Founding Board member Sam Spayd graduated from Mississippi State University in 1966 and was commissioned in the Air Force. Retiring as a colonel after thirty years of service, he served in Vietnam in 1970-1971, attended National War College in Washington DC in 1987, served in Desert Storm in 1991, and was awarded the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, four Meritorious Service medals and 14 Air Medals. Known for his organizational skills and 'can do' attitude, Sam has been one of the driving forces in the creation of this museum and the ideals that it symbolizes.

Sam is also a retired Captain from United Air Lines with twenty-five years of service, in addition to being a Life Member of: Order of Daedalians, Air Force Association, Reserve Officers Association, Veterans of Foreign War and Experimental Aircraft Association. He serves his community by Chairing the Airport Advisory Committee for the City of Florence, as well as hosting quarterly Aviation Heritage Events at his hangar, featuring WWII pilots.

Although theoretically retired, Sam still flies, operating Aero Legends Bi-Plane Rides out of the Florence Airport. Sam is dedicated to honoring the many worthy veterans who reside on the Oregon Coast and he is doing this by educating the public about their contribution in keeping our liberties and freedom.

Board Member Bio - Gwendolyn (Wendy) Farley

Founding Board member Wendy Farley has been a Florence resident since 2003, although originally from Midwest City, Oklahoma. She holds an AAOT degree from Lane Community College, BS degree from Oregon State University, and a MCRP from University of Oregon, in addition to her training in Confinement Operations from Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.

Wendy served active duty in the United States Navy from 1988 through 1993, stationed on the USS Hunley out of Norfolk Virginia, and has continued to serve since in the United States Naval Reserves, serving again actively in 2007 and 2008 after being mobilized for ISO Operation Noble Eagle to Kuwait.

Wendy is a Senior Planner with the Community Development Dept. for the City of Florence, in addition to being AOIC, Operations Support, Naval Operations Support Command out of Eugene. She is involved in the community through her service at Florence Kiwanis Club, Siuslaw Talespinners Toastmasters Club, Oregon Coast Women's Veterans Club, and the VFW.

Board Member Bio - Wayne Sharpe

Founding Board member Wayne Sharpe has been a Florence resident since 1992. Originally from New York, Wayne is a graduate of Trinity Bible College in Ellendale, North Dakota, with a Ministerial BA.

In addition to Wayne having served honorably in the United States Marines from 1970 to 1972, three of his four children have also served our nation in military service. Wayne served in the ministry for several years before moving to Florence and is still an Elder in his local church, and is currently morning show host and sales manager for Coast Radio Broadcasting in Florence. He is extremely active in supporting the community, with participation over the years on the Florence Foodshare Board, Siuslaw Community Health Improvement Committee, past President of Rotary, and is a founding Board member of the Veterans Parade Committee of Florence.

Wayne is excited about being involved with the Oregon Coast Military Heritage Museum and its development because we can never repay the sacrifice and commitment of our Veterans, but we can make sure future generations will know why they enjoy the freedoms they enjoy today.

Board Member Bio - Cal Applebee

Founding Board member Cal Applebee is a native Oregonian, having moved to Florence in 2005 from Central Oregon. Cal spent part of his youth in Idaho, and after attending college there, he moved to California where he started a 33 year career in the title insurance industry, and is a past President of the Oregon Land Title Association. He is currently in Business Development with Siuslaw Bank.

Previous to moving to Florence Cal was involved in service to several Central Oregon communities through participation in Rotary, Chamber of Commerce and Home Builders Association, and also was the founding President of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) - Central Oregon Group. Since moving to Florence, he has continued to be active in community service through the Florence chapter of Home Builders Association of Lane County, service on a work group for community economic development, was the founding President of the Central Coast Military Vehicle Group, an MVPA affiliate chapter, as well as founding President of Veterans Parade Committee of Florence.

Although not a Veteran, he is passionate in his appreciation for the service and sacrifice all Veterans have made in our society. With the large number of Veterans in the Florence area, Cal felt starting a military heritage museum was just the right thing to do.

Board Member Bio - Cliff Harvey

Board member Cliff Harvey had a successful career with the Boulder, CO Fire Department from 1968 until his retirement in 1995, when he decided a complete change of scenery was in order. He came to Florence and, as he says, never looked back. Cliff is a veteran of four years with the United States Air Force, where he completed a high level Radio Intercept Analysis Specialist course and was then assigned to a high security base in England.

