In 1956, five squadrons, Quad City (chartered in 1941), Chicago (1945), Illana (1953), Evanston (1954), and Kenosha (1954), all members of District 10, formed a new District to be known as District 20.

The first District Commander was Paul G. Warren, AP, and our first District Conference was held in 1957, drawing from a total membership in these five squadron of 748 ( of which 474 belonged to the Chicago Power Squadron).

St. Louis Power Squadron (chartered in 1955) joined the D/20. Transferring from D/30. Then, Waukegan (1957): Clinton (1958); Des Moines and Calumet (1960): Decatur, Michigan City and Skokie Valley (1961); and Rockford and Chain-0-Lakes (1962); Kansas City (1962);Cedar Rapids and Racine (1964); DuPage and Fox Valley (1970); Land of Lincoln (1971); Jayhawk(1972); and Illinois Valley (1973) the D/20 had 23 Squadron with 3,000 members in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas and Iowa.

A District Division was formed with the squadron west of the Mississippi River becoming District 30 in 1975. With Quad City (1956) and Mid Illini (1975) brings District 20 to a 17 squadron total.

In 2006, a provisional squadron was formed in the Kankakee area with initial members and support from the Chicago, DuPage, Calumet and Illiana squadrons.  In April 2009, the Kankakee Valley Sail & Power Squadron was chartered; in September of 2009, the USPS Governing Board formally assigned the new squadron to District 20.

Chicago Power Squadron
United States Power Squadrons
District 10
P/D/C Howard Craft, Historian

In the year 1938, Thomas B. Hurd of Milwaukee who had known of the USPS Educational work throughout the East contracted R/C Lee Nelson of Toledo District #7 and V/C Wm. Anderson of Detroit District # 9 requesting information as to the procedure necessary in securing literature of USPS educational program with the idea in mind of the eventual formation of a Squadron in Milwaukee.

There were at that time no USPS Squadrons in the United States west of District #9 Detroit.

R/C Lee Nelson agreed to forward T.B. Hurd a few student Manuals and advised him that if these interested yachtsmen after having thought that they could pass the USPS E.P. Examination, and made application for the Examination papers, that they might become "members at large" of the USPS. These men met and studied in the office of Oscar Haase and Sam Weller and at the Milwaukee Sea Drome of which T.D. Hurd was manger. Finally ten men wrote successful Examination and these men became members at large of the USPS in 1939. On 6 April 1939, a Charter was issued by the USPS to Milwaukee Power Squadron. Subsequent trips were made to Toledo and Detroit District # 9 by these men.

The Charter members of Milwaukee Power Squadron names appear on this Charter. A photostatic copy is in the archives. Milwaukee Power Squadron then became a squadron of District #9.

On 14 October 1939 P/C/C Commanders, Herild Funk and Wesley Morse attended a dinner held at the Republican Hotel. V/C Anderson presented Certificates. Dr. Huderle of Duluth during this period, who had been Navigator aboard S. C. boats bound for the Brooklyn Navy Yard from Duluth contacted V/C Wm. Anderson regarding the USPS Educational program. he was sent E.P. outlines and after ten men had studied and written successful USPS E.P. Examinations a Charter was issued to Duluth Power Squadron on 27 June 1939 which Squadron was also attached to District #9. A photostatic copy of this Duluth Charter Members is also in the hands of Dr. Arthur Huderle Commander.

A short time later a group of yachtsmen in Green Bay who were intently interested in the USPS Educational program passed the E.P. Examination and a USPS Charter was granted Green Bay Power Squadron on 20 February 1940. A copy of this charter is in hand showing names of the Charter members, W.W. Morrison, Commander. Green Bay Squadron was also attached to District #9.

At a subsequent meeting of District #9 in Detroit R/C Lee Nelson advised Thomas B. Hurd Commander of Milwaukee Power Squadron that he would recommend to the G/B of the USPS that District #10 be formed. In the spring of 1941 District #10 was formed approved by G/B of the USPS.
This District #10 was composed of:
Milwaukee Power Squadron
Chartered 6 April, 1939
T.B. Hurd, Commander

Duluth Power Squadron
Chartered 27 June, 1939
Dr. Studerle, Commander

Green Bay Power Squadron
Chartered 28 February, 1939
W. Morrison, Commander

S/C Thomas B. Hurd of Milwaukee Power Squadron became the first R/C of District #10.

In February, 1941 the Milwaukee Power Squadron and Green Bay Power Squadron obtained the USPS 1941 display booth which was in New York January Boat Show for display at the 1941 Chicago Motor Boat Show at Navy Pier. This display booth was manned by R.B. Hurd and Bert Loomis and other Squadron members from the Milwaukee And Green Bay. The purpose of this exhibit in Chicago was to interest Chicago Yachtsmen in the USPS Educational program.

The display accomplished its purpose, for when a Mr. Temple Nieter of Milwaukee Power Squadron, a stream boat devotee whose kin folk must go back to Robert Fulton of steamship history moved to Chicago. He , in 1942 with help from Milwaukee and Green Bay members together with National Headquarters, interested certain Chicago Yachtsman in the formation of a Chicago Power Squadron.

After USPS E.P. Examinations were passed by a qualified number of men, a USPS Charter was granted Chicago Power Squadron on 18 March 1945. This squadron was attached to District #10. The names of the Charter members of Chicago Power Squadron appeared on the Charter. Photo copy which is in hand.

During the first year of district #10, 1941, a successful rendezvous was held in Green Bay waters. The Squadrons participating were: Milwaukee Power Squadron- R/C T.B. Hurd
Green Bay Power Squadron- S/C W. Morrison

Through the good offices of R/C T.B. Hurd the "Ernn" -"Subar11"-"Ja-Be-Ya"-"Emdon" and "Dodo" of Milwaukee. The " Nancy Jane"-"Bivill" - "Ann-Belle" an" Raindeer" of Green Bay Power squadron were accomplished by the U.S.C.G. cutter "Nancemond" under the Commander of Lt. Sutter. The : Nanccemond" Accompanied the fleet as escort during the entire cruise.

The rendezvous was at Sturgeon Bay on 7 July 1941 and the fleet made the ports of Marinette, Escanaba, Washington Island, Fayette, Ephrim, Chambers Island, and back to Sturgeon Bay, terminating the first District #10 cruise on 12 July 1941.

T.B. Hurd served as R/C District #10 for over two years, 1941, 1942, 1943, after which S/C W. W. Morrison, Commander of Green Bay Power Squadron was elected as the second R/C of District #10. To serve in 1944 and again in 1945.

These were the years of World War II and squadron boating activities were quite restricted due to rationing of gasoline. However the Educational activities proceeded "Full Steam Ahead".

At the spring Conference of 1946 P/S/C Howard Craft was elected to serve District #10 as its R/C for 1946 and again for the year 1947.

During 1946 the G/B of USPS ruled that the District R/C's were henceforth to be ranked as district Commanders.

Chicago Power Squadron activities were phenomenal.
In the spring of 1945 District # 10 was honored by the presence of C/C Perry at its District Conference in Milwaukee. This Conference was attended by Squadron members from Chicago, Duluth, Green Bay and Milwaukee.

At a District Conference held at the Chicago Yacht Club in March 1947 ( the night of the big storm) D/C Howard Craft presented USPS Certificates to a group of men, including such names as Fred Jones, Warren Hutchings and Hugh Hutchings, as well as many others, who were sincerely dedicated to the advancement of the USPS Educational program.

Respectfully submitted by, P/D/C Howard Craft, Historian