Past Commanders - Dept. of CA & Pacific, SUVCW

Past Department Commanders

These are the members who have served as Commander of the Department since its formation in 1886.

Click on the “+” symbol for more info about each one, including their known qualifying ancestors.

Year	Commander	Born	Died	Residence	Ancestor(s)
2023 2024	DOYLE, Steven Edward	1949	Living	Highland, CA	Michael Doyle — USS Pensacola and USS Monongahela. George W. Grandy — 1st Minnesota Infantry, Co. D Richard Grandy — 153rd New York Infantry, Co. C John Grandy — 153rd New York Infantry, Co. C
2021 2022	AVILA, Frank Charles	1955	Living	San Jose, CA	George W. Griffith — 17th West Virginia Infantry, Co. A and 4th West Virginia Cavalry, Co. L Joseph Griffith — 6th West Virginia Infantry, Co. F James Morningstar — 84th Illinois Infantry, Co. G Thomas Morningstar — 84th Illinois Infantry, Co. G Benjamin S. Shepherd — 25th Iowa Infantry, Co. K David S. Shepherd — 4th West Virginia Cavalry, Co. L Alexander A. H. Shepherd — 1st West Virginia Infantry, Co. D and 2nd West Virginia Veteran Infantry, Co. G William G. Shepherd — 2nd Provisional Enrolled Missouri Militia, Co. G
2019 2020	VELASCO, Rudy E. III	1956	Living	Cathedral City, CA	Robert J. Ford – 23rd Wisconsin Infantry, Co. I
2017 2018	ENDERLIN, Dean Andrew	1961	Living	Calistoga, CA	Erick Nelson — 89th Illinois Infantry, Co. F Richard P. Bissell — 17th Illinois Cavalry, Cos. E & L Edwin H. Cole — 9th Kansas Cavalry, Co. D Flavius J. Cole — 140th Indiana Infantry, Co. B John W. Cole — 140th Indiana Infantry, Co. B William F. Hobart — 97th Indiana Infantry, Co. K
2015 2016	GRAHAM, Thomas Talbott	1941	Living	San Jose, CA	Albert S. Hayne — 57th Pennsylvania Infantry, Co. D Benjamin S. Jones — 3rd Iowa Cavalry, Field & Staff Mastin H. Jones — 45th Iowa Infantry, Co. D Samuel T. Jones — 78th Indiana Infantry, Co. A George C. Maris — 85th Indiana Infantry, Co. A Thomas D. Maris — 31st Indiana Infantry, Co. I William M. Maris — 154th Illinois Infantry, Co. B
2013 2014	REESE, Timothy Paul	1964	Living	Salinas, CA	Isaac D. Robbins – 26th Indiana Infantry & 146th Indiana Infantry Montraville Robbins – 68th Indiana Infantry John C. Swift – 18th Indiana Infantry Notley Garrison – 19th Iowa Infantry McKensie Garrison – 45th Iowa Infantry
2011 2012	ROOSEVELT, Glen Lee	1943	Living	Tustin, CA	Jacob D. Stroud – 23rd Wisconsin Infantry Thomas Bunker, Jr. – 23rd Wisconsin Infantry Geo. R. Meadowcroft – 50th Wisconsin Infantry Anthony Phillips – 23rd Wisconsin Infantry Nathaniel S. Outman (alias Nathaniel Curtiss) – 4th Wisconsin Cavalry
2009 2010	MABIE, Charles William	1964	Living	Newark, CA	Benjamin Frank Mabie — 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery
