Scott Dean attended Norwich University in Vermont. He served with the 7th Light Infantry Division out of Fort Ord, California for the Invasion of Panama and 1/327 Infantry Battalion of the 101st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky during Dessert Storm. He, also, served with the Multi-National Forces and Observers in Sanai, Egypt, as well as, APO in North Africa, and the Middle East.

After his military service, Scott owned a bar in Austin in the mid 90’s and moved to Taylor in 2005. He spent 15 years traveling the country as a Regional Special Operations Commander for Prison Systems before being elected as the current Commander of Post 39. He has previously been the Chairman of the Taylor Main Street Advisory Board, owned an antique store in downtown Taylor, and worked at Williamson County’s Emergency Communications Department. Scott is currently the Director of Operations for Captain Hook Dumpsters. 

Dwayne Ariola, a Taylorite, is a Retired Master Chief as of November 2005. He enlisted in the Navy in 1985 after graduating Taylor High School. Choosing to be a part of the Navy’s elite submarine service, his first Submarine was the USS Atlanta. Selected by the Navy to join the recruiting force, he served three years in Albuquerque, NM. After making First Class Petty Officer, that tour was followed by two more Los Angeles Class Submarines, the USS Pasadena and the USS Augusta, as Chief Petty Officer. His next assignment was to the Navy’s Virginia Class Program Officer where he was responsible for the VIRGINIA CLASS WARFARE Requirements and Liaison to fleet personnel until his promotion to Senior Chief Petty Officer. In October 2003, he was assigned as Chief Of the Boat (COB) of the USS ALBANY. The ALBANY was recognized with the Battle E Award as the Best Submarine. 

Dwayne retired in 2005 and entered the business world. He has served as Plant Manager, General Manager, Vice President, and Director of Technical Services of various companies. Currently he is the Area Sales Manager for Burkert USA in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. 

Dwayne and his wife, Alice Marie, have combined one son, Koby and two daughters, Joanna and Jennifer.

Jeremy Penn, originally from Shreveport, LA, began his journey by joining the Air Force Reserve while still in high school. In 1989, he worked in aircraft maintenance on KC-10s at Barksdale AFB. Transitioning to the Active Duty Marine Corps in 1991, Jeremy served at the Mos 5831 corrections camp and Lejeune Base Brig for four years, culminating in an honorable discharge in 1996. After retiring as an Elevator Mechanic in 2022, he moved to the Austin area in 2006 and was the former president of IUEC Local 133, settling in Taylor in 2009.

Francis Hester served in the United States Marine Corps during the Global War on Terrorism from 2000 - 2004 as a machine gunner with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines.

Francis earned a BA in business from Concordia University Texas in 2013, and now owns and operates Captain Hook Dumpster Rentals in Austin, Texas.

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Francis has been a member of The Graham D. Luhn American Legion Post 39, Taylor, Texas since 2023 and was elected Finance Officer in February 2025.

Born in Taylor, Texas, Ernest Ariola Jr. graduated from Taylor High School in 1980. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1987, where he began an illustrious career as a Navy Air Crewman and Anti-Submarine Warfare Operator, specializing as an Acoustic Analyst. In this role, he was expertly trained in detecting, analyzing, and classifying submarine acoustic data—critical skills in naval defense operations.

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Throughout his career, Ernest attended several Navy training schools to refine his expertise. He graduated from the Acoustic Analyst School at Navy Base Millington, Tennessee, completed Naval Air Crewman Candidate School at NAS Pensacola, and underwent Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) training at NAVBASE Coronado, California. These specialized programs helped lay the foundation for his success in the field.

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Ernest proudly served aboard the USS Forrestal (CV-59) as an Acoustic Analyst, before transitioning to the VP-22 "Blue Geese"—an elite squadron flying the P-3 Orion, a long-range patrol aircraft. During his time with VP-22, Ernest’s exceptional service and skill as an Acoustic Analyst earned him a selection to join one of the Navy's most distinguished units: the “Bear Trap” crew, a recognition reserved for those who demonstrated outstanding expertise in their field.

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Today, Ernest serves as a Project Manager with the prestigious Applied Research Laboratory at the University of Texas in Austin.

Outside of his professional accomplishments, Ernest has a fulfilling family life. He married his wife, Robin, in 1991, and together they have five children and ten grandchildren.

Greg Redden served in the USMC for 7.5 years from 1984 to 1992 as an E4 aviation hydraulic technician with VMFA-235 in Hawaii, specializing in F-4 F/A-18 aircraft from 1985 to 1989. Subsequently, he worked with HMX-1, maintaining and operating helicopters for President George H. Bush from 1989 to 1992.

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Greg and his wife, Rhonda, are owners of A Veteran Storage in Taylor.

John Hanks proudly served in the United States Army for more than 23 years, retiring in 2007 as a Chief Warrant Officer Three (CW3). He enlisted in 1984 as a Light Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic and advanced through the enlisted ranks to Sergeant First Class before being selected for the Warrant Officer Corps. During his career, he served in Germany, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq with the 2nd Armored Division, 8th Infantry Division, 1st Cavalry Division, 1st Armored Division, 2nd Infantry Division, and 4th Infantry Division. A veteran of Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Iraqi Freedom, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal along with two Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, eleven Army Achievement Medals, and numerous other military awards and decorations.

Following his Army retirement, John continued his commitment to public service by joining the Internal Revenue Service in 2014 after earning a Bachelor of Business Management, a Master of Science in Project Management, and a Master of Business Administration. He currently serves as a Front-Line Manager, mentoring employees and developing future leaders. John and his wife, Cornelia ("Conny"), are the proud parents of Benjamin and Nicole. Guided by the Army Values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage, John remains dedicated to serving fellow veterans and his community through the American Legion.

Matt Drummond was born at John's Community Hospital in Taylor, Texas, and proudly graduated Taylor High School. A dedicated citizen of Taylor since 2015, he carries the spirit of hometown with him, "Once a Duck, Always a Duck".

Matt served honorably on the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) out of Norfolk, Virginia as an ABH (Aviation Boatswain's Mate), participating in two significant cruises during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Known as the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise played a crucial role in every major U.S. conflict from the Bay of Pigs to the response of 9/11, including being the first carrier directly involved in pirate operations.

Jim Newman enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves in 1958. He was selected for the NESEP program, graduated from Tulane University in 1962 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant.

Jim served as a platoon commander and company executive officer in the Second Combat Engineer Battalion. He was deployed to the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He participated in rescue landings in Panama and the Dominican Republic as part of the Caribbean MEU. He was released from active duty in 1966.

Jim practiced law in Louisiana and Texas for twenty years. He then attended Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and was ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Prior to retirement in 2010, Jim served as a congregational pastor and as a hospital and hospice chaplain. With his wife, Maria, he moved to Taylor in 2003 to serve the First Presbyterian Church.

Jim is a member of the Taylor Planning and Zoning Commission. Maria is President of the Friends of the Taylor Public Library. Both serve on the Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Club of East Williamson County.