The American Legion California Boys & Girls State Commission
American Legion California Boys & Girls State is a program of The American Legion Department of California. The Program is overseen by the six member American Legion Boys State Commission. This Commission serves as the Program’s Board of Directors.
Commission Members come from each of The American Legion Department of California’s 6 Areas. Commission Members serve three year terms whose appointments are confirmed by the Department of California’s Executive Committee.
Commission Chair, Area 1 Commissioner
Post: 77
District: 6
Ted was appointed by the Boys & Girls State Commission in 2015 as the American Legion California Boys & Girls State Administrator. Ted has served as the Boys & Girls State Chair for Yolo Post 77 since 2010, In addition, he has served as the Boys & Girls State District 6 Chair since 2011 and Boys & Girls State Area 1 Commissioner since 2015. In 2022 Ted took in the duties as American Legion Boys & Girls State Commission Chairman.
Ted retired from UC Davis after more than 30 years of service supporting graduate student research in the College of Engineering. After joining the American Legion, Ted was drawn to continue his work in education, which led him to the American Legion California Boys & Girls State program. Ted has been a member of the staff since 2015.
Ted is married and his wife Silvia serves on the American Legion Auxiliary California Girls State Staff.
Commission Vice-Chair, Area 3 Commissioner
Post: 147
District: 14
John Wemett is a member of American Legion, Post 147 in Clovis, CA. He has been a member of the California Boys State staff since 2005 serving in City and County Counselor positions, and is proud to be the Area 3 Commissioner for the California Boys & Girls State program.
John is a retired Marine Corps infantry colonel after 30 years of active and reserve service. He is also a retired upper elementary school teacher after 31 years of service in Clovis Unified School District. John has also been a reserve police officer in Clovis since 1987.
Area 2 Commissioner
Post: 161
District: 9
Autrey James currently serves as the National Veteran Affairs and Rehabilitation Chairman for The American Legion. Prior to that he served in various positions including Post Commander at his Post in Antioch CA. Autrey also served as District Commander in California’s 9th District, California’s Department Judge Advocate and finally as California’s Department Commander.
Outside of The American Legion, Autrey served 11 years in the United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve. 24 years as a police officer and after retiring he went on to serve 17 years as a Deputy District Attorney. Autrey’s home is in Antioch CA, where he lives with his wife of 37 years and his dog.
Area 4 Commissioner
Post: 381
District: 17
Frank R. Flores is the Boys State Commission Member for the American Legion 4th Area of California. He has been a member of the American Legion for over 50 years. While in the Los Angeles Police Academy, he and his classmates all became members of the Los Angeles Police Post #381. Frank is a Past Commander of Post #381 and is currently a Post Executive Committeeman and Boys State Chairman. Frank is also a Past Seventeenth District Commander and has held several District positions. He is currently the Seventeenth District Assistant Adjutant and is an Executive Committee board member.
Frank is a United States Navy veteran. He served four tours in the Vietnam conflict aboard the Carrier U.S.S. Kitty Hawk (CVA 63) that operated in the Tonkin Gulf. He received an Associate’s of Science Degree from Rio Hondo College and attended the University of Pepperdine. Frank retired as a Sergeant from the Los Angeles Police Department after twenty-six years of service to the citizens of Los Angeles, California.
Area 5 Commissioner
Post: 716
District: 29
James Eubanks is a third generation Navy Veteran serving as the 5th Area American Legion California Boys & Girls State Commission Member. He has been an active Member of both The American Legion and Sons of The American Legion. In the American Legion he has served in various leadership roles at the Post and District Level, including as District Commander and Boys & Girls State District Chair. In Sons of The American Legion he has also served in leadership roles at the Squadron (local), District and Detachment (State) level. He recently served as the Detachment (State) Commander.
After his military service, he settled in the Midwest where he worked in the construction industry before moving to California with his family in 1986. He provides support to The American Legion Posts in Southern California that sponsor Delegates to American Legion California Boys & Girls State.
Area 6 Commissioner
Post: 507
District: 20
Kris currently serves as the post Boys & Girls State chairperson for American Legion Post 507 in Newhall, CA, and the district Boys & Girls State chairperson for California District 20. She is also the Oratorical Contest chairperson and past commander of Post 507.
Kris retired from the U.S. Army after 20 years of combined active and reserve service. She resides in Santa Clarita, CA, with her husband and daughter. Kris is proud to represent Area 6 on the California Boys & Girls State Commission. Kris joined the American Legion California Boys & Girls State Staff in 2022.