2007 2008	SAYRE, Jerry Ray	1952	Living	Fallbrook, CA	Peter Hardman Babcock — 8th Iowa Infantry John Wesley Clement — 20th Ohio Infantry Capt. Nathaniel George Clement — 13th U.S. Infantry & 52nd U.S. Colored Infantry James Bailey Furrow — 1st Nebraska Cavalry Jesse Maxson Furrow — 20th Ohio Infantry George Washington Hurley — 26th Iowa Infantry 1st Lt. Milton Hurley — 2nd Iowa Infantry; 187th & 192nd Ohio Infantry William Hurley — 99th Illinois Infantry
2005 2006	CAMPBELL, Tad David Commander-in-Chief (2014-15)	1970	Living	Gilroy, CA	Elijah Angus — 9th New York Heavy Artillery Henry E. Angus — 10th Michigan Cavalry Ira Erastus Angus — 10th Michigan Cavalry Charles Manning Appleton — 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry John Henderson Appleton — 17th Indiana Infantry, Wilder's Lightning Brigade James D. Arbuckle — 1st Indiana Heavy Artillery Hope Carpenter — 3rd Michigan Cavalry Stephen A. Carpenter — 24th Michigan Infantry James B. Draggoo — 1st Indiana Heavy Artillery George W. Duryee — 4th Michigan Infantry Rev. Isaac Groot Duryee — Chaplain, 81st New York Infantry James H. Duryee — 4th Michigan Infantry Cpl. William B. Duryee — 4th Michigan Infantry Capt. Harbert King Forbis — 19th Kentucky Infantry Charles D. Foster — 10th Michigan Cavalry John N. Foster — 3rd Michigan Infantry Cpl. William J. Foster — 1st Michigan Infantry Aaron Goodwin — 145th Indiana Infantry Albert Jones — 145th Indiana Infantry Green A. Jones — 3rd Iowa Cavalry Capt. Harbert King, Jr. — 3rd Kentucky Infantry William King — 19th Kentucky Infantry & Veteran Reserve Corps Andrew N. Miller — 3rd Michigan Infantry, 68th Ohio Infantry, & 56th Pennsylvania Infantry Alexander Oakes — 1st Arkansas Cavalry William Oakes — 60th Enrolled Missouri Militia & 5th Provisional Enrolled Missouri Militia Benjamin Purvis — 145th Indiana Infantry Cpl. Luther Franklin Purvis — 118th & 26th Indiana Infantry William J. Purvis — 118th Indiana Infantry Elliott Robinson — 54th Pennsylvania Infantry Irwin Robinson — 2nd Battalion Pennsylvania Infantry & 105th Pennsylvania Infantry James A. Robinson — 105th Pennsylvania Infantry Jacob Sloop — 1st Illinois Light Artillery & 7th Illinois Cavalry Samuel Sloop — 115th Illinois Infantry Abbott Taylor — 15th Michigan Infantry Arthur Shrader Taylor — 38th Iowa Infantry Cpl. John Burris Taylor — 13th Illinois Infantry William Smith Taylor — 38th Iowa Infantry Benjamin H. Thayer — 1st Michigan Engineers & Mechanics Bennett Tiner — Benton County Arkansas Home Guards Sgt. Jonathan Edward Wolf — 18th Iowa Infantry Iredell Wright — 45th Missouri Infantry
2004	HOADLEY, Linn Preston Resigned. Term completed by Tad D. Campbell.	1943	Living	Los Angeles, CA	Herman Wallace Hoadley — 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery & 11th Vermont Infantry
2002 2003	SCHALL, Donald Braden "Brad" Commander-in-Chief (2010-11)	1939	Living	Lincoln, CA	Cpl. John S. Dunmire — 11th Illinois Cavalry Sgt. Willis T. Reed — 1st Illinois Light Artillery & 7th Illinois Infantry Capt. Absalom Schall — 11th Pennsylvania Infantry Cpl. Albert G. Schall — 67th Pennsylvania Infantry Andrew Jackson Schall — 53rd Pennsylvania Infantry Sgt. William Braden Schall — 11th Illinois Cavalry
