Douglas Daily Dispatch

Official Welcome for Mrs. R. L. Hoyal
By City of Douglas Joined By Scores
Of Neighbors As She Returns to Home

National President of American Legion Auxiliary
Greeted By Large Crowd With Boy Scout Band
and Local Organizations—Mayor and President
of Council Extend City's Expression of Pride in
Her National Honor.

Mrs. R. L. Hoyal, national president of the American Legion Auxiliary returned to her home in Douglas yesterday for the first time since she was chosen to the high office in the national auxiliary. It was a proud moment for her when the Southern Pacific Railway's Golden State limited pulled into the Douglas station. There her gaze fell upon a large crowd of admiring friends who had come to welcome her. There was the mayor of her home city to extend the official greeting. There were her comrades in the service of the auxiliary and in the American Legion, their flags floating jauntily in the breeze. And there was the "Pride of Douglas," the Boy Scout band, 30 pieces strong, playing a lively air as the train slowed down for the stop.

Mr. Hoyal, accompanied by Mayor A. C. Karger and Alderman L. L. Speer, president of the city council, formed the welcoming committee that met Mrs. Hoyal as she left the Pullman train for the platform and escorted her to where the band and the rest of the crowd was waiting to greet her. It was apparent before she had walked half the distance that she was keenly interested by the splendid welcome her neighbors had arranged for. It also was apparent that it was far beyond anything that she had expected and while she was bubbling over with joy, there was that which hinted it was quite close to a tear of joy.

The formal welcome was quite brief—so brief that it might be called informal—as Mayor Karger, following the welcome kiss that Mr. Hoyal hurried to bestow upon his wife, merely grasped the hand of the national auxiliary president and assured her Douglas was proud of her and glad to have her back at home. Mrs. Hoyal responded by declaring that she was glad to bring back the honor of being elected to the auxiliary presidency but that the sight of so many of her neighbors and friends stirred her emotions keenly and made her happier to be back in Douglas than anything else she could think of.

After several minutes had been passed in greetings being extended by the throng that came and insisted on shaking hands with the new national auxiliary head, the crowd started to the Armory where a further reception was held and scores more came to congratulate Mrs. Hoyal. From the armory she went to Hoyal's Jewelry store where the friends followed and made it a sort of informal reception there. From the store she drove to her home and later a group of intimate friends at dinner at the Social club in Agua Prieta. From the Social club she went later in the evening to attend the dance at the armory which was given as a larger public welcome in her honor.

The armory was thronged during the evening with dancers and the party proved one of the happy events of the season.

Mrs. Hoyal said last night, when asked if she had a statement for the press: "Tell my good neighbors and friends here in Douglas that they have filled my heart to overflowing with joy at their cordial welcome to me this afternoon and by the many congratulatory letters and telegrams that came from them after I won success in the national convention. Tell them I am going to give the best service in my power to the cause and that I shall hope that service will be such as to merit, at least in reasonable degree, the confidence the delegates in the convention expressed by my election and that my friends here at home seem to sanction by their greeting home. That is my sincere message to all."

When the parade formed to escort Mrs. Hoyal to the armory, the people traveled in automobiles and one of the cars carried the colors and another a great banner bearing her name and new official station.