Society Leadership
GCHS Officers 2023
- Julia “Bitty” Martin – President
- Len Pitcock - Vice President
- Elaine Johnston – Secretary
- Ray Rosset – Treasurer
Board of Directors
- Kyle Clem
- Clyde Covington
- Carol Moenster Dyer
- Ron Fuller
- Tom French
- John Hoefll
- Minnie Lenox
- Julie Brenner Nix
- Toma Noble Whitlock
Executive Director
Orval E. Allbritton
Orval E. Allbritton, a Hot Springs native, received an Associates Degree from Little Rock Junior College and attended the Arkansas Law School, Little Rock, and Strayer College of Accountancy and Law, Washington DC. He was employed by the FBI for eleven years, working in Little Rock and Washington, DC. He retired as General Adjuster for Crawford and Company claims service. A past president of the Garland County Historical Society, Allbritton is the author of the books Leo and Verne: The Spa’s Heyday; Hot Springs Gunsmoke; Dangerous Visitors; The Mob at the Spa; Organized Crime’s Fascination with Hot Springs, Arkansas; and Lawman: The Story of Clay White. He has contributed many articles to the Hot Springs Sentinel-Record, Wild West Magazine, and The Record, the journal of the Garland County Historical Society.
CloseClyde Covington
Hot Springs native Clyde Covington is a graduate Hendrix College with a B. A. degree in History and Political Science and the University of Arkansas Fayetteville with a M.Ed. degree in Guidance and Counseling. Clyde was employed by the Hot Springs School District, where his first four years were spent as a teacher at Central Junior High School. He served as guidance counselor at Central Junior High and Hot Springs Middle School for the remainder of his forty-two year career in public education. Upon retirement Clyde became an active volunteer at the Garland County Historical Society where he enjoys digitizing photos, helping with research, and contributing articles for The Record. He has served as president of the Society three times, most recently for the 2019-2020 term.
CloseCarol Moenster Dyer
Carol Moenster Dyer was born and raised in Hot Springs. Her careers focused equally within the non-profit world and the hospitality industry. As the American Heart Association (AHA) Senior Heart Ball Director, Carol achieved the distinction of the 2000 Central Arkansas Heart Ball being the first single night event in Arkansas to generate over one million dollars. She led ten Heart Balls to generate revenue records, received the AFP Outstanding Fundraiser Award as well as the 2008 AHA Rome Betts Award of Excellence. Carol retired as the Central Arkansas AHA Executive Director and is now a resident of Hot Springs Village. Her family history and love of Hot Springs led Carol to volunteer for the Garland County Historical Society. She currently serves on the GCHS Board with her focus on sustainability. Carol is serving her third five-year term on the Arkansas Tobacco Control Board, is an active member of the HSV Audubon Club, the Village Pines Garden Club and P.E.O.
CloseTom French
Tom French has lived in Hot Springs since the mid-fifties. He graduated from Hot Springs High School and earned his Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Henderson State University. Following graduation Tom worked for the city of Hot Springs as an assistant to the Mayor. Additionally Tom worked with several local institutions prior to joining Summit Bank where he served as Executive Vice President as well as Director of Marketing. Tom has also served on numerous boards throughout the years, including the Chamber of Commerce, Garland County Industrial Commission, Fifty for the Future, Hot Springs Community Foundation and the United Way. He currently sits on the board of Abilities Unlimited and First Step School. Tom spends as much time as possible on the golf course as well as on Lake Ouachita.
CloseSusan Hunter
Susan Hunter is a native of Hot Springs and graduate of Lakeside High School. She earned an undergraduate degree from Henderson State University, a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Arkansas State University and a Graduate Certificate in Reading/Literacy Coaching from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. Susan’s career in education spans over 34 years in various parts of the state. She has been a GCHS volunteer for nine years dedicating most of her time in the Veterans Room. Since Susan’s retirement, she spends much of her time traveling, reading and bowling.
CloseElaine C. Johnston
Elaine C. Johnston is a native of Hot Springs and has volunteered at the GCHS since 2013. She is a graduate of the University of Arkansas and earned a Masters Degree in Library Science from the University of Kentucky. Elaine, a former secondary school English teacher, held librarian positions for 25 years in several states, prior to her retirement as library director at the University of Oklahoma at Tulsa.
CloseJulia “Bitty” Martin
Julia “Bitty” Martin is a Hot Springs native, who after working at Arkansas State Parks and Tourism Research Division, became the youngest Executive Director of Hot Springs’ YWCA in the late-1970s. She went to Arkansas Bank & Trust’s marketing department and then to Pittman Advertising. Bitty joined Arkansas Times magazine as an Account Executive and was employed in the same capacity at KATV-Channel 7 and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. She brought the cast and crew of the primetime TV show Designing Women to Little Rock for a benefit gala in 1987, and also founded local and national organizations. Earning a nursing degree at UALR, she trained at UAMS and then traveled America for two decades as an operating room nurse (RN) in hospitals on both coasts. Now retired, Bitty has written the true story of the mid-60s murders and cover-ups by a man who terrorized Hot Springs. The book, Snake Eyes: Murder in a Southern Town, will be published by Globe Pequot in Spring 2022.
