Board of Trustees

Edgar Johnson
Chairman

Edgar Johnson is a native of Jacksonville, attending Ribault Senior High School. Before moving to Amelia Island in 2005, he spent a 34 year career in R&D with the Federal government directing a behavioral science laboratory for the U.S. Army followed by 3 years in a half way house for retired government employees, The Institute for Defense Analyses. He quickly became involved in the Amelia Island Museum of History as a docent, walking tour guide, interviewer and trustee; he does not do windows. Consults in areas of applied psychology. Loves living on the Island, but dislikes the summer heat, especially in August.

Paul retired in 1997, after 28 years, from Eastman Kodak and moved to Amelia Island from Rochester, New York, with his wife Carol, in 2000. In addition to being on the Museum Board, he is active in the Civil Air Patrol, Chairman of the City Planning Board and volunteers at the local hospital.

Joe Anderson moved from Malibu, California, 11 years ago and loves Fernandina. He is a consultant for financial institutions and people in the entertainment industry.

Anne Kavanaugh
Secretary

Anne Kavanaugh was born in Stonewall Jackson's house in Lexington, Va. Anne's grandchildren are the 8th generation to visit in the family home, the Archibald Baker house, Circa 1859 in Fernandina.

Pat and her husband Chuck moved to Amelia Island from New Jersey in 1998. Pat is an active Eight Flags Docent for the past 9 years, chairman of fundraising events for AIMH, and currently is Chairman of the Board of Trustees. "Loves living on Amelia Island, and is a staunch supporter of the AIMH Museum and preservation of History."

Calvin Atwood
Past President

Cal Atwood is a past President of the AIMH board of trustees as is his wife, Carol Ann. Cal served as a Marine parachutist-machine gunner during WWll and as a teacher-administrator for thirty-four years before coming to Amelia in 1989. He is still active with AIMH, with Veteran Affairs, and the Amelia Island Book Festival and is the author of two books of poetry: A Squadron of Roses and Isle of You. He and Carol Ann have 18 grandchildren.

Immediate Past Chairman of the Board of Trustees; active docent since 1993.  Elderhostel instructor and active coordinator of fundraising activities for the Museum.  A native Floridian and former teacher of High School English and theatre.  Jan says, “ The Amelia Island Museum of History is a vibrant exciting place.  It is a pleasure to be involved in supporting such an institution.”

Leah taught middle schoolers & enjoyed being “Gal Friday” to a building contractor before moving to Florida. Leah and her husband Ron lived in Amsterdam & Hong Kong.

Dolores Lord

Dolores Lord, a fifth generation Floridian, was born and raised in Jacksonville and graduated from Florida State University. A former secondary English teacher, she moved to Atlanta in 1978 vowing to return to northeast Florida. In 2005 after selling real estate in Georgia for twenty-seven years, she relocated to Amelia Island to retire but immediately began volunteering at the Museum. She has served as a greeter, fund-raiser, and currently serves on the Board of Trustees and chairs the Income Development Committee. "Our Museum provides a look into our past as a community to enrich not only our lives but also those who visit our historic island."

David Harlow

Rear Admiral David Harlow, U S Navy (Ret.) had a 36 year career as a Naval Aviator.   He followed this with 10 years in higher education as Chancellor of Rhodes College and finally as President of Jacksonville University for 4 years, retiring in 2004. In 2006 he cofounded Wind Energy Consulting & Contracting (WECC) in Fernandina Beach.  He currently focuses on the development of worldwide relations to position WECC as the ‘go-to’ wind experts.  He also leads WECC’s Empower Through Wind Power Educational Initiative. He has been active in the Museum’s Annual Golf Tournament fund raiser and served as vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees, 2007-2008. He is seeking his second term on the Board of Trustees.

Gene R. Kendall

Gene is a retired Rear Admiral, United States Navy.  He was among the first African-American students admitted to the Duke University Undergraduate School.  After enlisting in the U S Navy nuclear Field, Gene received a BS in Engineering Physics and a Master of Engineering from the University of   Kansas and remains a member of the University of Kansas Engineering School Advisory Board.  He was recently honored with the Distinguished Engineering Service Award.  He is the first and only non-Naval Academy graduate to be Director Division of Math and Science at the US Naval     Academy. He is currently Chair, Jacksonville Section of the American Society of Naval Engineers

William Birdsong

Bill and Susie Birdsong moved to Fernandina Beach nine years ago. He is a native Floridian and a retired Obstetrician-Gynecologist (US Air Force and the University of California, Davis). Earlier, he completed a MA in Anthropology at the University of Hawaii and has been active in the Museum as a docent, lecturer, and in education. "Through the Museum we explore and pass on the history and culture of the island. A dream come true!"

