Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame

Colonel Elder was born on September 13, 1920 in Wichita County, Kansas. He began his military career by enlisting in Headquarters Detachment of the Kansas Army National Guard on 3 October 1940 where he was assigned to the Kansas Selective Service Headquarters. From June 1943 until November 1945 he was mobilized and served with the 250th Station Hospital in England and Europe. Upon his return, he received a direct commission in the Finance Corps on November 15, 1949 while with the United States Army Reserve. In October 1950 he again joined the Kansas National Guard, serving with the Selective Service Section of the State Headquarters. He served on active duty with the Selective Service from June 1951 to January 1970 and retired in November of 1970 as the State Director.

Colonel Elder attended Leoti Grade School (Wichita County), Wichita County High School, Clark’s Business School in Topeka and Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas. He received a BBA Degree from Washburn University in 1949 and a Juris Doctorate Degree from the Washburn University School of Law in 1951. From the time of his military retirement in 1970, he was the Kansas State Director of Selective Service and served in that capacity in Federal Civil Service until his retirement in June 2001. Combining his military and Civil Service status between 1940 and 2001, COL Elder gave over sixty years to the state and nation in the Selective Service Program.





			COL JUNIOR F. ELDER
	Colonel Elder was born on September 13, 1920 in Wichita County, Kansas. He began his military career by enlisting in Headquarters Detachment of the Kansas Army National Guard on 3 October 1940 where he was assigned to the Kansas Selective Service Headquarters. From June 1943 until November 1945 he was mobilized and served with the 250th Station Hospital in England and Europe. Upon his return, he received a direct commission in the Finance Corps on November 15, 1949 while with the United States Army Reserve. In October 1950 he again joined the Kansas National Guard, serving with the Selective Service Section of the State Headquarters. He served on active duty with the Selective Service from June 1951 to January 1970 and retired in November of 1970 as the State Director. Colonel Elder attended Leoti Grade School (Wichita County), Wichita County High School, Clark’s Business School in Topeka and Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas. He received a BBA Degree from Washburn University in 1949 and a Juris Doctorate Degree from the Washburn University School of Law in 1951. From the time of his military retirement in 1970, he was the Kansas State Director of Selective Service and served in that capacity in Federal Civil Service until his retirement in June 2001. Combining his military and Civil Service status between 1940 and 2001, COL Elder gave over sixty years to the state and nation in the Selective Service Program. Colonel Elder was promoted to First Lieutenant on 31 January 1952, then to Captain on 12 August 1955. His Field Grade appointments began with his promotion to Major on 5 March 1962, Lieutenant Colonel on 12 April 1966 and Colonel on 3 June 1970. Colonel Elder’s decorations and awards include; the Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Armed Forces Reserve Medal. He was also decorated by the Selective Service with the Selective Service Meritorious Award (Bronze Medal), Selective Service Exceptional Service Award (Silver Medal) (Two Awards) and the Selective Service Distinguished Service Award (Gold Medal) which is thee agency’s Highest Honor. Colonel Elder is credited as having been the first Selective Service Director who was not the Adjutant General of Kansas. His tenure expanded through three wars; World Ward II, Korea and Vietnam, all of which drew on the Selective Service System for Fair and Impartial Induction of Kansas youth into the military ranks when our country was at war. Through his long career, Colonel Elder was recognized by his superiors at state and national levels for his knowledge, experience and fairness in administration of the program. When the Selective Service was change to a Standby Status following the Vietnam War, Colonel Elder was asked to serve on National Committees to formulate policies and maintain the importance of the Selective Service to the United States Military System. Colonel Elder also found time to be highly involved in the community with church, civic clubs, professional clubs, military associations, the Kansas Bar Association, the Boy Scouts of America, Masonic Lodge and others. He is also a generous supporter of United Way, Stormont-Vail Medical Center and Washburn University. He was inducted into the Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame, 3 November 2002.