CloseLen Pitcock
Len Pitcock is a fifth generation Arkansan whose family history is woven within the fabric of the state. He hails from a long line of lawmen, lawmakers and pioneers of Arkansas journalism. Born and raised in Little Rock, he moved to Hot Springs in 2007 where Len and his family currently reside in a home that is on The National Register of Historic Places. Len is a managing partner of the Little Rock-based lobbying firm, The Perimeter Group.
CloseJulie Brenner Nix
Julie Brenner Nix was born and raised in Hot Springs. After careers in education, school librarianship, school administration and association management she retired as Executive Director of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL). During her tenure at AASL, she served on the advisory committee for the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries and as chair of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. Returning to Hot Springs in 2014, she found her volunteer home at the Garland County Historical Society where she currently serves as president of the Board of Directors. Julie also serves on the advisory committee for the city of Hot Springs Parks and Trails Department. In her spare time, Julie enjoys hiking and spending time on Lake Ouachita. Ms. Nix holds a BS from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and a MLIS from the University of Texas.
CloseRay Rosset
Ray Rosset is a relative newcomer to Garland County, moving to Hot Springs in 2001 to start a business with his wife Kristie. The Rossets chose Hot Springs because of the natural beauty of the area, the shimmering lakes and a thriving tourist industry. The exciting and unusual history of Garland County provided an additional draw for the Rossets. Volunteering for the Garland County Historical Society was a natural match for Ray when he officially “retired” in 2017. Ray is a Chartered Accountant (Canada) and spent 3 years there in public accounting. Following a move to Dallas Ray held various accounting and finance positions with Zale Corporation and Blockbuster Video while also volunteering his services to several organizations. Ray served on the Arkansas Lodging Association board as president of The Bed and Breakfast Association of Arkansas. Ray is proud to be associated with the Garland County Historical Society and the many volunteers and staff who work to document, preserve and share the amazing history of this part of the state.
CloseWayne Threadgill
Wayne Threadgill is a 1970 graduate of Hot Springs High School. He attended the University of Maryland while in the military. Wayne had a career in industry prior to entering the field of software consulting with Ernst & Young LLP. He gained certification in the software SAP and Oracle Business Solutions. Wayne additionally trained as well as wrote documentation for many of the largest companies in the United States. He is the author of Gambling In the Spa one of the most complete and accurate works on illegal gambling in Hot Springs.
CloseWayne Threadgill
Wayne Threadgill is a 1970 graduate of Hot Springs High School. He attended the University of Maryland while in the military. Wayne had a career in industry prior to entering the field of software consulting with Ernst & Young LLP. He gained certification in the software SAP and Oracle Business Solutions. Wayne additionally trained as well as wrote documentation for many of the largest companies in the United States. He is the author of Gambling In the Spa one of the most complete and accurate works on illegal gambling in Hot Springs.
CloseToma Dee Noble Whitlock
Toma Dee Noble Whitlock is a native of Hot Springs and has volunteered with GCHS since 2018. She attended Ramble Elementary, Central Junior High, Hot Springs High School and is a graduate of Henderson State University. During her career, Toma worked with teenagers in the areas of child welfare, juvenile corrections and mental health services. Additionally, she worked in management information and application development in Little Rock and Pine Bluff. Toma returned to Hot Springs in 2002 and retired in 2012.
CloseLiz Robbins
Executive Director Liz Robbins is a native of Hot Springs, Arkansas. She graduated from the University of Arkansas with a BSE in Education and from New Mexico Highlands University with an MA in English and history. Liz taught English for thirty-seven years, the last twenty-six at Lakeside High School in Hot Springs. Since 2007, Liz has been the executive director of the Garland County Historical Society, and she is the editor of its yearly journal, The Record. She is a past board member of the Arkansas State Archives.
CloseKyle Clem
Kyle Clem holds an MBA from the UALR and works at one of Hot Springs’ oldest businesses, his family-owned Peters Flooring. He has served on numerous boards, including the Chamber of Commerce, Mid America Science Museum Development and Hot Springs Young Professionals and currently, the Cooperative Christians Ministries and Clinic board as well as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Executive Board.
CloseRon Fuller
Ron Fuller is a former officer of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Reserves. He served three-terms on the Arkansas House of Representatives and currently owns a Little Rock public relations firm. Since 2018, he has served on the board of the Arkansas History Commission, now the Arkansas State Archives. He also chairs the Arkansas MacArthur Military Museum Heritage Board.
CloseJohn Hoefl
John Hoefl is a financial professional with Aspire Wealth Builders. He is a member of the Hot Springs Civitans and Rotary clubs, and various advisory boards. He regularly attends industry training, certification programs and is a featured speaker in Little Rock, Hot Springs, and Southwest Arkansas.
CloseMinnie Lenox
Minnie Lenox attended Langston High, Hot Springs High School, Indiana University and Henderson State University. She worked for the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and the Advertising & Promotion Commission, and from 2004 has served as the Director of Human Resources for the City of Hot Springs. Lenox will reign as Queen of the Hot Springs’ 2023 World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
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