History of SENCLAND Chapter and List of Past Presidents
Written by Bob Jones, LTC, USA-Ret
SENCLAND CHAPTER HISTORY
SENCLAND chapter, TROA (The Retired Officers Association of America), was born in 1973 when Col James Johnson, his wife Matie; LtCol H.R. Kelly, his wife Jeanne; Col Herbert Bridges, his wife Jean; CAPT Louis Muery, his wife Mary Lou; Lt Col Tom Olson and his wife Lois met at Bradley Creek Marina and started the ball rolling. After several organizational meetings and the addition of a number of other interested officers and their wives, the SENCLAND Chapter was officially charted on 30 June 1973 as an affiliate of the national organization of The Retired Officers Association of America (TROA). Col Jim Johnson served as our first President and LtCol Tom Olson was the Secretary-Treasurer. Over the ensuing forty years the chapter has continued to grow with our current enrollment hovering around 250 members.
The name of the Retired Officers Association of America (TROA) was changed in 2003 to the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and the SENCLAND chapter was re-chartered as an affiliate of that organization.
SENCLAND Chapter Presidents over the years have included:
1973 Col James Johnson, USAF
1974 LtCol H.R. Kelly, USMC
1975 LCDR Linwood Gideons, USN
1976 Col Milton Taylor, USAF
1977 Col Fred Smith, USAF
1978-79 Maj William Lamont, USMC
1980 LtCol Amo Judd, USMC
1981 COL John Mammot, USA
1982 LTC Don Blake, USA
1983 CDR Alfred Magee, USN
1984-85 MAJ Arthur Tuggle, USA
1986 LtCol Ray Funderburk, USMC
1987-88 Maj E.T. Townsend, USAF
1989 LtCol Thomas Walter, USA
1990-91 Col Vincent Norako, USMC
1992 Maj Max Lowish, USAF
1993 CDR John Armfield, USN
1994 LtCol Alfred Lapitino, USAF
1995-96 LtCol Don Sayce, USMC
1997 COL Lee Sherman, USA
1998 COL Roger Rains, USA
1999 COL John Melia, USA
2000 MAJ Allen Bowlsby, USA
2000-03 LTC Robert Jones, USA
2004-05 MAJ Kenneth Finch, USA
2006-13 COL Jeri Graham, USA
2014-16 CAPT John Stewart, USNR
2016-17 COL Jim Brumit, USAR
2018-19 CDR Kenneth Klassen, USN
2020-21 BG Jim Carper USAR
2021-23 COL Joseph Irrera USMC
2024-Present CAPT Allan Turner USNR