About ALA National President | Past ALA National Presidents
Vickie Koutz
Department of Indiana: Boonville Unit 200
Eligibility: Through husband, Jim, who served in the U.S. Army, with service in-country Vietnam.
Offices held: Served several unit-, district-, and department-level positions. National: served as chair of the Auxiliary Emergency Fund, Poppy, Legislative, ALA Girls Nation, Membership, Constitution & Bylaws, Education, National Security, Children & Youth, and Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation committees, and served as vice chair of Leadership, Community Service, and Junior Activities committees; member of Future Focus Committee, Strategic Planning Committee Ex-Officio member, and American Legion Auxiliary Foundation Board of Directors designated director. Served as national vice president and National Executive Committee member.
Professional/personal background: Vickie is a 48-year PUFL member of her unit. Her husband, Jim, is a member of Post 200, and son, Michael, is a charter member of Squadron 200. She graduated from Boonville High School and is a member of Baker Chapel United Methodist Church. Vickie retired from Fox and Lutz Law office as a legal assistant.
Lisa Williamson
Department of Alaska: C. Russell Huber Unit 57
Eligibility: Through father, Ray Allington, as well as her adoptive father, Keith LaChance. Also adds military service of son, Kyle, who serves in the Alaska Air Guard.
Offices Held: Served/serving several unit-level positions and multiple department-level offices and chairmanships. National: chair of Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, Children & Youth, Education, Auxiliary Emergency Fund, Legislative, Constitution & Bylaws, Public Relations, Community Service, and Junior Activities committees; 100th Anniversary Committee member, ALA Centennial Strategic Plan Strategy co-captain, and National Executive Committee member.
Professional/personal background: Lisa’s family is her pride and joy — husband Darrel, daughter Danielle and son Kyle — and that pride also is reflected in their commitment to The American Legion Family. All served in leadership roles at local, state, and national levels in The American Legion Family. Kyle is also one of her unit’s first male ALA members, and Danielle has blessed Lisa with two grandsons: Dawson, 9, and Micah, 6. All are Legion Family members.
Dr. Coral May Grout
Department of Massachusetts: Lifelong member of Eugene M. Connor Unit 193 in Winchendon
Eligibility: The service of her father, Charles E. Grout (World War II), and her grandfather, Stanislas Laplante (World War I).
Professional/personal background: Dr. Coral May Grout holds a bachelor of arts degree from Mount Holyoke College, a master of education from Boston College, and a doctor of education from the University of Massachusetts. Throughout her professional career, Coral has dedicated her talents and leadership skills to the education sector and is a retired superintendent of schools. Coral has held numerous positions at the unit, district, department, and national levels within the American Legion Auxiliary, including department president for three terms, nine national chairmanships, and national historian. She also has served as an elected director of the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation Board of Directors.
Marybeth Revoir
Department of Illinois: Ervin A Borlick Unit 1109
Eligibility: Through father, Raymond L. Spano, a U.S. Army Korean War Era veteran. Membership began as a Junior member 66 years ago when mother Marilyn Spano Lee served as charter president of the unit.
Offices held: Currently serving her 30th term as department treasurer and 40th term as district treasurer, along with decades of positions on all local levels. Currently a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation Board of Directors where she served as vice president and secretary/treasurer prior to becoming national treasurer, along with multiple years on the Strategic Planning Committee.
Professional/personal background: Marybeth has been married to Don for 38 years. One son and two grandsons with a great-grandchild due in December round out the immediate family. She is currently director of administration for the Peter Troost Monument Co. in Hillside, Ill. Prior to coming to Troost 16 years ago, she was vice president of Paschen Contractors Inc. in Chicago.
Ann Rehbein
Department of Iowa: Ames Unit 37
Eligibility: Through father, John Grutsch; brother, Mike Grutsch; husband, David Rehbein; and daughter, Jennifer Rehbein.
Professional/personal background: Ann’s family includes her husband, David, and their two children, Chris Rehbein and Jennifer Rehbein, along with three grandchildren: Greyson and Camille Rehbein and Devin Von Querner. Ann has a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University. Her career includes five years as executive director of Quilts of Valor, a chocolatier, and store owner. She is a past president of Ames Main Street District and a member of Freedom Flight Committee. She was the Department of Iowa’s executive secretary.
