Arkansas Wing Commanders

Maj J. Gilbert Leigh - 1 Dec 1941 to 11 Mar 1942

Col Rex P. Hayes - 11 Mar 1942 to 9 May 1949
Col Marvin W. Melton - 18 Jul 1949 to 22 May 1951
Col Lomax S. Anderson - 22 May 1951 to 3 Feb 1953
Col Claud L. Holbert - 3 Feb 1953 to 9 Dec 1957
Col Arthur K. Watkins - 9 Dec 1957 to 4 Dec 1960
Col Leo F. Halter - 4 Dec 1960 to 16 Feb 1962
Lt Col Phillip G. Back (Interim) - 16 Feb 1962 to 8 Mar 1962
Col James A. Wellons - 8 Mar 1962 to 23 Jan 1965
Col Ervin O. Dorsey - 23 Jan 1965 to 7 Mar 1966
Col Bob E. James - 20 Mar 1966 to 31 Dec 1974
Col Donald F. Huenefeld - 1 Jan 1975 to 1 Jan 1978
Col David L. Guthridge - 1 Jan 1978 to 9 Jan 1982
Col Maxine E. Biggers - 9 Jan 1982 to 17 Jan 1987
Col Allie G. Melson, Sr - 17 Jan 1987 to 12 Jan 1991
Col Tommie D. Herndon - 12 Jan 1991 to 17 Jun 1994
Col Sidney W. Wilson - 17 Jun 1994 to 17 Jun 1997
Col William P. Akins, Jr - 17 Jun 1997 to 15 Mar 1998
Col Coleman C. Roth - 15 Mar 1998 to 15 Sep 2001
Col Reggie L. Chitwood - 15 Sep 2001 to 15 Oct 2005
Col Joseph Jensen - 15 Oct 2005 to 27 Oct 2006
Col Robert B. Britton - 28 Oct 2006 to Nov 2010
Col Douglas Alexander, Jr Nov 2010 to 18 Oct 2014
Col Harrell E. Clendenin 18 Oct 2014 to Present

Archival Confirmation:

6 Dec 41 Letter to National Commander from Governor of Arkansas recommending J.

Gilbert Leigh as Comdr.
15 Dec 41 Letter to Governor from National Commander stating that J. Gilbert Leigh had
been appointed Wing Commander.
1 May 42 CAP Bulletin No. 14. Gilbert Leigh, former Arkansas Wing Commander, is now
at HQ as Supply Officer.
1 Aug 42 PO 5. Rex P. Hayes, Wing Commander, to Maj. eff 1 Jul 42
Dec 43 Skyways Magazine. Maj. Rex P. Hayes was Comdr.
5 Jan 44 Roster. Lt. Col. Rex P. Hayes was Comdr.
29 Dec 45 Nat. Hq list gives Gilbert Leigh as Comdr. from 12/1/41 to 3/11/42 and Lt. Col.
Rex P. Hayes as Comdr. from 3/11/42 to date
14 May 46 Wing Commanders' Conf. Minutes. Lt. Col. Rex P. Hayes was Comdr.
3 Sep 46 Roster. Col. Rex P. Hayes was Comdr.
9 May 49 NEB Minutes. Col. Rex P. Hayes relieved eff 9 May 49

