The BFTS Museum is a nonprofit organization which has earned the 501(c)3 designation from the Internal Revenue Service. All donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.
The BFTS Museum is staffed almost entirely by volunteers with only two, part-time paid staff members.
Chairman – William Huthmacher
Retired from IBM Computer Software Sales. Bachelor of Business Administration. Retired Chairman of Terrell Airport Board, Retired Terrell Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, President of Citizens Organized to Promote Ennis, Ennis Heritage Society.
Vice Chairman – Denis Rottler
Retired from L-3 Communications after 32 years of service. He was hired into the Flight Test Instrumentation group by E-Systems and retired as the manager of that group. At his retirement he was also managing the Aero Development Lab which specialized in the fabrication of prototype mechanical and structural designs, as well as a lab for material and structural testing. Denis holds a Private Pilot certificate and flies a Van’s RV-9A airplane that he built and hangars at Terrell Municipal Airport.
Treasurer – Hal Richards
40 years in private business, 9 years Mayor of Terrell, 4 years County Judge
Secretary – Barry Walston
Currently employed at Southwest Airlines in the IT Department.
Executive Director – Patrick Hotard
Patrick has a BS in history from Louisiana State University and a master’s in history from Southeastern Louisiana University. He held several curator positions in Louisiana prior to joining Beauvoir, a National Historic Landmark, located in Biloxi, MS. During his seven years with the organization, he doubled the membership while managing a multi-structure facility. He moved to Glen Foerd on the Delaware, an historic mansion in Philadelphia, where he served as executive director for four years, obtaining major grants and establishing successful fundraising events.
Executive Director of the South Arkansas Historical and Preservation Society in El Dorado, AR where he created educational programming and established an annual festival. He was honored as a Mississippi Gulf Coast Preservation Hero by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Paul Finnegan
Currently employed in the aerospace industry and is a certified linguist. Paul is retired from the Air Force.
Bernie C. Schaefer, Jr.
Currently serves as a consultant in the oil and gas industry. Bernie has served over ten (10) years on board on the Board of Directors of the BFTS Museum.
Mike Siemann
Retired from Advantage IBC.
Rudy Bowling, Sr.
Retired from Southwest Airlines as maintenance tooling supervisor. Rudy also has 20 years at Braniff International Airways.
Craig O’Donnell
Currently employed in the aerospace industry as ISR Program Manager, Aviation Services Sector. Retired Royal Air Force (31 years of service). BA (Hons) – University of Staffordshire / MSc – University of Portsmouth.
Charles L. Whitaker
Retired. Charles has served on the Kaufman County Historical Commission, United Way of Kaufman County Board, Terrell Lions Club.
Guy Harvey
Royal Air Force (Major) – Squadron Leader currently attached to local aerospace industry.
Jessie Dodwell, Deputy Consul General
Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Serving British diplomat leading UK trade policy with responsibility for building political, commercial and cultural ties.
Carl A. Best
Pilot AT-6, Retired from 35 years in the commercial property and casualty insurance industry.
Raylan Smith
Currently City of Terrell – Downtown Project Manager. Experience in municipal and county government – project management, purchasing, contract management, facility construction and public works projects.
Bruce Archer
Real Estate Broker. Former Mesquite Councilman and Mayor. Former Planning and Zoning Commissioner, Former Board of Adjustment Member and Library Board Member. Currently on Resource One Credit Union Political Action Committee.
