An Act to incorporate the Board for Fundamental Education
PL 83-507 (S.1796), enacted 07/19/1954

68 
S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 507-JULY 19, 1954 
489 
The bonus payable to a member who reenlists before completing a total 
of twenty years of active Federal service, but who will under that 
reenlistment complete more than twenty years of such service, is 
computed by using as a multiplier only that number of years which, 
when added to his previous service, totals twenty years. 
"(c) The cumulative amount which may be paid to a member under 
this section, or under this section and any other provision of law 
authorizing reenlistment bonuses, may not exceed $2,000. 
"(d) An officer of a uniformed service who reenlists in that service 
within ninety days after his release from active duty as an officer 
is entitled to a bonus computed according to the table in subsection 
(a), if he served in an enlisted status in that service immediately 
before serving as an officer. 
For the purpose of this subsection, the 
monthly basic pay (or appropriate fraction if the member received 
a bonus for a prior reenlistment) of the grade in which the member is 
enlisted (computed in accordance with the cumulative years of service 
of the member) is to be used in column 1 of the table set forth under 
subsection (a) instead of the monthly basic pay to which he was 
entitled at the time of his release from active duty as an officer. 
" (e) In this section, 'reenlistment' means— 
"(1) an enlistment in a regular component of a uniformed 
service after compulsory or voluntary active duty in that serv-
ice; or 
"(2) a voluntary extension of an enlistment for two or more 
years. 
" (f) Under such regulations as may be approved by the Secretary of 
Defense, or by the Secretary of the Treasury with respect to Coast 
Guard personnel, a member of a uniformed service who voluntarily, 
or because of his own misconduct, does not complete the term of 
enlistment for which he was paid a bonus under this section shall 
refund that percentage of the bonus that the unexpired part of his 
enlistment is of the total enlistment period for which the bonus was 
paid. 
"(g) The Secretary concerned may prescribe regulations for the 
administration of this section in his department." 
Approved July 16, 1954. 
Limitation* 
Officers. 
"ReenlistmenU"' 
Refund. 
Regulations. 
Public Law 507 
C HAPTER 536 
AN ACT 
To incorporate the Board for P'undamental Education. 
July 19,1954 
[S. 1 796] 
Be it enacted hy the Seriate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That the following 
persons: Ernest R. Alexander, of Dallas, Texas; John R. Alford, of 
Henderson, Texas; William H. Book, of Indianapolis, Indiana; E. M. 
Dealey, of Dallas, Texas; A. Dale Fiers, of Indianapolis, Indiana; 
Fred F. Florence, of Dallas, Texas; E. B. Germany, of Dallas, Texas; 
Sam Gladney, of Dallas, Texas; Theodore B. Griffith, of Indianapolis, 
Indiana; O. H. Grissom, of Longview, Texas; Harry T. Ice, of Indi-
anapolis, Indiana; J. C. Judge, of Mineola, Texas; George Kuhn, of 
Indianapolis, Indiana; Charles J. Lynn, of Indianapolis, Indiana; 
Eugene S. Pulliam, of Indianapolis, Indiana; C. B. Roberts, of Dallas, 
Texas; William L. Schloss, of Indianapolis, Indiana; Ben H. Wooten, 
of Dallas, Texas; and Joseph Zeppa, of Tyler, Texas; and their 
associates and successors are hereby created a body corporate by the 
name of Board for Fundamental Education (hereinafter referred to 
Board for Funda« 
mental Education. 
Incorporation. 
490 
PUBLIC LAW 507-JULY 19, 1954 
[68 ST A T . 
Organization. 
Purposesa 
Powers* 
Activities. 
D. C> agent. 
Principal office. 
as the "corporation") and by such name shall be known and have 
perpetual succession and the powers and limitations contained in this 
Act. 
SEC. 2. A majority of the persons named in the first section of this 
Act, or their successors, are hereby authorized to meet to complete the 
organization of the corporation by the adoption of a constitution and 
bylaws, the election of officers, and by doing all things necessary to 
carry into effect the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 3. The objects and purposes of the corporation shall be to foster 
the development of fundamental education through programs and 
projects such as— 
(1) giving citizens (children, youth, and adults) opportunity 
to acquire the understandings arid skills necessary to relate the 
resources of the community to the needs and interests of the 
community. 
