John A Johnson, Willie Spaur, Robert W. Godfrey, Theodore Moon, William H. Tucker, James W. Hill, Leo A. O’Connor, Fred L. Villont, Gustav Houser, Lester A. Pack, William V. Villont, Ontween Johnson, Marshall P. Richards, Carl E. Whetzel, George F. List of Commanders (1920 – 1946)
1920: G. F. Whetzel 1928: J. E. Fergus 1934: F. B. Shulze 1941: James Tucker 1921: G. A. Visser 1929: Jesse Bussey 1935: A. J. Basset 1942: Chester Comer 1922-1923: L.L. Doud 1930: Ontween Villont 1936: Mac Bowman 1943: William Johnson 1924-1925: Ontween Villont 1931: P.H. Metz 1937: Ira O. Frye 1944-1945: Roy R. Jones 1926: Lafe H. Metz 1932: Owen Houser 1938: W. Johnson 1946: LeRoy Gladson 1927: Peter W. Visser 1933: C. R. Davis 1939-1940: Glenn Redding 1947 Post 505 Officers
Commander LeRoy Gladson 1st Vice Commander Raymond Villont 2nd Vice Commander Lloyd Krouse Adjutant Everett Godfrey Treasurer Charles Elliott Sergeant at Arms Don Carr Historian Jeanne Visser Chaplain Ellis Kester
~ Contributed by Karyl Bonnett, North Liberty, Iowa, with the permission of Oren Shobe, the present commander of Post #505 (January 2007).