AUXILIARY PICKS CATO AS STATE PRESIDENT

Betty Cato of Cape Girardeau, president of the American Legion Auxiliary in Missouri, was recently honored by about 200 Legion and auxiliary members from around the state.

The group gathered at the Drury Lodge for dinner and entertainment, including singing, a live band and dancing.

The special guests included June Stolte, a past national president from St. Louis, and the American Legion State Commander Dr. Norris Preston of Moberly.

Representing the 14th District from the Bootheel were Bill Rawls of Malden, Legion district commander, and Eve McVey of Sikeston, the district's auxiliary president.

Cato is the first woman from Cape Girardeau to hold the office of state president. She took over her position in July.

Cato is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 63 in Cape Girardeau. Its president, Barbara Yallaly, was mistress of ceremonies for the homecoming event, which she said was a tradition for a new state president.

More than 24,000 women are members of the American Legion Auxiliary in Missouri. The state has 333 local units in 17 districts.

As state president, Cato travels around Missouri visiting local auxiliaries and helping them celebrate events. Two of her intentions are to encourage local units to implement additional programs and to build support for the 11 veterans homes in Missouri.