(2) demonstrating programs of fundamental education and 
measuring results. 
(3) training men and women as leaders in fundamental educa-
tion by providing internships and other experiences. 
SEC. 4. The corporation shall have power— 
(1) to sue and be sued, complain and defend in any court of 
competent jurisdiction; 
(2) to adopt, use, and alter a corporate seal; 
(3) to choose such officers, managers, agents, and employees 
as the business of the corporation may require; 
(4) to adopt and alter a constitution and bylaws, not inconsist-
ent with the laws of the United States or any State in which such 
corporation is to operate, for the management of its property 
and the regulation of its affairs; 
(5) to contract and be contracted with; 
(6) to take and hold by lease, gift, purchase, grant, devise, or 
bequest any property, real or personal, necessary for attaining 
the objects of accomplishing the purposes of the corporation, 
subject to applicable provisions of law of any State (A) gov-
erning the amount or kind of real and personal property wh^ch 
may be held by, or (B) otherwise limiting or controlling the 
ownership of real and personal property by, a corporation 
operating in such State; 
(7) to transfer and convey real or personal property; 
(8) to borrow money for the purposes of the corporation, issue 
bonds therefor, and secure the same by mortgage, subject to all 
applicable provisions of Federal or State law; 
(9) to use the corporate funds to give prizes, awards, loans, 
scholarships and grants to deserving students for the purposes 
set forth in section 3; 
(10) to publish a magazine and other publications; and 
(11) to do any and all acts and things necessary and proper 
to carry out the objects and purposes of the corporation. 
SEC. 5. The activities of the corporation may be conducted through-
out the various States, Territories, and possessions of the United 
States. The corporation shall maintain at all times in the District of 
Columbia a designated agent authorized to accept service of process 
for the corporation, such designation to be filed in the office of the clerk 
of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. 
Notice to or service upon such agent, or mailed to the business address 
of such agent, shall be deemed sufficient notice or service upon the 
corporation. 
The principal office of the corporation shall be estab-
lished at such place as the board of directors deems appropriate. 
68 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 507-JULY 19, 1954 
491 
SEC. 6. Eligibility for membership in the corporation and the rights 
and privileges of members shall, except as provided in this Act, be 
determined according to the constitution and bylaws of the corpora-
t^ion. In the conduct of the official business of the corporation each 
member shall have one vote. 
SEC. 7. The corporation shall be governed by a board of directors 
composed of not less than fifteen members of the corporation who shall 
be elected annually to serve on such board by the members of the 
corporation. 
SEC. 8. The officers of the corporation shall consist of a chairman of 
the board, a president, one or more vice presidents, a secretary, a 
treasurer, and such assistant officers as the board of directors shall 
designate. 
The officers shall perform such duties and have such 
powers as the bylaws and the board of directors may from time to 
time prescribe. 
SEC. 9. (a) No part of the income or assets of the corporat^ion shall 
inure to any member, officer, or director, or be distributable to any 
such person except upon dissolution and final liquidation of the 
corporation as provided in section 15 of th^s Act. 
(b) The corporation shall not make loans to its officers, directors, or 
employees. Any director who votes for or assents to the making of a 
loan to any officer, director, or employee of the corporation, and any 
officer who participates in the making of such a loan shall be jointly 
and severally liable to the corporation for the amount of such loan 
until the repayment thereof. 
SEC. 10. The corporation and its members, officers, and directors, 
as such, shall not contribute to or otherwise support or assist any 
political party or candidate for elective public office. 
SEC. 11. The corporation shall be liable for the acts of its officers and 
agents when acting within the scope of their authority. 
SEC. 12. The corporation shall have no power to issue any shares 
of stock or to declare or pay any dividends, or to engage in business 
for pecuniary profit. 
SEC. 13. The corporation shall keep correct and complete books and 
records of account and shall also keep minutes of the proceedings of 
its members, the board of directors, and committees having any 
authority under the board of directors; and it shall also keep a record 
of the names and addresses of its members entitled to vote. All books 
and records of the corporation may be inspected by any member or his 
agent or attorney, at any reasonable time. 
