Board of Directors
Lois B. Pope, Co-Founder and Chairman
In 1998, Lois Pope joined forces with DAV National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson and the late Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jesse Brown to create the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation. It is her fondest wish to honor the more than three million living disabled veterans, including 53,000 recently disabled veterans who served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as all of those throughout American history. The American Veterans Disabled for LIFE Memorial is scheduled to be completed and dedicated in 2011. Mrs. Pope and the Lois Pope LIFE Foundation have contributed $8,600,000, approximately 10% of the Memorial's total cost.
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Arthur H. Wilson, Co-Founder and President
Arthur H. Wilson co-founded the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation, Inc. with Lois Pope in 1998. The sole mission of the Foundation is raising the funds to design and construct the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington, D.C. Mr. Wilson is an outspoken advocate for the disabled, and considers it his duty to ensure the American public understands the sacrifices made by disabled veterans.
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The Late Jesse Brown, Co-Founder and the Foundation's First Executive Director
Jesse Brown was a U.S. Marine who lost the use of his right arm after being wounded during Viet Nam combat in 1965. Undeterred by his disability, he became a dedicated advocate for veterans and joined the professional staff of Disabled American Veterans (DAV) in 1967 after a lengthy recuperation from his combat wounds. Mr. Brown devoted a quarter of a century of his life to serving his fellow veterans as a National Service Officer with the DAV, rising rapidly through the organization's ranks. As Executive Director at the DAV's National Service and Legislative Headquarters in Washington, D.C., he became prominent in the policy-making circles of our nation's capital. He established an unchallenged reputation as the nation's foremost expert on veterans' benefits and programs.
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Gene A. Murphy, Treasurer
An active and inspiring advocate on behalf of disabled veterans, Mr. Murphy has served on the Disabled Veterans’ LIFE Memorial Foundation's Board of Directors since its creation in 1998. As a young Army sergeant in Viet Nam in 1969, the South Dakota native was paralyzed by two gunshots to his right side, just 30 days before he was scheduled to return home to the United States.
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The Late Kenneth G. Musselmann, Director
Mr. Musselmann has a long record of leadership in the veterans' movement, including senior volunteer leadership positions in the DAV's national organization, and serving as the DAV National Commander in 1986-87. He held all elected officer positions in the DAV's Department of California, including that of State Commander, and was Chapter Commander of DAV Chapter 19 in Lakewood, California, where he is a life member. Mr. Musselmann was selected California's Outstanding Disabled Veteran in 1978 and the DAV Recruiter of the Year in 2006 for bringing 346 disabled veterans into membership of the DAV Department of California.
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Allen F. “Gunner” Kent, Director
Allen F. “Gunner” Kent was appointed adjutant general of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in August 2005. Prior to this appointment he served as the Veterans Service Organization Liaison in the Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC from 1996-2005.
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Gordon H. Mansfield, Director
Gordon H. Mansfield served as Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs from January of 2004 to January of 2009. As chief operating officer of the second largest department in the federal government he managed a budget of more than $77 million and a national staff of about 250,000 responsible for the national system of health care services, benefits programs, and national cemeteries for American veterans and their dependents. Mr. Mansfield previously served as VA Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Legislative Affairs from 2001 to 2004, and was Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs from October 1, 2007 to December 20, 2007 after Secretary Jim Nicholson resigned and until President Bush’s nominee, Retired U.S. Army Surgeon General James Peake, was sworn in.
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Diane Musselmann, Director
Diane Musselmann brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective as a caregiver who partnered with her husband, Ken, to achieve many local and national leadership roles that impacted the quality of life of millions of disabled American veterans.
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Dennis A. Joyner, Secretary
Mr. Joyner served in the U.S. Army, 9th Infantry Division, in Vietnam. While on patrol in June 1969 in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, he became a triple amputee due to a land mine explosion. For the injuries sustained in battle, he received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
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