The members of Seminole American Legion Post 204 recognized Melvin Moran for 60 years of continuous membership during their regular meeting on Tuesday, March 14. Post Commander Carl Odom presented Moran with a framed certificate that had been signed by National Commander Vincent J. Troiola, National Adjutant Daniel Weaver, and Post 204 Commander Odom.

“Issued in grateful appreciation for faithful and dedicated allegiance to the ideals of The American Legion,” Odom read aloud from the certificate. “Be it known that Melvin Moran, longtime and dedicated member of American Legion Post 204, Department of Oklahoma has been certified to have been a member in good standing continuously for 60 years. And be it further known that such record of consistent loyalty to The American Legion merits the honor of being cited as an outstanding contributor to the programs of The American Legion. In witness thereof, this testimonial of personal gratitude is given under the hand of the National Commander, and duly attested by the National Adjutant on this 14th day of March, 2023.”

Asked by one of the members what year he joined the Legion, Moran quickly replied, “Oh golly, I think George Washington was just finishing his time in office,” he joked before adding, “it’s been a long while.”

Commander Odom shared a “secret” about Moran with the other members.

“Every year I’ve asked him to sponsor a boy for Boy’s State – he steps right up. He’ll always sponsor a boy for us.”

Legion member Brad Carter, Oklahoma National Guard Colonel, commented, “I don’t think Melvin has ever turned the Legion down for anything. We try not to ask him because he is so generous.”

Turning serious once more, Moran stated “I greatly appreciate it. It was certainly unexpected. I love this community. It’s been so good to me.”

Mr. Moran is a veteran of the United States Air Force. He was first stationed at the Sandia Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as part of what was, at the time, a top-secret unit whose duties included handling atomic bombs. He was later transferred as a supply officer to the English Air Force Base, RAF Lakenheath, where he served from 1951 through 1953.

“I was very proud of being in the military, and I wore my uniform all the time,” Moran recalled in a previous interview. He states that the base was approximately 60 – 70 miles from London. “On one of my days off I went to London, where I met my wife, Jasmine, on a blind date,” Moran stated. “She was an actress on the London stage. We were married 68 years. I was very lucky.”

After serving with the Air Force Mr. Moran settled in Seminole, where he became a well-known oilman with Moran Oil Enterprises and Moran-K Oil. He was also quite active in the Seminole community.

Mr. Moran was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Oklahoma’s highest honor, in 1997. The oklahomahof.com website states that Mr. Moran is a former mayor of Seminole, and has also served on the board of directors of many banks and several oil and gas related associations, as well as, Board of Regents of Seminole Junior College (now Seminole State College) and other city and state foundations. He was appointed by four governors to state boards and committees. With his wife, he co-founded the Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum in Seminole after visiting a children’s museum while on vacation with their grandchildren. Founded in 1989, Moran raised $2.2 of the $2.4 million needed to build the museum. It was opened in 1993 and has logged visitors from 77 countries worldwide since its beginning. Moran was named Citizen of the Year by the city of Seminole and was inducted into the Seminole Hall of Fame. He received the 1993 Governor’s Arts Award and was named the 1993 Philanthropist of the Year by the Oklahoma Chapter of the Society of Fund Raising Executives. A member of the Jewish community, Mr. Moran has served as state president of B’nai Brith and provided funds for a building adjoining the library of Ben Gurion University of the Negev.