2000 2001	LOWE, Robert Barry "Bob"	1938	2008	El Cajon, CA	Cpl. Richard Lowe — 21st New York Cavalry
1998 1999	ARMISTEAD, Gene Crews	1947	2019	Escondido, CA	Jacob H. Cline — 1st Alabama Cavalry (US)
1996 1997	BUNNELL, Daniel Martin	1955	2020	San Jose, CA	Amos Faust — 21st Ohio Infantry Henry Faust — 21st Ohio Infantry Joseph Faust — 66th Ohio Infantry Henry W. Shaw — 14th Wisconsin Infantry
1993	SMITH, Harold C. "Hal"	1924	2009	Los Angeles, CA	John Andrew Harter — 146th New York Infantry *Son of Sis. Beatrice (Downing) Smith-Riggs, PDP
1989 1990 1991 1992	SAWYER, Col. Willis Bruner "Bill"	1917	2010	Arroyo Grande, CA	William Strange Sims — 86th Indiana Infantry
1985 1986 1987	CHENEY, Donald Eugene	1914	1999	San Jose, CA	William Mills Farrar — 33rd Ohio Infantry
1988	PYLE, Wayne Stanley	1924	1995	San Jose, CA	Edward Stanley Houk — 153rd Illinois Infantry
1984	PYLE, Wayne Stanley	1924	1995	San Jose, CA	Edward Stanley Houk — 153rd Illinois Infantry
1978 1979	PYLE, Wayne Stanley	1924	1995	San Jose, CA	Edward Stanley Houk — 153rd Illinois Infantry
1977	COLLINS, Joseph Frederick	1901	1983	Fresno, CA	unknown
1976	WARNER, Allyson Fenwick Bryson, Sr.	1909	2002	Glendora, CA	Rev. Lycurgus Railsback — Chaplain, 44th U.S. Colored Infantry
1974	GATES, Harold Hugh	1916	1983	Chula Vista, CA	Joseph G. Gates — 78th U.S. Colored Infantry
1973	BUTLER, Chester Jerome	1910	1988	Whittier, CA	Groner Owen — 9th Kentucky Infantry
1994 1995	GREELY, Donald George	1946	Living	San Jose, CA	Horace L. S. Greely — 4th Minnesota Infantry Edward Stanley Houk — 153rd Illinois Infantry
1980 1981 1982 1983	GREELY, Kenneth Horace	1918	1987	Santa Clara, CA	Horace L. S. Greely — 4th Minnesota Infantry
1975	GREELY, Kenneth Horace	1918	1987	Santa Clara, CA	Horace L. S. Greely — 4th Minnesota Infantry
1972	GREELY, Kenneth Horace	1918	1987	Santa Clara, CA	Horace L. S. Greely — 4th Minnesota Infantry
1970 1971	ROGERS, Harold Homer	1914	2013	Whittier, CA	Philo L. Case — 2nd Iowa Infantry
1969	MARTIE, Dr. John Edward "Doc", Jr.	1892	1982	Reno, NV	Watson E. Sherriff — 7th New York Cavalry
1968	SCHOONOVER, Ernest Eugene	1886	1973	Los Angeles, CA	Ulysses Franklin Brown — 50th New York Engineers
1967	CASE, Leonard S.	1891	1981	National City, CA	Philo L. Case — 2nd Iowa Infantry
1966	OFTEDAL, Seborn Lashley	1906	1977	Fresno, CA	Seborn N. "Zebe" Lashley — unit unidentified
1965	KELCHNER, Leroy Benjamin "Roy"	1883	1968	Santa Ana, CA	Edwin H. Kelchner — 151st Pennsylvania Infantry
1964	MCCOY, Eugene Rollins	1889	1969	Lemon Grove, CA	Bvt. Brig. Gen. Daniel Webster McCoy — 24th & 175th Ohio Infantry
1963	SCHOONOVER, Ulysses Brown	1890	1966	Whittier, CA	Ulysses Franklin Brown — 50th New York Engineers
