| For immediate release: Oct. 31, 2008 |
Nicole Corcoran, Press Secretary
785.368.8500 |
Sebelius names new leadership to Commission on Veterans' Affairs
Governor Kathleen Sebelius has appointed Ed Wiegers as
Chairperson of the Kansas Commission on Veterans' Affairs effective
November 3rd. Current chairperson, Jack Fowler, has been selected by
the commission to serve as its executive director.
"Kansas has a proud tradition of taking care of the
men and women who serve our state and nation in uniform; and this commission
plays a critical role in ensuring that state and federal benefits are
readily available to our veterans and their service is honored,"
Sebelius said.
Wiegers, Marysville, is an attorney with the law offices
of Galloway, Wiegers and Heeney, P.A. He has served as the County Attorney
for Marshall County, Chairman for Marysville Planning Commission, and
Mayor for the City of Marysville. He enlisted in the Kansas Army National
Guard in 1949 and retired in 1984. During that time, he served nine
years as Judge Advocate General.
Fowler, Topeka, will leave his position as Executive Assistant/Counsel
to the Chief Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court to take on his new
post. Fowler served in the U.S. Army from 1954-1983, retiring as Colonel.
Before enlisting in the Army, Fowler served a year in the Massachusetts
National Guard. After graduating from officer candidate school in 1958,
he commanded infantry echelons at platoon, company and battalion levels.
In 1968, Fowler commanded the Fifth Army Non-Commissioned Officer Academy
at Fort Riley, Kansas. Fowler served two tours of duty in Vietnam as
an advisor and as an infantry battalion executive officer. In 1977,
he led a Washington-based research team developing officer educational
strategies. He later directed Fort Leavenworth's Combined Arms Combat
Developments Agency, providing simulations training for various combat
command formations.
The Kansas Commission on Veterans' Affairs affords veterans,
their relatives, and dependents information, advice, direction and assistance
through the coordination of state and federal programs and services
in the fields of education, health, vocational guidance and placement.
The commission also operates the Kansas Soldiers' Home, Kansas Veterans'
Home and Kansas Veterans' Cemetery System.
-30-