Marlene Boyer
Department of North Dakota: John Raymond O’Hara Unit 25 Carrington
Eligibility: Through three brothers who all served in Vietnam, and son, Capt. Garret Luke Boyer currently serving in the U.S. Army at Fort Stewart in Georgia.
Professional/personal background: Marlene grew up in a veteran-centered family and accompanied her mother, a member of Percy J Carter Unit 221 of Sheldon, N.D., on many Auxiliary projects. Marlene retired after 37 years with the Carrington School District where she taught English and served as coach of the speech and drama teams and was instrumental in organization of the Student Congress. Marlene and husband Gary currently reside in Carrington, N.D., and are the proud parents of three children and eight grandchildren. They are proud of the accomplishments of their children and grandchildren, including son-in-law Regan Miller, a retired U.S. Air Force major now serving as a physician with the VA medical center in Fargo.
Linda Smiley
Department of South Carolina: Jesse C. Lynch Memorial Unit 71 in North Augusta
Eligibility: Through deceased husband, Charles Smiley, who served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
Professional/personal background: Linda and Charles have two children, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Linda is a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority with 30 years of perfect attendance. She is a member of Long Cane Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, Palmetto Garden Club, and a member of Grace United Methodist Church. Charles encouraged her to step out of the box and run for office. He was her biggest supporter and always told her she could do anything she wanted to do and make a difference.
Eva Wallace
Department of Washington: Marvin G. Shields Unit 26 in Port Townsend
Eligibility: Through husband, William R. (Bob) Wallace, U.S. Coast Guard retired Sr. Chief
Professional/personal background: Eva has been an Auxiliary member since 1982. She and Bob have been married for 60 years and they have two daughters, four grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Eva is a retired insurance broker and vice president of a major firm. She served as regional president of Professional Liability UW Society for five years. Eva also served six years as Veterans Service Officer for The American Legion and served as the legislative liaison for Sen. Murray for many years. As part of her employment, she consulted with clients and gave seminars and trainings on both the local and national levels.
Veronica Gurney
Department of Maine: Decker-Simmons Unit 51 in Oakland
Eligibility: Through father, Paul Rokosny, U.S. Navy in Korea (deceased), and son, Matthew Predmore, U.S. Marine Corps, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Professional/personal background: Mother of two, Matthew Predmore and Carrie Peay; grandmother to Kyrie and Novaleigh Peay. All are members of The American Legion Family. She has been an administrative assistant for PanAm Railways for the past 28+ years. Veronica is also a member of VFW Auxiliary in Waterville and served as Auxiliary president for two years.
Laura “Susie” Clyde
Department of South Dakota: Piedmont Valley Unit 311
Eligibility: Through father, Richard L. Shepard, U.S. Army, World War II and Korea.
Professional/personal background: Married to Bruce Clyde for 44 years. The two have four children, 11 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Susie has been a member of the ALA for 33 years, and is a member of the VFW Auxiliary, the BLET Auxiliary, and the American Historical Association. She went to real estate school in Rapid City, S.D., and worked in sales for 18 years before retiring five years ago.
Karen Peel
Department of Ohio: Unit 449
Eligibility: Through father, U.S. Navy veteran Earl O’Dell, World War II and Korea War.
Professional/personal background: Karen has been married for 46 years to Gregory. They have four children, 17 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren — all members of the American Legion Auxiliary or Sons of The American Legion. She was employed as a staff accountant for 18 years. Karen is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She served as the young women’s president, Sunday school teacher, camp director, and relief society presidency. She has been in the 8 & 40 for 28 years.
"I remember going down to the Legion post with my grandfather [World War II U.S. Army veteran Howard Schlitter], and hearing him say things like, “You’ve got to take care of the veterans. You’ve got to be there for them and help them out.” None of that really resonated with me until after he was gone. Then, I realized I have to be his voice."
- Mike Monserud, ALA member of Auxiliary Unit 37 in Ames, Iowa