1962	BACON, Oscar Odell	1901	1976	Fresno, CA	John Bacon — 48th Illinois Infantry John Hyle Bacon — 8th Illinois Infantry
1961	THOMAS, Otis Otterbin	1875	1962	San Gabriel, CA	William A. Thomas — 84th Illinois Infantry
1960	GATELY, John Orval	1901	1972	Pomona, CA	John C. Walker — 113th Ohio Infantry
1959	CHENEY, Vernon Everdeen	1888	1962	Oakland, CA	Rev. Thomas B. Cheney — 16th Ohio Infantry; 2nd Battalion Veteran Reserve Corps
1958	WILCOX, Corbett F. "Coby"	1892	1978	Los Angeles, CA	Martin Wilcox — 37th Illinois Infantry
1957	SNOW, Dr. Levi Joseph	1883	1977	Petaluma, CA	Joseph Lorenzo Snow — 16th Illinois Cavalry; McClernand's Body Guard Illinois Cavalry; & Northeast Missouri Home Guard Infantry Philarmon Reynolds — 21st Missouri Infantry
1956	STORY, Louis Terence Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief (1957-58)	1889	1970	Compton, CA	Douglas T. Story — 136th Illinois Infantry
1955	RAINWATER, Rev. Harrison Spurgeon	1890	1981	Firebaugh, CA	Abraham Butler Rainwater — 45th & 48th Missouri Infantry
1954	SCOTT, Wallace William	1895	1981	Pasadena, CA	William Washington Scott — 34th Iowa Infantry
1953	TAYLOR, Jesse Hudson	1879	1970	Los Angeles, CA	Robert Newton Taylor — 33rd New Jersey Infantry & 45th U.S. Infantry
1952	RIGGS, Melville Roy	1895	1966	Ontario, CA	Charles Wilson Riggs — 3rd Ohio Cavalry William Evans — 129th Illinois Infantry
1951	WOHLGEMUTH, John Elmer	1908	1991	Long Beach, CA	Elmer Bacon — 14th Ohio Light Artillery
1950	GARWOOD, Ralph William	1898	1987	Pasadena, CA	Calvin Zener — 15th Indiana Infantry Edward Zener — 138th Indiana Infantry Melville C. Zener — 77th Indiana Infantry & Veteran Reserve Corps
1949	MCKINNEY, Alvah Root	1874	1953	Santa Cruz, CA	Erastus R. McKinney — 11th Illinois Infantry
1948	RIGGS, Earl Flowers Commander-in-Chief (1958-59)	1891	1965	Upland, CA	Charles Wilson Riggs — 3rd Ohio Cavalry William Evans — 129th Illinois Infantry
1947	SMITH, Walter Adelbert	1889	1956	San Francisco, CA	Daniel Reigle — 10th Minnesota Infantry
1946	WOERNER, Frank Commander-in-Chief (1966-67)	1894	1972	Inglewood, CA	Capt. Christian Woerner — Independent Battery C of New Jersey Light Artillery
1945	DUMSER, Raymond Benham	1874	1954	Oakland, CA	William R. Benham — 45th Illinois Infantry John Simon Dumser — 52nd Illinois Infantry
1944	RANKIN, Robert Roy	1880	1963	Pasadena, CA	Cpl. Henry Newton Rankin — 8th Indiana Cavalry
1943	RUPLE, George Amos	1875	1962	San Francisco, CA	Lt. George H. Ruple — 13th Iowa Infantry
1942	MICHELBACHER, Jonathan Oscar	1907	1963	Riverside, CA	Gustav Baumann — 27th Wisconsin Infantry
1941	DEATON, Jackson Bryant	1886	1965	Stockton, CA	Sgt. William P. Deaton — Cass County Missouri Home Guard Cavalry & 2nd Battalion Missouri State Guard Cavalry
1940	FLETCHER, Richard Deleon, Sr.	1877	1954	San Francisco, CA	Michael C. Faulkner — 44th Illinois Infantry Thomas R. Faulkner — 48th Illinois Infantry
