The Wiley B. Murray Post No. 27 is preparing to dedicate their new Texas Historical subject marker next month. The marker location will be at the City National Bank on Thursday, September 11th, 2025. The American Legion Texas Department Commander, Richard Huntley, will make a special appearance to the dedication. The program will begin at 10:00 a.m. Jerry Blankenship, marker chairman of the San Saba County Historical Commission, will be the master of ceremonies followed with welcoming remarks by County Judge Jody A. Fauley. The Department Commander will speak on the origins of the American Legion.
Don Gray, District Commander of the 21 District, will then speak to the mission and contributions the American Legion makes to their communities. Sam Murray will speak on behalf of the bank and the Murray family.
Later that day, the post will hold its quarterly meeting at the legion hall. Special guests will be local students at San Saba High School, who attended the Boys and Girls State camps this year. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for fellowship and visitation and a meal of BBQ and pinto beans will be served at 6:30 p.m. followed by the business meeting.
Hopefully the history book of the post will be ready for sale that meeting. Everything has been glean and documented from the local records and newspapers that was available to include any service members who were a member of the Legion post, the past post commanders and adjutants, and of course its history in the community beginning in 1919. The following is a part of the history book that will soon be available.
Special Relationships
From the very beginning in 1919, the Wiley B. Murray Post No. 27 enjoyed a close relationships with the United Confederate Veterans (UCV), William P. Rogers Camp No. 322. In 1917, the old Confederates had cheered the Doughboys off to war, and when they returned, they were still around to welcome them back. The Doughboys were immediately accepted into their ranks and meetings. Immediately, the Doughboys assumed the role as their caretakers. Stooped with age, the Legionnaires witnessed the last years of the camp awaiting the final bugle call. The tap of canes and the creak of crutches kept pathetic time as the last camp roster in 1932, showed just three veterans left. However, the Legion’s role as caretakers would continue. (31)
As the UCV died away, the Old Settlers Reunion took their place. Also, the Legion served as caretakers for probably the largest and most successful Ex-Ranger reunion in that organization’s history. The San Saba News reported on July 4, 1929: “As the News goes to press Wednesday afternoon there are 2,000 pounds of beef and goat meat on cold storage waiting to be placed on the barbeque pit tonight for eats Thursday. Every pound of this was generously contributed by the farmers and ranch men of the county friends to the Legion.”
It was a tremendous affair with over eighty Ex-Rangers present for the three-day event. The Legion and Ladies Auxiliary fed over 2,000 people and afforded them every comfort available. The sponsorship for the Old Settlers Reunion would continue until 1990, when the last reunion was held. (32)
Throughout the years, the City National Bank in one way or another supported the American Legion and their projects. Almost every year the bank placed large advertisements in the local paper on Armistice Day and on their anniversary date. T. A. Murray and the bank contributed liberally to their many service projects in the city. In 1934, he again came to the rescue when the post lost its meeting place upstairs at the San Saba National Bank and allowed the post to relocate upstairs over his bank across from the courthouse. (33)
An important relationship the American Legion enjoyed was with the youth and their schools. At the very beginning of their existence the members visited the many school districts in the county and promoted patriotism. Some of the numerous projects were supporting the FFA, hosting the junior senior banquet and the homecoming dances, sponsoring the local boy scout troop, Golden Gloves boxing tournaments, and sponsoring girls for the Pecan Queen competition. They even arranged for ex-football players to play all-star football games between San Saba and their rival Goldthwaite. No doubt one of the most significant contributions was the creation of Memorial Field and supporting the various youth leagues and teams. (34)
Perhaps the best relationship was with the community of San Saba. In October 1930, court stenographer H. D. Mahaffy addressed the post and said in part: “With your splendid organization comprising the flower of American Manhood, you have an opportunity to render a service to your State and Nation and to the world, given to few groups of men throughout all the ages….The high ideals, the exemplified service and sacrifice for principles, that liberty shall not perish, should inspire each individual member with a burning zeal to so live, to so conduct himself, that those who come after you, that the children who now prattle at your knees, may feel and know that the sacrificial offering made by you on the altar of Liberty, has not been made in vain, and that there may come to them such a realization of the noble service rendered that they will be proud to emulate your example and follow in your footsteps, thereby bringing to a full fruition the work so worthily begun and thus become an enduring monument to your patriotic sacrifice for humanity….to do their patriotic duty as citizens of the greatest Nation under the shining canopy of heaven in the home, at the polls, in the jury box, and at the fireside.” Somehow a monument to the Doughboys, and a memorial hall for the veterans of both world wars was always just beyond their grasp. However, the best monument of the Wiley B. Murray Post No. 27, were their works in the community, and to the state and nation. (35)