Friends of Wilson Creek

Our Board Members

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Darin L Moretz, Chairman Elected 2011 A native of Alexander County, Darin has been employed with Bank of America Merrill Lynch for over 17 years, and is currently a Vice President in Global Treasury Services. Darin spent many years of his youth hiking and camping in the Wilson Creek area with his father, and spending the summers at his family’s cabin on Wilson Creek. Darin lives in Hickory with his two dogs and enjoys photography, backpacking, camping and mountain biking. He is committed to the mission and values of Friends of Wilson Creek and is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the history of the Wilson Creek area through his photography and volunteer efforts. Darin’s photography is displayed in the Wilson Creek Visitor Center.

Doug Taylor, Vice Chairman Elected October, 2003 Doug retired as Executive Director of the Western Piedmont Council of Governments (WPCOG) in 2009, a position he held since 1971. Prior to his service with the WPCOG, he was an engineering consultant. He has served as President of the Local Development District Directors' Association of the Appalachian Regional Commission and is currently serving as a member of their Board. Doug holds both Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Civil Engineering from NC State University and is a registered professional engineer. He is married to Terry Taylor, an Attorney with the firm Young, Morphis, Bach and Taylor, L.L.P. They, together with their daughter Ashley, enjoy hiking, snow skiing, and camping in the Appalachian area. Doug is a native of the Hibriten community of Caldwell County and believes firmly in preserving the natural habitat for the enjoyment of future generations.

Elisabeth Wall, Secretary Elected May 2009 As principal and founder of E.B. Wall & Associates, Elisabeth steered the company for more than 20 years and is currently providing marketing and creative direction for a select group of clients. She is the managing editor for magazines published by N.C. A&T and Appalachian State Universities and handles sales and marketing for Atlantic Caviar Company in Happy Valley. Prior to starting E.B. Wall & Associates in 1989, Elisabeth was executive director of GQ Magazine, public relations director for Mademoiselle Magazine, account executive for a NYC public relations firm, news reporter and fashion editor. One of her favorite assignments was lobbyist for American Cloth Diaper Association. Her children, all cloth-diapered, are grown but not gone. Hobbies: bees, books and brood hens. Elisabeth and her husband David have owned the Log House in Edgemont, NC since they married in 1977.

Gary Greer Elected 2007 Gary is a retired Fire Management Officer for the US Forest Service, Grandfather Ranger District and he worked the Wilson Creek area for over 30 years. He is President of a local conservation group called the Foothills Outdoorsman Association based out of Collettsville and he serves on the Board of Directors of Colletsville Fire and Rescue. Gary is married with two sons and four granddaughters, all who enjoy hunting, fishing, horseback trail riding, and other outdoor activities.

Harriet Hines Elected 2011

Jane Roberts Carswell, MD Elected October, 2003 Jane is a retired Family Physician. She is a native of North Carolina and has been a resident of Caldwell County since 1961. She enjoys wildflowers, growing roses, nature photography, and hiking. Especially in the Wilson Creek area. Jane received her Undergraduate degree from UNC at Chapel Hill with a major in Chemistry.

Jim A. Richardson Elected October, 2003 Jim Richardson received his doctorate in Education, Higher Learning from Duke University, and in 2005 retired as President of Western Piedmont Community College, having served since 1981. Throughout his professional career, he has played an active role as a board member of numerous national and state educational organizations, presenting workshops and seminars on institutional planning, fund raising, and leadership. Since 2010 Jim has served as CEO of the Williams YMCA in Linville, N.C. Locally, he volunteers his time and leadership to many community organizations, including Burke County Friends for Animals, Burke County 4-H Foundation, and Western NC Communities, Inc. He currently serves as a member of First Citizens Bank Board of Directors in Morganton and numerous city and county civic organization boards. Jim is a native of Wilkes County and an avid horseback riding enthusiast, who enjoys backpacking, trail blazing, and conducts trail riding, horsemanship, and equine safety classes. He delights in exploring the woodland and mountain trails of western North Carolina, and enjoys packing and back country camping throughout North Carolina and the scenic western United States.

Kenneth Roberts Elected October, 2003 Kenneth is a Retired Superintendent of Caldwell County Schools. He served the Caldwell County Schools for thirty-eight and one-half years as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent. It was during his five years as principal and teacher at Collettsville School in the early sixties that he developed a deep appreciation for the beauty of the Wilson Creek area and for the people who lived there. Today, in retirement, he and his wife, Jane, enjoy hiking and photographing wildflowers and nature scenes in the Wilson Creek water shed, as well as many other places in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

Kevin Knight Kevin was born at Blackwelder Hospital in Lenoir, North Carolina in 1949. His family lived in the Carolinas until his first year of school, when his family moved to Los Angeles, California. After living in various parts of the San Fernando Valley, Kevin attended high school in Phoenix, Arizona, and graduated in 1967. Kevin completed a Tool and Die Apprenticeship at Southern Die Casting in High Point, North Carolina, in 1972, and worked in the tool room at Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company in Hickory until 1977. Kevin worked for JB Industries, Inc. in Austin, Texas, a family business, that specialized in chemically removing minerals from the pipes of commercial potable water systems through 1981. Kevin also worked at the University of Texas in Austin, as a Scientific Instrument Maker, among various other roles after returning to the Lenoir area until 2006. Now retired, Kevin holds a part time job in housekeeping at the Comfort Inn in Lenoir. When digital photography made taking pictures affordable, Kevin’s interest in photography increased. His landscape photography of Wilson Creek became popular with local residents. Many of Kevin’s photographs have been used by local organizations and several are displayed at the Wilson Creek Visitor Center. “It is rewarding to have people appreciate your photography” says Kevin. However, it remains just one of his hobbies. Kevin also enjoys whitewater kayaking, basketball, camping and exploring the trails in the Wilson Creek area.