1939	COLLINS, Harrie Richard, Esq.	1878	1949	Los Angeles, CA	Maj. Williamson Bern Cern Collins — 7th Missouri Infantry
1938	LAUGHLIN, Arthur Guy	1900	1974	Modesto, CA	Julius Caesar Laughlin — Osage County Missouri Home Guards
1937	GLASS, John Nicolas	1887	1951	San Jose, CA	Nicholas Binsbacher — 8th Missouri State Militia & 55th Enrolled Missouri Militia Sebastian Binsbacher — 55th Missouri Infantry & Franklin County Provisional Enrolled Missouri Militia
1936	MILLEN, Charles Frederick	1870	1946	Santa Ana, CA	John Moffett Millen — 3rd Illinois Cavalry & 2nd United States Veteran Volunteer Infantry
1935	CROW, Harry Dodge	1899	1991	Modesto, CA	Henry Dodge Crow — 33rd & 11th Wisconsin Infantry
1934	KILLEEN, Dr. John Francis	1871	1936	San Francisco, CA	James Killeen — 5th United States Cavalry
1933	BARRETT, Dr. Ralph Raymond Commander-in-Chief (1939-40)	1874	1954	Huntington Park, CA	Ashley A. Barrett — 12th Ohio Light Artillery Ransom Barrett — 12th Ohio Light Artillery Erastus Barrett — 55th Ohio Infantry
1932	HICKOX, William Jeremiah Sarles	1873	1943	Stockton, CA	Flavel Gaylord Hickox — 90th New York Infantry
1931	DUNSTER, Frederick Ivory "Fred"	1870	1938	Los Angeles, CA	Alfred D. Dunster — 117th New York Infantry
1930	SOMERBY, Eugene Clarence	1894	1986	Pasadena, CA	John L. Somerby — 6th Wisconsin Infantry
1929	COURSEY, John Wilbur	1875	1974	Fresno, CA	James A. Coursey — Independent Battery B of Pennsylvania Light Artillery
1928	SPIELMAN, John Godfrey	1863	1951	Long Beach, CA	Lt. John A. Spielman — 17th Iowa Infantry
1927	DEEMS, Alva Emanuel	1876	1950	Los Angeles, CA	Jacob Deems — McLaughlin's Guard Ohio Cavalry
1926	PARKER, Edwin James "Ed"	1868	1946	Santa Ana, CA	Miles Parker — 38th Iowa Infantry
1925	BOWLEY, Delevan Bates Commander-in-Chief (1928-29)	1873	1947	San Francisco, CA	Capt. Freeman Sparks Bowley — 30th United States Colored Infantry
1924	BOYNTON, Charles Oliver	1882	1959	Long Beach, CA	Capt. James B. Atkinson — Sibley Guards Minnesota Citizen Soldiers; 2nd Minnesota Cavalry; & 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery
1923	THAYER, Harry Allen	1885	1959	Santa Barbara, CA	Cpl. Frederick Lewellyn Thayer — 22nd Massachusetts Infantry & 2nd Independent Battery Massachusetts Light Artillery
1922	HAWTHORNE, Francis Creighton	1879	1932	Los Angeles, CA	Francis Grove Hawthorne — 170th, 98th & 74th Ohio Infantry
1921	CLOUD, Archibald Jeter	1878	1957	San Francisco, CA	Zachariah Nance Goldsby — 12th Missouri Cavalry
1919 1920	HYDEN, William Henry	1855	1922	Los Angeles, CA	Rev. Jesse Albert Hyden — Hospital Chaplain, United States Volunteers
1918	TOZER, Charles Walter	1876	1948	San Francisco, CA	Lewellyn Tozer — 1st Maine Light Artillery
1917	WHITED, George Blanco	1869	1942	Long Beach, CA	Patton George Whited — 5th & 37th United States Infantry. Medal of Honor recipient.