23 May 50 NB Minutes. Col. Melton was new since May 49

May 50 Annual Conf. Report. Col. Marvin W. Melton assumed command in Jul 49
28 May 51 NEB Minutes. Col. Melton wishes to resign due to illness. Will remain until
replacement is found.
7 Jun 51 NB Minutes. Lt. Col. Lomax S. Anderson was Act. Comdr.
16 Jan 52 NEB Minutes. Ratified Lomax S. Anderson to Col. & Comdr. 6 Feb 53 Weekly
Bulletin 5. Lt. Col. Claud Lee Holbert aptd. Act. Comdr. vice Col. Lomax Strudwick
Anderson relieved
12 Nov 53 Weekly Bulletin 42. Col. Claud L. Holbert aptd. Comdr.
11 Dec 53 NEB Minutes. Confirmed Claud L. Holbert to Col. & Comdr.
10 May 57 NB Minutes. Col. Claud L. Holbert was Comdr.
4 Mar 58 NB Minutes. Col. Arthur K. Watkins was Act. Comdr.
5 Jul 58 NEB Minutes. Arthur K. Watkins to Temp. Col. & Comdr.
15 Oct 60 NB Minutes. Col. Arthur K. Watkins was Comdr.
5 May 61 NB Minutes. Announced prom. Leo F. Halter to Temp. Col. & Comdr.
25 Aug 61 NEC Minutes. Leo F. Halter to Col. eff 25 Aug 61
7 May 62 NB Minutes. (Temp.) Col. James A. Wellons was Comdr.
11 Dec 62 PANHQ 61. Col. James A. Wellons to Col. eff 8 Dec 62
30 Oct 64 NB Minutes. Col. James A. Wellons was Comdr.
29 Oct 65 NB Minutes. Col. Ervin O. Dorsey was Comdr.
6 Dec 65 PANHQ 77. Col. Ervin O. Dorsey was Comdr.
24 Mar 66 PANHQ 21. Lt. Col. Bob E. James aptd. Int. Comdr. eff 20 Mar 66
31 May 66 PANHQ 48. Bob E. James to Col. & Comdr. eff 27 May 66
2 Jan 75 PANHQ 1. Lt. Col. Donald F. Huenefeld aptd. Int. Comdr. vice Col. Bob E.
James reassigned eff 1 Jan 75
16 Jun 75 PANHQ 12. Donald F. Huenefeld to Temp. Col. & Perm. Comdr. eff 7 Jun 75
7 Jun 76 PANHQ 17. Donald F. Huenefeld to Perm. Col. eff 7 Jun 76
3 Jan 78 PANHQ 2. Lt. Col. David L. Guthridge aptd. Int. Comdr. eff 1 Jan 78
30 Jun 78 PANHQ 26. David L. Guthridge to Temp. Col. & Comdr. eff 1 Jul 78
4 Dec 78 PANHQ 50. Temp. Col. David L. Guthridge to Perm. Comdr. eff 2 Dec 78
2 Jul 79 PANHQ 19. David L. Guthridge to Perm. Col. eff 1 Jul 79
28 Dec 81 PANHQ 49. Lt. Col. Maxine E. Biggers aptd. Int. Comdr. vice Col. David L.
Guthridge reassigned eff 9 Jan 82
28 Jun 82 PANHQ 21. Maxine E. Biggers to Temp. Col. & Comdr. eff 9 Jul 82
1 Jul 83 PANHQ 19. Maxine E. Biggers to Perm. Col. eff 9 Jul 83
6 Jan 87 PANHQ 1. Lt. Col. Allie G. Melson, Sr, vice Col. Maxine E. Biggers, 17 Jan 87
1 Jul 87 PANHQ 29. Allie G. Melson, Sr., to Comdr. & Temp. Col. eff 17 Jul 87
1 Jul 88 PANHQ 25. Allie G. Melson, Sr., to Perm. Col. eff 17 Jul 88
14 Dec 90 PANHQ 76. Lt. Col. Thommie D. Herndon aptd. Comdr. vice Col. Allie G.
Melson and to Temp. Col. eff 12 Jan 91
10 Jan 92 PANHQ 2. Col Thommie D. Herndon reaptd. Comdr. eff 12 Jan 92
6 Jan 93. PANHQ 1. Col Thommie D. Herndon reaptd. Comdr. eff 12 Jan 93
3 Jan 94. PANHQ 1. Col Thommie D. Herndon reaptd. Comdr, 12 Jan 94 until 4 Jun 94
7 Jun 94 PANHQ 41. Lt. Col. Sidney W. Wilson aptd. Comdr. vice Col. Thommie D.
Herndon and to Temp. Col, 17 Jun 94. Thommie D. Herndon to Perm. Col, 17 Jun 94
31 May 95 PANHQ 36. Col. Sidney W. Wilson reaptd. Comdr. eff 17 Jun 95
31 May 96 PANHQ 21. Col. Sidney W. Wilson reaptd. Comdr. eff 17 Jun 96

13 Jun 97 PANHQ 29. Lt. Col. William P. Akins, Jr., aptd Comdr. vice Col. Sidney W.
Wilson and to Temp. Col. eff 17 Jun 97. Col. Sidney W. Wilson to Perm. Col, 17 Jun 97
10 Mar 98 PANHQ 18. Maj. Coleman C. Roth aptd. Comdr. vice Col. William P. Akins, Jr.
and to Temp. Col. eff 15 Mar 98. Col. William P. Akins, Jr., to Perm. Col. eff 15 Mar 98
15 Mar 99 PANHQ 19. Col. Coleman C. Roth completed one year probationary term and
aptd. Comdr. eff 15 Mar 99
5 Sep 2001 PANHQ 53. Lt. Col. Reggie L. Chitwood aptd. Comdr. vice Col. Coleman C.
Roth and to Temp. Col. Eff 15 Sep 2001. Col. Coleman C. Roth, Perm. Col, 15 Sep 2001
30 Aug 2002 PANHQ 58. Col. Reggie L. Chitwood completed one year probationary term
and aptd. Comdr. eff 15 Sep 2002
9 Sept 2005 PANHQ 72 Col Reggie L. Chitwood extended to 15 Sep 2006, 15 Sep 2005

Researched by Louisa S. Morse, Col, CAP

Updated by Mark Hess, Lt Col, CAP (As of 7 Jun 2016)