California Boys State - Yearbook (Sacramento, CA)

Page 7 text:

RISE AND SHINE TODAY IS MONDAY A L L DAY These familar words come from the office of Chief Counselor, where Philo Chambers plans and directs the program of the week. The 1962 Staff of Counselors Enthusiastic -Efficient -Dedicated Business Manager Marion Benedetti provides for the physical operation of Boys State, such as, buildings, meals, supplies, busses, use of grounds, set-up and clean-up. Left-Basil Proll, Jr. Treasurer of Boys State Located in Legion Department Headquarters, San Francisco. Look after registration and financial records. Secretary Frank Baker Office Manager

Page 6 text:

JOHN H. VAN VLEET Department Chairman of Boys State Commission 1962 BOYS STATE COMMISSION Glen E. Combs, Area 4; Frank Baker, Secretary; Frank Scott; Calvin Paul, Area 3, Vice -Chairman; Tom Fawcett, Area 3; John Van Vleet, Chairman; John F. Hop- kins, Area 6; Harold Heinly, Area 5; Walter Pool, Area 5; Dean Harper, Area 2; Mitch Story, Area 1; Jack Ertola, Area 2. The Boys State Commission is like a, board of directors. It determines policies for the Boys State program , interprets and carries out convention mandates . draws up a budget, approves appointments made by the chairman and aids in the promotion of Boys State within the Areas represented. w Absent from the 1962 Commission meeting: Walter J. Sullivan Area 6 Gilbert Tennis Area 1

Page 8 text:

THE BOYS STATE STORY Boys State was first organized and developed by tlie Ameri- canism Committee of the American Legion of the State of Il- linois in 1934. The first year of the activity in Illinois proved beyond doubt the possibilities of the movement, and the 17th annual national convention of the American Legion, held in Septem- ber 1935, adopted the following resolution; Resolved, by the American Legion that we highly endorse the Boys State movement, and recommend that it be made an essential part of the Americanism program. The California program was started soon after Resolution No. 3 was passed at the Fifth Area Meeting at Brawley, Nov- ember 29, 1936. This resolution requested that the Ameri- can Legion Department Executive Committee set up a Boys State the following summer (1937), and that the plan be pat- terned after and carried on in a manner similar to that al- ready in operation in the Departments of Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The Fair-Grounds at Sacramento were chosen for the site. The State of California loaned the use of the buildings. Steel cots and straw tick-covers were borrowed from the Califor- nia National Guard. The same site has been used each year except 1942, 1943, 1944 and 1946. During the above war years the Fair-Grounds were not available because of their use by the military. In 1942 Boys State was held on the campus of the College of Agriculture at Davis. In 1943, 1944 and 1946 we were inv ited to use Grant Union High School at North Sacramento. The managements of both the Agricultural College and Grant Union High School were enthusiastic about our youth program and donated the facilities of their buildings and grounds without cost to the American Legion. THE BOYS STATE CREED AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP IS MY MOST PRICELESS POSSESSION. I BE- LIEVE IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICi WHICH GUARANTEES ME THE RIGHT TO WORSHIP GOD AS I CHOOSE AND AS A CITIZEN, EQUAL OPPORTUN- ITY, AND EQUAL EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS. IT IS MY OBLIGATION TO PARTICI- PATE IN AND CONTRIBUTE MY EFFORT TO THE CIVIC AND POLITI- CAL WELFARE OF MY COMMUNITY, STATE AND NATION. I RESOLVE TO LEARN AND UNDER- STAND GOVERNMENT AND THE CIVIC NEEDS OF MY COMMUNITY AND I HEREBY DEDICATE MYSELF TO THE TASK OR AROUSING AND MAINTAINING A LIKE INTEREST IN MY FELLOW CITIZENS THEREFORE MAY THE EXPERIENCE OF BOYS ' STATE BE EVER WITH ME AS A REMINDER OF MY OBLIGATION TO MY COUNTRY. GOVERNOR TOM HOWARD First governor of California Boys ' State (lliird from right) and otlier constitutional officers. Tom won liis election by five votes over Joe Pierano. Bert Mann, chairman of Americanism Commission and Judge PuUen are locau-d in center of back row.