The Military History won the Maurice Cahill trophy at the 1954 convention of the Iowa Department of The American Legion. The Military History won the Maurice Cahill trophy at the 1955 convention.
The following history of Post 116 was taken from Clifford J. Greenberg's history of Post 116, and the records of Donald H. Grimm, Historian, 1946-56.
On Monday night, July 21, 1919, a group of veterans assembled in the office of The Tri County News. The Tri County News was located in the building owned by Pacific Lodge No. 469, A. F. & A. M. It was published by John K. Laycock and Merle H. Laycock. Veterans present were Nels Martin Hansen, Julius Ray Tisdale, David Keith Deaver, Carl Manford Cheatum, Leslie Merle Ingledue, Claude George Easterday, Lyle Chester Bailey, Ingvald S. Madison, Donald M. Smith, and Clifford J. Greenberg.
The veterans discussed the formation of a local post of The American Legion. A temporary organization was formed. The temporary officers chosen were Donald M. Smith, Lyle Chester Bailey, and Julius Ray Tisdale. All of the men present signed the application for a local post of The American Legion. Later five more men signed. They were Wilton Loy Reese, Otis A. Bump, James Lawrence Smith, Carlton E. Bailey, and Winferd F. Shultz.
Lyle Chester Bailey, as the temporary secretary, endorsed the application. He sent it to Des Moines. On July 28, 1919, the National Executive Committee in New York granted a charter for Zearing Post 116. The charter was received by Lyle Chester Bailey on the morning of August 6. A meeting of all interested ex-service men was called for the night of August 11, 1919.
On Monday night, August 11, a meeting was held in the office of The Tri County News to establish a permanent organization. At this meeting Lyle Chester Bailey was elected Commander. Donald M. Smith was elected Adjutant. Julius Ray Tisdale was elected Finance Officer.
So to whom it may concern, Zearing Post 116, Department of Iowa, The American Legion, was founded on Monday, August 11, 1919.