California Boys State - Yearbook (Sacramento, CA)

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RALPH MILLER taking oath of office as 2nd gover- nor of Boys ' State. Justice John PuUen is administering oath while Governor Frank E. Merriam looks on. DEPARTMENT COMMANDER RECOMMENDS BOYS STATE AS A LEGION ACTIVITY IN CALIFORNIA In his Pepoit to the 1937 Convention Commander Thomas J. Riordan stated: Your Commander investigated the feasibility of conducting the first California Boys State, which action you instructed the Commission to t ake, and found that such a venture was very practical and certainly essential to the welfare of the youth of California, Briefly, we are pleased to report that the Boys State in this first attempt was a successful program. The Comman- der feels safe in saying beyond question The California Boys State program enlarged and improved will be the most practical program that the American Legion can sponsor as a subsequent year activity. FIRST GOVERNOR, TOM HOWARD, ADDRESSES AMERICAN LEGION CONVENTION From Summary of Procedings of 1937 American Legion Convention: Chairman Bert Mann of the Americanism Commission made his report to the convention. — He introduced Tom Howard of San Francisco, Tom appeared to be no more than 16 years of age. His poise and delivery were outstanding. He stated in part: 1 not only discovered a reality of purpose of the American Legion, but I also found our that this Legion is in a class by itself, in that it aloue, out of the hundreds of other organizations , bends its efforts toward the betterment of youth through such pro- grams as this Boys State- - - I am proud to be the first governor of California Boys State, and as such I earnestly ask you to give California youth a lift and to continue this program, Bert Mann made a plea for the continuation of the Boys State program — the practica- bility of the program is well established and it is the most unselfish program in which the Americanism Commission ever engaged. GOVERNOR ' S COUNCIL Governor Ralph Miller and other constitutional offi- cers with 23 appointees to the Governor ' s Council. This 1938 session brought 389 boys, an increase from 254 in 1937, ijkLIHl

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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.

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THE AMERICANISM PROGRAM In addition to the operation of the school of practical government where the boys learn by doing, the schedule includes an Ameri- canism program. The boys are taught that love of our coun- try and respect for its flag are an integral part of the duty of all citizens. For many years P. A. Dick Horton presented a pageant of the history of the flag. Recently the program has been under the direction of Willard Wilt. ; 5 ? ' THE PRE-WAR YEARS Year Bovs Governor 1937 254 Tom Howard 1938 389 Ralph Miller 1939 Jack Maiben 1940 829 John Cleary 1941 699 Wells DeLoach Party Sponsoring Post Lieut. Gov. Whig Sunnyside, San Francisco ? Dinuba Wm . Ulyate Nationalist Montebello Dave Hurford Independent Whig Geo. Washington San Francisco Santa Maria Don Hitchcock Victor Hancock The Third Inaugural C. A. Yank Harelson, Chairman of the Boys State Committee at the mike. Seated behind table are Governor Jack Maiben, Department Commander Doc Walters and Judge Jolm Pullen. State, county, and city officials in background witli local legion- naires. Jack Maiben Takes Oath With Jim Howie looking on Justice John Pullen administers oatli of office to Jack Maiben