Cliff was active in Rotary while in Boulder, and Kiwanis once arriving in Florence. He has volunteered for numerous boards and positions during his career, and enjoys working with, and helping, people.

Cliff enjoys flying with friend Sam Spayd, and is an accomplished landscape and portrait photographer. He's been the one person who's recorded all the recent airport and aviation heritage events that have become so popular in Florence.

"I'm involved in the museum effort because I've known numerous veterans from WWII and Korea, as well as Vietnam and Desert Storm. I strongly support our military, and want this museum, dedicated to our soldiers, sailors and airmen, to be a successful effort that the Florence community can enjoy for a very long time."

Board Member Bio - Tim Sapp

Founding Board member Tim Sapp has been a Florence area resident since 1983, having moved here from the Albany area where he was in farming, and attended Linn Benton Community College in 1973 and 1974.

Tim is a decorated Vietnam veteran, having served two years in the late 1960's, earning the Purple Heart, Bronze Medal, Bronze Medal with Valor, and a Silver Star. He says "I also came home with 150 pieces of shrapnel and a slight limp" from his stint in action. Prior to his duty in Vietnam, he attended the Army's Advanced Individual Training program, and NCOC School.

Tim is the owner of TR Hunter Real Estate in Florence, and is co-owner with wife Pat of Good Stuff, a non-profit antique store benefiting multiple local and international charities. Since moving here, over the years Tim has served on the Port of Siuslaw Budget Committee, assisted the City with grant application for the Veterans Memorial Park, chaired the effort to bring the Vietnam Moving Wall Memorial in 2001, worked on a community task force for road improvements, and is a founding Board member of the Veterans Parade Committee of Florence.

"Every man's Heritage is worth remembering. As a veteran your heritage is your country's heritage which we all need to be proud of whether you served over seas or at home. What better way to remember the service of all our veterans than by a permanent display of memorabilia from our local veterans - there to remind future generations of the price paid for freedom." - Staff Sergeant Sapp

Board Member Bio - Carl Middleton

Founding Board member Carl Middleton has been a Florence resident for seven years, originally hailing from California. He holds both a BA in Industrial Arts from Humboldt State, as well as a Master's Degree in School Counseling from Chapman College. Carl also served his country in the US Army Reserve from 1956 through 1964.

He taught high school in Wheatland California for 33 years, overlapping with 27 years at Community College at Yuba College in Marysville, California. Carl has also served his communities through participation on the Donner Summit PUD Board of Directors and Donner Summit Condo Association Board of Directors, both in Norden, California.

He looks forward to being involved in helping to establish a museum that will recognize accomplishments of military personnel and the tools they used.

Board Member Bio - Rex L. Ruck

Board member Rex Ruck is a native Californian who moved to Florence three years after retirement in 1997. His military career started in high school with two years of Naval Reserve. He was then called into active duty in the Navy serving 1951 to 1953 in Korea, on the USS McKean and USS Toledo. Following his active duty years, he remained on inactive status for an additional two years.

Rex's varied professional career includes a variety of experiences including truck and trailer engineer, deputy probation councilor (construction trades), an electrical contracting business and five years as a county building inspector.

Rex's community involvement since moving to Florence includes an impressive array of accomplishments clearly showing he enjoys giving to the community: Youth Activity and Boy Scout Chairs for Florence Elks Lodge, Florence Drug Awareness, Boys & Girls Club board, Chair of the Florentine Architectural Committee, STEP board, Heceta Head Light station board, VFW board and most recently a Director on the Veterans Memorial Wall Commission.

Rex feels the Oregon Coast Military Heritage Museum will be a great way to honor Veterans in our community.

Board Member Bio - Greg Freeze

Board member Greg Freeze is an Oregon coast attorney (www.RhodyLaw.com), licensed in California and Oregon. Prior to coming to the practice of law, he had a career in software. As chief operating officer of a public company specializing in point-of-sale systems for retailers, he oversaw the installation and support of over one hundred customers in the museum gift shop vertical, with notable names like the Guggenheim. He hopes to leverage that experience in bringing to life the Oregon Coast Military Heritage Museum.

In 1984, Greg earned a B.A. in business administration from California State University, Fullerton. In 2000, he returned and earned his MBA in international business. In 2007, he earned his J.D. from Whittier Law School with a certificate in intellectual property. Greg came to Florence in 2008 with his wife Rebecca seeking to reap the benefits of a small town nestled in nature's beauty.

While not a veteran, Greg feels that the museum would be a great way to show appreciation for the service performed by veterans while at the same time creating a draw for tourist dollars into Florence.