Milford chronicle., 1936-05-01
LEGION COMMANDER
TO VISIT STATE MAY 9
TC0nfianed ron Fir,f Paeel

lCOHfiHHsd from First Pagel
he will present to the Department Of
Delaware, three national trophies
won by the department for member.
ship activities this year-the Ran
ford MacNlder trophy, the Lindsley
trophy and the Gourad trophy. The
Department Commander Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia, Joseph ]. Malloy,
will present to the Department of
Delaware, the Districts cup which
was won by the Department of Del
aware for having a greater percent
age Of members on December 81,
1886 than the District Of Columbia.
The department will also be pre-
sented with the Big Ten Citation for
being in the first ten at the time Of
the National Roll Call in October.
Commander MOurphy will present
an autographed photograph Of him
self TO each post commander in the
Department who has exceeded the
department qouta, and the Grand
Chef de Care of the Forty and Eight,
Samuel Green, will present to each
post a Forty and Eight meTitOriOus
certificate for reaching its depart
ment quota. Invitations have been
sent to Governor Buck, United
States Senators and Representatives
and various Legion officials through
out the East.
The life story of Ray Mourphy.
National Commander of the Ameri
can Legion, is typically American.
From the ranks he ascended to
command through his ability to un-
derstand and TO lead. He was bOrnl
May 2, 1887 on a farm in Dubuque
County, Iowa. OF hardy, industrious
ancestry, he was endowed with a
powerful constitution and keen in
tellect. A lawyer by profession, sue
cessiVely holding the offices of cOun-
ty attorney and city attorney, Oecu-
pying the former position four years |
and the latter ten years. Mr.. MOur-
ply was chairman and member of
the Iowa Board of Parole. 1924;
in l934-35 he was chairman Of the
Iowa State Board of Assessment and
Review and at the time of his selec-
tiOn as National Commander was
Commissioner of Insurance for the
State of Iowa, a position from which
he obtained a years leave of abb
sence during his official Legion ac-
tivity.
Ray Mourphy began soldering at
the age of Is, when he enlisted in
the Iowa National Guard. Returning
from the Mexican border in March,
1917. with the rank of First Lieuten-
ant, he was out of service only for
one week when he returned to ac-
tive seryice following Americas
of war. Assigned to the
34tb Division, he was commissioned
q Captain and commanded Ma
chine Gun Company, 133rd Infantry.
He went overseas in 1918 and was
to the 28th Division in
which he experienced some of the
most severe campaigning of the war
Ray MOurphy is a charter member
Of Leo. P. Mcnamara Post Of Ida
Grove, has served as Post COmman-
der. Post Service Oficer and Dis
.rict Vice Commander. He was COM
mander of the Iowa Department,
l925-26, was twice chairman of the
State Legislative Committee, and
chairman of the National Athletic
in 1922. He was elected
|. member of the National Executive
in 1929 and served for
our years.
Both in high school and in college,
dr. Mourphy, who stands six feet
md weighs 22O pounds, was an out
tanding athlete. During his high
school days he once won the state
rack and field meet almost single
landed. Although he worked his way
through college he found time to
,aptain IOwa's football team to
conference championship during his
enior year. He was awarded the
trophy for having excell-
d both in scholarship and athletics.
Mr.. Mourphy is married and has
Wo sons. Gracious and attractive.
frs. Mourphy is credited by her hus-.
and with having been responsible
or much of his success.