Judith Pillans

Judy is well known to the Museum community. She is a frequent a greeter, a Museum Madam and was Co-chair of Christmas on Centre Preview Party for two years. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of South Carolina and a Masters of Science in Library Science from Florida State University. She is very active in community service including: two term member and Chairman, Jacksonville Public Library Board of Trustees; member of  the first Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women.; member, Amelia Plantation Chapel, Chair of Altar Guild 2000-2005.  Worship Chair and Chapel Secretary for the Governing Board of the Chapel, 2006-2008; and Syndicated Ladies of Amelia Island Investment Club, 2000-present.  Secretary 2001-2003, President 2004-2005. She is seeking her first term on the Board.

Jim Longacre

I have been a patent lawyer, representing and opposing some of the brightest, oddest and meanest people on this planet. I have been an entrepreneur, with a record of spectacular successes and astounding failures. I have been an educator and teacher. And, while I am still a bit of each of the above, I am now mostly a local historian and Amelia Island History Museum enthusiast.

Aaron Bean

Aaron P. Bean was born the last of nine children in Fernandina Beach, Florida. He graduated in 1985 as Valedictorian of Fernandina Beach High School. Aaron earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from Jacksonville University.

In 1996, Aaron was elected City Commissioner of Fernandina Beach. He also served two terms as Mayor of Fernandina Beach, the youngest in the city’s history. During his tenure, the Fernandina Beach News-Leader recognized him as “Best of the Best” Elected Official in Nassau County.

In November 2000, Representative Bean became the first Republican to hold the District 12 seat in the Florida House of Representatives in over 125 years. While Serving in the House, Bean Chaired the House Health Appropriations for 4 year, overseeing $24.5 billion, Florida spends on healthcare. During his tenure, Bean was award Legislator of the Year 13 times, and given an A rating by the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Christian Coalition.

After 10 years of President of Compass Bank in Nassau County, Aaron is currently employed by Shands Jacksonville as a relationship development officer. Aaron is also a small business operator as the owner of Putt Putt golf course in Fernandina Beach.

Aaron is a Rotarian (past president) and football and basketball coach for the YMCA, and is on the board for Eldersource and the Amelia Island Museum of History. He is also a volunteer for the American Heart Association, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, the American Cancer Society, Ronald McDonald House and the Nassau County Council on Aging.

Aaron and his wife Abby are the proud parents of three sons, Bradley, Gray and Walker. They reside in Fernandina Beach, Florida.

Donna Martin

Donna Martin is the Nassau County School Board member representing District 1, as well as a professor of mathematics at Florida State College at Jacksonville. She moved to Nassau County in 1993 with her husband, John Martin Nassau County’s Veteran’s Service Officer, and their daughter, Janel Avila, who is a teacher at Fernandina Beach High School.

Donna has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from the University of Central Florida, a Master of Science degree in Mathematical Sciences from the University of North Florida, and an Education Specialists degree in higher education from Appalachian State University.

She is a frequent presenter at regional and national education conferences, and has received numerous honors. Those include the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Excellence Award; Nassau County Economic Development Board Customer Service award for Excellence in Education; and Outstanding Faculty Award for Florida Community College at Jacksonville.

William Taylor

Bill was born in New York City where he graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School. In 1968 he graduated from Pace College, N.Y. and holds an Advanced Studies Certificate in International Finance from Williams College in Massachusetts. He joined the International Department of Chase Manhattan Bank where he completed several overseas assignments. In 1995, Bill moved to Ghana, West Africa, where he worked for EcoBank, Ghana as Deputy Managing Director and Senior Risk Officer and was later promoted to Managing Director. He returned to the States in late 2005 and is currently an Independent Investment Advisory Representative providing financial advisory and brokerage services to a range of Individual and Institutional Investors. Bill holds several securities licenses and is licensed to sell insurance in the State of Florida. He has served as a board member for various NFP’s and NGO’s, loves languages and is an avid Commercial Pilot and SCUBA diver.