The following is a very brief history of Shawnee Post 193; a Veteran owned business located in the Portland community.
- The American Legion was established as a national organization in 1919 after WW1 for the protection of the war time veteran and was instrumental in creating the GI Bill of Rights as we know it today.
- Shawnee Post 193 Chartered in 1936. At our height of membership, we had over 2200 Legion members. Today we are a fraction of that at 104 for 2026 and still serving veterans and the Portland Community.
- Original meetings took place at the Rathskeller at the Seelbach Hotel.
- Purchased the police station at 2800 W Main St near the end of WWII.
- Shawnee Post was a command center during the 1945 Flood.
- Emmett Ratterman of the Ratterman Funeral franchise was an active member and commander 1952-1953.
- Cassius Clay boxed at Shawnee Post in 1959.
- Charles Mathis of Victor Mathis Florist was an active member and Commander 1970-71
- We have had 2 Legion Department of Kentucky state commanders; John Hagner 1947-48, George Grissom 1998-99 (and continues to serve our community as a Sherrif).
- We have had 5 Auxiliary Department of Kentucky State Presidents; Mrs. Henry Richardson 1952-53, Margaret Clifford 1965-66, Mary Heitz 1979-80, Helen Rieger 1986-87, and Ann Betsekas
- Softball Hall of Fame George Greenwell was an active member and Commander 1985-87.
- We have had 1 SAL Department of Kentucky State Commander; Bruce Rodgers.
- Shawnee Post members have supported the Church of Good Shepherd (Our Lady) Lenten fish fry with kitchen support since 1992.
- Easter Egg Hunt in conjunction with Good Shepherd ongoing for the last 15 years for kids of the community.
- Established Donald W Gaskin Memorial, Police Officer of the year in 1993- ongoing.
- Established Fireman of the year in 1994-ongoing.
- Started working with the Portland Festival in 1999 and continue to date.
- Veteran’s Day has been officially commemorated at the WWII memorial 5th and Jefferson since 1992. SAL sponsored lunch for veterans, family and friends at the Post Home free for everyone.
- Memorial Day has seen a service at the Portland Cemetery since approximately 2003 every year followed by lunch at the Post Home.
- Established Corrections Officer of the year in 2010- ongoing.
- Established EMS Paramedic of the year in 2010- ongoing.
- Dan and Helen Cain Hosted a huge Christmas for the neighborhood kids for 25 years complete with entertainment from Kathy Todd Dancers.
- Nick Rodman (police officer killed in the line of duty) fundraiser in 2016 raised over $20,000.00 for the Rodman Family.
- 2016 Established a Flag Drop Box for the Portland community to properly retire American Flags. To date 1940 flags have been collected and properly retired with a dignified ceremony on Flag Day.
- December 2022 started donation-based community breakfast that is still ongoing on the last Saturday of each month.
- December 2022 started Pizza / food donations every Friday that is still ongoing.
- In December 2024 we were honored by the Louisville Metro Council for our good work in the community since our charter in 1936.
Shawnee post 193 has been rooted in the Portland community and surrounding neighborhoods since its founding. Further, their commitment to and involvement in this community is too much to list in this document. Additionally, the Shawne Post 193 has been a mainstay in Portland for generations and will continue its legacy of service in the future with your help. With a current membership of 104 Legion, 70 SAL, and 67 Auxiliary members we need your help to continue our service to this great community. If you are a veteran, spouse or child of a veteran please consider joining this great organization. With any luck we will be here to celebrate our 100th birthday in 1936!
