Meet our 2023-2024 officers

Tony Hanson – President

I have been researching my family for 23 years now. My focus has been on Norway (dad was the son of Norwegian emigrants) and Germany (most of mom’s grandparents came to the US around 1850). I have been active in the Dallas Genealogical Society since 2010 and have served in a variety of positions, including one previous term as President (2016 – 2017). I am currently in my second term as the Director of Membership for the Texas State Genealogical Society.

I chaired the most recent nominating committee, which is usually a pretty good way to avoid being nominated. We identified our list of candidates and began a series of conversations that consistently ended with a response along the lines of “thanks for considering me, but I’m not willing/able to take on that responsibility at this time”.

The last name on my mental list was me. After a lot of internal reflection, discussions with my wife and with the other members of the committee I came to the conclusion that another term as President was a challenge that I was willing to undertake.

Kathleen and I just returned from a cruise down the Mississippi river. It was an educational and relaxing experience, and it provided me with an opportunity to contemplate the commitment I had just made. After one especially enjoyable evening I made it a point to thank one of the many workers on the boat who worked so hard to make our trip so memorable. I was struck by his response, which was “your energy motivates us”.

I sincerely hope that the combined energy of Sharon, Terry and the rest of the DGS leadership team motivates you to become involved in and support our activities in the coming year.

Terry M. Turner – Secretary

I call myself a compassionate genealogist because doing genealogical research requires me to
internalize a heart of compassion that allows me to embrace my ancestors in the most
challenging conditions and lifestyles. Remember, they were subject to the same situations of life
that we are and, in many cases, more complex. Yet, through genealogy, I have found family love
is a blessing from the Lord, which fulfills one of our greatest needs in life, to belong to ancestors
you can identify as your own. “A generation goes, and another generation comes, but the earth remains forever.” (Eccl. 1:4).

Unlike many who have been doing genealogy for decades, I began researching my family nine
years ago. As a result, most of my ancestors I’ve discovered have been in the states of Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas. In Georgia, I have solidified my paternal connections as far back as 1770. I have also traced their migration to Texas in 1854 and later to Oklahoma—shortly after the 1889 Land Run that opened the Indian Territory to new settlers. Serving as secretary for the Dallas Genealogical Society will fill an administrative need in this organization for family researchers throughout Dallas County.

Although secretarial skills are not within my strongest abilities, I am excited to serve until someone with clerical giftedness is available. In addition, my commitment to family research has led me to become a member of each genealogical society where my ancestors lived, along with the National Genealogical Society and The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). I am a certified PREPARE/ENRICH Marriage and Family Counselor and Facilitator.

In 2018, I authored a Christian historical and genealogy book titled God’s Amazing Grace:
Reconciling Four Centuries of African American Marriages and Families. This book traces how
Christianity and governmental regulations in the American slave system impacted the marriages
and families of enslaved people and their descendants. Also, I am finishing a new book, When
Grace Flows Backward: Embracing Our Ancestors, to be released this year.

In my retirement, starting June 2023, I plan to provide genealogy research services specializing
in researching African Americans beyond the 1870 brick wall. Finally, I hope my involvement
with this genealogical society will bring new knowledge and excitement to the membership.

Sharon Bowles – Vice President

Hi, this is Sharon Bowles. I’ve been working on genealogy for about 15 years (I naively predicted I would be further along by now!) I thought I was “out of the frying pan” when I relinquished my four-year role as Publicity Director last fall, but I guess I can’t stay away; thus, I’m jumping “back into the fire” by accepting the VP position for the new year. This will be my third DGS board term, having served as Secretary several years ago. By now, I feel quite familiar with how DGS works.

Why am I back so soon? Besides having a hard time saying NO to our persuasive president elect, I like contributing to any group of which I am a member. I am always aware that someone(s) is making those fun opportunities happen for the members, and I feel a responsibility to take on some of that effort.

After my Publicity role, as well as working closely with several past VPs, I feel knowledgeable about our seminar process. I am eager to learn more about how the monthly education program and SIGS operate. I also feel intrigued to help flesh out the reorganized role of VP, which is newly in effect for the current staff. My intention is that we build on the existing good communication within the team, play nicely with Publicity and others, and gain additional team members so that the workload stays reasonable for each person and we avoid the BBB (Big Bad Burnout)!

Finally, I think it’s safe to say I have good relationships with several Board and DGS-working members, and I look forward to getting to know those new to me!

Cheers for a great new season!