Vietnam War Memorial Post 639
Vietnam War Memorial Post 639We’ve
finally had our day. 12 years
ago a small group of guys took on an awesome responsibility. We:
Danny Melton, Bobby Allen, Burl McCullough, John Bross, Tom Gammon, Rodney
Miller, Gary Harlan, Jerry Orr, Kirk Winter, Scott Ousley, Ed Voorhees, Walter
Swope, Jean Swope, Jerry Brewer, Bud Darby, and several others put everything on
the line and rolled the dice. Some
of us have lived through it and some haven’t. The
first people I would like to thank are those who have gone on. Thank
you Danny, Bobby, Jean, and Walt. I
love you all. I visit you often in
our beautiful rose garden. I miss
you. A special thanks to each
person on the list for making a major contribution to our success.
Today
is a new day. We are mortgage debt
free. Our mission has been
accomplished. Wow!!! We own everything here free and clear.
There
are two people I would like to single out. Kirk Winter and Rodney Miller. They made it happen.
Kirk
Winter was Commander of 639 for three years while I served as his First Vice. During
his tenure we went from approximately $25,000 to $250,000. Kirk
wherever you are I thank you again. I
hope you read this. You are one of the guys I respect the most.
Our
entire physical assets were three briefcases and a checkbook. We
use to joke about having that much money while operating out of briefcases. It
all came from bingo.
Our
first efforts to purchase a home were thwarted by the neighbors of the
surrounding area. They came out in
force to the County Commission against our purchase of the Old Ritter School
House. Bottom line, they did not
want us in their community. I saw
David Coonrod come to tears while ruling against us. He had to do his job. I
know he had our best interest in mind. I
saw Jim Payne lash out at our perspective neighbors. David understood. He’s a vet, and he felt our pain. He
knew it sucked.
Within
a few months an ad in the paper attracted the interest of Kirk and few others.
It was an absolute auction for 20 acres on South Scenic. We called a special E
board and authorized well in excess of the actual purchase price. We went head
to head with other bidders on those tracks out there for this property. Thank
you Bobby Adamson for representing us at that auction. Bobby assured us we had
made a deal that would assure out financial future and he was right on. Salute.
Now
the gamble was really on. We made a loan for approx. $385,000 for the building
and parking lot. Now we needed maximum productivity from bingo to pay this debt
and that’s what we got from Rodney Miller.
Rodney’s
commitment to paying our original debt has been unequaled. Rodney served as
bingo chairman for 7 years. Rodney
turned over to Post 639 General Account in excess of $1,000,000. To
put it in a nutshell you could say Rodney took the responsibility for and paid
the post off a long time ago. Rodney’s
partner and mentor is Terry Miller. Terry
and Rodney know bingo as well or better than anyone in Springfield. During their
tenure they served on the State Advisory Board to the Gaming Commission. They attended bingo sales and marketing classes and were in
first person contact with the Gaming Commission several times a year. Rodney
and Terry you have done more to secure our financial future than anyone ever has
or will do. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I
would also like to thank some present day movers and shakers. Rick
Stevens, Bill Roark, and Harvey Williams…. RIGHT ON.
Mike
Chandler
Past
Commander