Martin Clark Elected October, 2003 Martin has always had a profound interest in the Wilson Creek corrider his entire life. For as long as he can remember, his family has maintained a weekend house in the Wilson Creek area ranging from the Walnut Bottom community of Edgemont. Martin graduated from Appalachian State University in Boone, and is currently the Regional Accounting Manager for a group of newspapers in western North Carolina owned by the Media General, Inc. Martin is married and they have a daughter.

Norma McGee Elected 2004 Norma and her husband, Joe, who hunted the Wilson Creek area for 30 some years prior to retiring in 1999, lives in the small community of Edgemont, which is located in the Wilson Creek Wild and Scenic area. Before Norma moved to the Wilson Creek area, she was employed as an administrative assistant/office manager. She is now currently working as a staff member of the Wilson Creek Visitor Center and helps the Caldwell County Chamber of Commerce part-time. Norma is on the Website Committee of the Friends of Wilson Creek. Norma has a son and a stepdaughter with 3 beautiful grandchildren. She enjoys reading, walking and crafting. Norma is involved in learning the Wilson Creek Wild and Scenic area in order to help protect and preserve its beauty for generations to come.

Patsy Richardson Elected 2003 Patsy retired as Administrative Assistant from the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Caldwell County Center. She is a member of the Collettsville Ruritan Club, a rural civic organization that works to make the community (which includes Wilson Creek) a better place to live. Patsy serves on the Hard and Flossie Clark Family Park Board as Secretary/Treasurer. She and her husband,Larry, have 2 daughters, Paige and Allison. She enjoys bird watching, hiking and cooking.

Rick Rash Rick currently serves as the Aquatic Manager for the Mid-Atlantic Division for the American Red Cross. He is retired from the City of Lenoir Parks and Recreation Department as of 2004 where he accrued 37 years of service. Rick holds a Bachelors Degree in Social Science, a Bachelors Degree in Recreation Management, a Masters Degree in Physical Education with concentrations in Recreation Administration, Junior College instruction, and a strong interest in Exercise Physiology. He holds a current Certified Park and Recreation Professional rating and numerous American Red Cross Instructor and Instructor Trainer Certifications including Wilderness First Aid. Rick has always enjoyed hiking and camping, particularly in the Wilson Creek area which he has enjoyed since the 1950's. He believes in actively helping to preserve our Natural and Environmental Heritage through responsible use of our Wilderness Resources. He is also an active participant of Caldwell County Pathways and Healthy Caldwellians. He is a U.S. Army Veteran and is married to Kaye Beasley-Rash.

Ron Beane Ron Beane retired from the Caldwell County School system after 35 years of service. During his years of service, he served as a teacher, coach, high school principal, and associate superintendent. After retiring from education, he served 12 years as a Caldwell County Commissioner and led the effort to acquire the Wild and Scenic River Designation for Wilson Creek. After the Wild and Scenic Designation, he led the effort to build a visitor center on Wilson Creek that opened in October 2002, and then led the effort to establish the Friends of Wilson Creek organization. He currently serves on the N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund Board of Directors, Gardner-Webb University Board of Trustees, Appalachian State University Reich College of Education Advancement Board, N.C. Retired Government Employees Association Board of Directors, Caldwell County Schools’ Education Foundation, Caldwell Community College Education Foundation, and is involved in many other community activities. As a commissioner, he served on the National Public Lands Steering Committee and the National Transportation Committee. He and his wife Chris have 2 children – a daughter, Paige, who works for the Federal Reserve in Atlanta, and son, Scott, who is a physician in Easley, SC. They have 4 grandchildren. He is an avid outdoorsman whose passion is fly fishing and elk hunting. Ron says that “my heart will always be in Caldwell County and especially on Wilson Creek.”

Sam Erwin Elected October, 2003 Sam received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Appalachian State University and has been employed as an Environmental Administrator with Western Piedmont Council of Governments for over 16 years. He is a member of Trout Unlimited and has served as President of the Table Rock Chapter and Vice-Chair of the North Carolina State Council of Trout Unlimited. Sam is on the Board of Directors of Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and has served as Vice-Chair and Secretary. He is an avid outdoorsman, who has enjoyed the Wilson Creek area for many years.

Susan Powers Elected October, 2003 Susan has lived in Caldwell County for over 40 years. Recently retired, Susan enjoys geology, bird watching, wildflowers and art. Susan also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and Caldwell County Pathways, as well as participating in local and regional art organizations and galleries. Susan received her education in Geology from Montreat College and Appalachian State University and is dedicated to preserving the diverse treasures of Wilson Creek’s natural history and scenic beauty for future generations.