Anderson-Roberts Post 283 was originally chartered in Bonham Texas in 1921. The Legionnaires currently meet on the third Tuesday of every month at 6:00 pm at the Post Home on 1525 W Sam Rayburn in Bonham, Texas.
The mission of our Post is to educate, promote and inform our community, it's veterans and families of:
1. Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation programs and facilities.
2. National Security Issues
3. Americanism Programs
4. Children and Youth Programs
Post # 283 was chartered on Saturday, February 12, 1921, and named for Rufus K. Anderson (Born – January 16, 1897, Died – March 19, 1918). He Died on a Tuesday at the Naval Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. of Tuberculosis. He joined the U. S. Navy in the spring of 1917. He was assigned to the U.S.S Louisiana, but got sick. He was buried Saturday, March 25, 1918 in Willow Wild Cemetery (Section 1). He was the son of Milam D. Anderson, ex Fannin County Sheriff, who lived five (5) miles east of Bonham, and was killed in a farming accident on March 25, 1929.
On June 6, 1934 the permanent charter for Rufus K. Anderson Post # 283 was signed by National Commander Edward A. Hayes from Illinois.
On February 24, 1947, Post 283 was permanently changed to Anderson-Roberts Post # 283. The second part of its name was taken from Ellis H. Roberts, Jr. (Born – 1912, Died – January 14, 1943). He was an Army Air Corps. S/Sgt. Killed in a plane crash on the coast of Dutch Guinea while on a secret mission to South America during WWII. He is believed to be the first person from Bonham killed during the war. One (1) person from Fannin County (Grover B. Bishop) was killed at Pearl Harbor. Roberts’ mother lived on West 8th Street in Bonham. He had been in the service for 10 months and one (1) day. His brother, S/Sgt. Charles E. Roberts, was killed in action in Italy, Dec. 6, 1944. His father died in 1946. Another brother J. T. Roberts received a medical discharge during WWII. Ellis and Charles are buried in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.
4th District Commanders
Dr. Oscar Clyde Nevill - 1926 *
Joseph Cravens Denton, Sr. - 1928 *
Ronald K. "Ronnie" VanZandt - 1992-1994
4th District Vice Commanders
Dr. Oscar Clyde Nevill - 1925 *
Arthur Wellesley Wainwright - 1946-1948 *
Ronald K. "Ronnie" VanZandt - 1990-1992
1st Division Commanders
Dr. Oscar Clyde Nevill * - 1931 *
Post Telephone: 903-583-4910
Mailing Address: PO Box 32, Bonham, Texas 75418