SEC. 14. (a) The financial transactions shall be audited annually 
by an independent certified public accountant in accordance with the 
principles and procedures applicable to commercial corporate trans-
actions. The audit shall be conducted at the place or places where the 
accounts of the corporation are normally kept. All Dooks, accounts, 
financial records, reports, files, and all other papers, things, or j)roperty 
belonging to or in use by the corporation and necessary to facilitate the 
audit shall be made available to the person or persons conducting the 
audit; and full facilities for verifying transactions with the balances 
or securities held by depositors, fiscal agents, and custodians shall be 
afforded to such person or persons. 
(b) A report of such audit shall be made by the corporation to 
Congress not later than May 15 of each year. The report shall set 
forth the scope of the audit and shall include a verification by the 
{)erson or persons conducting the audit of statements of (1) assets and 
labilities, (2) capital and surplus or deficit, (3) surplus or deficit 
analysis, (4) income and expense, and (5) sources and application of 
funds. Such reports shall not be printed as public documents. 
Members h4>< 
Board 
tors. 
of Direc-
Officers. 
Assets. 
Loans* 
P o l i t i c al sup* 
port, etc* 
Liability. 
B u s i n e s s 
profit, etc. 
Records. 
for 
Audit. 
R e p o r t to Con-
gress. 
492 
Liquidation. 
Use of name. 
Agents. 
PUBLIC LAW 508-JULY 19, 1954 
[68 ST A T , 
SEC. 15. Upon final dissolution or liquidation of the corporation and 
after the discharge or satisfaction of all outstanding obligations and 
liabilities, the remaining assets of the corporation shall be used by the 
board of directors for the purposes stated in section 3 above or be 
transferred to some recognized educational foundation. 
SEC. 16. The corporation shall have the sole and exclusive right to 
use the name of Board for Fundamental Education as representing 
such corporation and such seals, emblems, and badges as the corpo-
ration may lawfully adopt. 
SEC. 17. As a condition precedent to the exercise of any power or 
privilege granted to the corporation under this Act, the corporation 
shall file in the office of the Secretary of State, or similar office, in each 
State and in each Territory or possession of the United States in which 
the corporation is doing business, the name and post office address of 
an authorized agent in such State, Territory, or possession upon whom 
legal process or demand against the corporation may be served. 
SEC. 18. The right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is hereby 
expressly reserved. 
Approved July 19, 1954. 
Public Law 508 
CHAPTER 537 
July 19, 1954 
[S.2468] 
U. S. Army gen^ 
erals. 
Appointment. 
AN ACT 
To authorize the President to appoint to the grade of general in the Army of the 
United States those officers who, in grade of lieutenant general, during World 
War II commanded the Army Ground Forces, commanded an Army, com-
manded Army forces which included a field army and supporting units, or com-
manded United States forces in China and served as chief of staff to Gen-
eralissimo Chiang Kai-shek in the China Theater of Operations, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That the President 
is authorized to appoint to the grade of general in the Army of the 
United States any officer who, while serving in the grade of lieutenant 
general, by virtue of assignment was— 
(1) the commanding general of the Army Ground Forces at 
any time between March 8, 1942, and August 16, 1945, 
(2) in command, as Army Commander, of an Army of the 
United States in either the European-African-Middle Eastern 
Theater of Operations at any time between December 11, 1941, 
and May 8, 1945, or the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations 
at any time between December 8,1941, and August 16,1945, or 
(3) in command of Army forces which included one or more 
field armies and supporting units in the above-designated theaters 
of operations at any time between March 8, 1942, and August 16, 
1945, 
(4) the commanding general of the United States forces in 
China and chief of staff to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek in the 
China Theater of Operations at any time between December 8, 
1941, and August 16,1945, 
(5) in command of Western Defense Command between 
December 5,1939, and June 15, 1943, 
and, if retired, to advance any such officer to such grade of general 
on the retired list. Any such officer who died prior to the date of 
enactment of this Act, or prior to appointment hereunder, may be 
so appointed posthumously. No increase of basic or retired pay or 
allowances shall result from the enactment of this Act or any appoint-
ment hereunder. 
Approved July 19, 1954.