1916	GRIFFIN, Joseph Valentine "Joe"	1882	1964	Tropico, CA	James John Griffin — 6th New York Heavy Artillery
1915	COOK, John Wesley "J.W."	1848	1937	San Jose, CA	Maj. Wesley Cook — 22nd Kentucky Infantry
1914	LOCKWOOD, George Overman	1877	1955	Los Angeles, CA	George Naylor Lockwood — 9th Michigan Cavalry & 3rd United States Cavalry Lt. Major Ferris Lockwood — 9th Michigan Cavalry
1913	PLYMIRE, Dr. David Brandley	1869	1939	San Francisco, CA	James Alexander Plymire — 37th Pennsylvania Infantry
1912	SCOTT, Col. Clarence Sydney	1863	1930	San Francisco, CA	Thurston Chase Scott — 22nd Wisconsin Infantry
1911	LONGFELLOW, Henry Alexander	1874	1932	Oakland, CA	Henry L. Longfellow — United States Navy (USS Ohio & USS Kingfisher)
1910	MULLIN, John Flint	1872	1946	Los Angeles, CA	Ner Haines Mullin — 104th Illinois Infantry
1909	BROWN, Theodore Vincent, Jr.	1883	1946	San Jose, CA	Theodore Vincent Brown, Sr. — Hospital Steward U.S. Army & 10th U.S. Infantry
1908	CULVER, Harrison Wilder "Harry"	1883	1918	Long Beach, CA	Newton Harrison Culver — 4th Wisconsin Cavalry
1907	KIMBALL, Christian Frederick, Esq.	1877	1941	Redding, CA	Frederick "Fred" Kimball — unit unidentified
1906	LEFFLER, James Frank	1869	1914	San Jose, CA	John Leffler — 88th Illinois Infantry
1905	CONART, George Washington	1852	1917	Los Angeles, CA	Augustus Conart — 8th Kansas Infantry
1904	WILSON, Frank Beverly Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief (1902-03)	1869	1946	San Francisco, CA	Franklin B. "Frank" Wilson — 1st Maine Cavalry & 1st District of Columbia Cavalry
1903	MEDLAR, John Abraham	1864	1956	Los Angeles, CA	John C. Medlar — 48th Pennsylvania Infantry
1902	HANDLEY, Frank Raymond	1874	1904	San Francisco, CA	Charles J. Handley — 1st Oregon Infantry
1901	WASHBURN, Clarence Elroy	1866	1909	Los Angeles, CA	Adoniram Judson Washburn — 11th Rhode Island Infantry
1900	BENNETT, Dr. Augustus Griffin, Jr.	1872	1927	San Jose, CA	Col. Augustus G. Bennett — 81st New York Infantry & 21st United States Colored Infantry Rev. Erasmus W. Jones — 21st United States Colored Infantry
1899	MOORE, Lt. Col. Harry Thornton	1870	1937	San Francisco, CA	George W. Moore — 138th Illinois Infantry
1897 1898	PIERCE, Charles Lewis Jonathan	1856	1928	Oakland, CA	George Pierce — 38th Pennsylvania Infantry "Iron City Guards"
1896	HOUCK, Hon. Charles Clayton	1871	1955	Santa Cruz, CA	Francis T. Houck — 95th Illinois Infantry
1895	SCHRODER, Louis E.	≈1861	unknown	San Francisco, CA	unknown
1894	SHIPLEY, Frank Chamberlain	1856	1933	Oakland, CA	Samuel Dennis Shipley — 6th & 30th Massachusetts Infantry
1893	BUNNELL, Frank Wesley	1861	1931	Los Angeles, CA	Ahira Lehman Bunnell — 141st & 57th Pennsylvania Infantry
1892	GILBERT, Thomas Martin	1865	1946	Fresno, CA	William Henry Gilbert — 7th Missouri State Militia Cavalry
1891	BLODGET, Spencer Langdon	1858	1934	Bakersfield, CA	Lt. William Oren Blodget — 151st Pennsylvania Infantry
1890	WOOD, Hon. Fred V.	1866	1936	Oakland, CA	Walter Wood — 10th Wisconsin Infantry George W. Armstrong — 17th New York Infantry
1889	CONANT, Ernest Woodbury	1862	1934	San Jose, CA	Timothy Conant — 4th Minnesota Infantry
1886	CALLAHAN, Louis de Phelan	1854	1935	Los Angeles, CA	John Callahan — 11th Ohio Cavalry
1887	CALLAHAN, Clarence John	≈1858	1909	Los Angeles, CA	John Callahan — 11th Ohio Cavalry
1888	ROBINSON, Hon. Edward Constant	1855	1940	Oakland, CA	Dr. Jesse Robinson — 1st Oregon Cavalry

Dept. of California & Pacific, SUVCW | Past Department Commanders
Created: 19 Jan 2008; Modified: 8 Mar 2025