Post commander stripped of position after sounding alarm on Texas VFW leader’s intoxication manslaughter conviction

SAN ANTONIO – A commander of a San Antonio VFW put up was stripped of his place final 12 months after repeatedly alerting leaders of the group that certainly one of its state officers is on probation for intoxication manslaughter.

William Smith, former commander of Veterans of Overseas Wars Publish 8541 and a previous district commander for the San Antonio space, is prohibited from holding elected or appointed workplace throughout the group by June 2025, inner paperwork obtained by KSAT Investigates present.

He mentioned the service group moved to take motion towards him shortly after he reached out to nationwide VFW management and asserted that State Adjutant/Quartermaster Ben Lowrance shouldn’t be capable of maintain state workplace.

Lowrance, 40, pleaded responsible in November 2020 to intoxication manslaughter with a automobile, Potter County court docket data.

The responsible plea was in reference to an April 2016 automobile crash in Amarillo that killed a person.

A ten-year jail sentence for Lowrance was put aside in alternate for him serving 5 years probation, court docket data present.

Along with probation, Lowrance was ordered to pay greater than $7,400 in restitution and can’t devour alcohol at some stage in his probation interval, amongst different stipulations, court docket data present.

“After they put an individual able like that, with a felony, with my expertise in regulation enforcement it throws up plenty of crimson flags,” mentioned Smith, a 21-year veteran of the San Antonio Police Division who retired in August 2016 on the rank of sergeant.

Smith mentioned Lowrance was first appointed to the state quartermaster place, which primarily serves because the chief monetary officer, earlier than later being elected.

State VFW management interacts with state lawmakers and congressional leaders, which Smith mentioned requires these people to “be above reproach.”

Lowrance’s VFW bio exhibits he was capable of rise by the ranks of the group, even after the deadly crash occurred.

Smith, a retired command sergeant main, who served three fight excursions for the US Military as a Inexperienced Beret, mentioned the Texas VFW’s choice to self-discipline him as an alternative of taking motion towards Lowrance has despatched the improper message to different members.

“We do extra for veteran suicide on this VFW than any group on the market. And for them to do what they’re doing to me, they’ve taken a company that I really believed in and destroyed it. Can’t sum it up any greater than that,” mentioned Smith, referring to his observe report of service for Publish 8541, positioned on Austin Freeway.

‘Did he kill anyone? Sure. Homicide anyone? No.’

Smith mentioned strife between him and the VFW started in 2021, after one other member despatched state management a letter detailing considerations about Lowrance being put in within the quartermaster place.

Smith mentioned Lowrance wrote a rebuttal letter calling the deadly crash an accident and stating that he made a “full disclosure” in regards to the incident.

Smith conceded that he ultimately raised considerations about Lowrance holding the place to VFW management and even expressed an curiosity in operating for a similar place, as he believed Lowrance was unfit to take action.

Smith was additionally accused of confronting Lowrance at a VFW occasion.

Two folks later claimed that Smith known as Lowrance a “assassin,” VFW paperwork present.

“Did he kill anyone? Sure. Homicide anyone? No,” mentioned Smith, who emphatically denied that he ever known as Lowrance a assassin.

He mentioned, as an alternative, he inspired Lowrance to step down from a management position whereas on felony probation and to be a stellar citizen.

Smith claims he even prompt that Lowrance return to the VFW after finishing probation and assist with anti-drunk driving messaging throughout the group.

In August, Smith obtained discover from the Texas VFW that he was suspended from his put up commander place, pending the result of an investigation into whether or not he publicly discredited Lowrance and focused him with harassment.

In November, throughout a subsequent self-discipline listening to at a Leander VFW, Smith argued his facet.

Throughout the listening to Lowrance admitted to ingesting whereas on neighborhood supervision, telling the assembled members it was between him and his probation officer, audio of the proceedings obtained by KSAT exhibits.

Smith was discovered responsible of two of the 5 administrative expenses towards him, inner VFW paperwork exhibits.

He was discovered not responsible on two different expenses and the fifth cost was dismissed, the paperwork exhibits.

Smith instructed KSAT he’s interesting the management ban and has requested formal whistleblower safety.

“If the group doesn’t change the tradition, or if this group doesn’t change, it’s not the non-profit for me,” mentioned Smith.

Each Texas and nationwide VFW management didn’t reply to a number of requests from KSAT searching for remark for this story.

Lowrance’s prison protection legal professional didn’t reply to a message searching for remark from KSAT.

An official with Potter County Grownup Probation instructed KSAT final month Lowrance has no probation violations in his file and no motions to revoke probation have been filed in his case.