Olson endorsed for department vice commander

Winnebago American Legion Post 82 endorses Randy R. Olson for the position of Department of Minnesota Vice Commander for the 2nd and 7th districts for the year 2024-25.

Olson is eligible for membership in The American Legion through his service in the Army National Guard from January 1977 to October 2007. He is a 30-year member of The American Legion. He served during the war eras of Lebanon-Grenada, Panama, Persian Gulf and Global War on Terrorism.

At Post 82, he has served as commander, adjutant, 1st vice commander, 2nd vice commander and director of the Chapter 82 Legion Riders. He presently is chaplain. In the 2nd District, Olson served as commander in 2017-18, 1st vice commander 2016-17 and the positions of vice commander, membership director, board member, ALR director and several committee chairmanships. He also is a member of SAL Squadron 165 out of Bricelyn, where he is squadron commander and membership director.

Olson is a member of the 40&8 Voiture 281. He is involved at Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Winnebago, serving as Sunday School teacher, deacon, usher and council member.

He has been a licensed electrician for more than four decades and has had other side work in trucking and timber purchasing. Olson is an ordained minister. He was instrumental in building a Department of Minnesota distribution network for personal protective equipment to reach places where veterans seek care in 2020 during the onset of the COVID pandemic.

Olson and his wife, Robin, have been married for more than 20 years. They have five children between them and six grandchildren.