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First Convention Adv

History of the NDGA Organization

The following is the history of the National Depression Glass Association as taken from past issues of the News & Views newsletter.

In the summer of 1974, after much planning, three meetings were held:

St. Louis, MO - June 14-15, 1974
Atlanta, GA - July 27-28, 1974
Euless, TX - August 10-11, 1974

The St. Louis organizational meeting was planned by the Ozark Depression Glass Club and was chaired by the Rev. Leslie Wolfe. During the meeting, the name "National Depression Glass Association" was selected, and officers and Board members were elected. The decision was made to hold an annual meeting in July, but no arrangements were made at that time. The founding Board Members were:

Tammy Brooks - Oklahoma Ellis Powell - Louisiana Melba Fry - Missouri
Betsy Knight - Illinois Charles Smith - Maryland Fern Angus - Missouri
Iris Slayton - Texas Jim Leffler - Illinois Joyce Mefford - Illinois
Luther Kolstead - Michigan Pat McGrain - Missouri  

The next meeting, July 27-28 in Atlanta was also fruitful. The organization selected Washington D.C. as the site of the first annual Convention, sponsored by the Southern Depression Glass Collectors Club and co-sponsored by the Del-Mar-Va Club. Nora Koch was selected as General Manager of the Convention and Chuck Smith was picked as Show Manager.

The third meeting, in Euless, TX, was an open meeting for all members. The site of Washington, D.C., was ratified and plans were set in place for a newsletter, membership cards and a copy of the By-Laws to be sent to each member.

It wasn't until 1999 that the National Glass Collection was started, and it quickly grew to over 1,000 pieces of glass, plus paper goods and even some etching plates through the generousity of members. It has continued to grow through donations and selective acquisitions. The goal of the organization was to eventually acquire a museum to house the collection. That goal was realized with the grand opening of the National Glass Museum in Wellington Kansas in May 2012.

The following table lists the four major office holders of the NDGA from the first year through the current year. These people gave of their time to serve in this all-volunteer organization, and deserve recognition from all of us.

Term President Vice President Secretary Treasurer
1974-75 Tammy Brooks Ellis Powell Melba Frye Melba Frye
1975-76 Patrick McGrain John Knowles Vera Redmond Jan Leffler
1976-77 Chuck Smith Mark Nye Madge Klein Fern Angus
1977-78 Mark Nye H.T. Norris Rosemary Triplett Fern Angus
1978-79 Gene Loveland Larry Turner Helen Allen Fern Angus
1979-80 Gene Loveland Dorothy Leffler Norma Rehl Fern Angus
1980-81 Dorothy Leffler Mark Schliesmann Michael Shue Fern Angus
1981-82 Dorothy Leffler Beverly Hines Michael Shue Fern Angus
1982-83 Dorothy Leffler Beverly Hines Marty Harty Fern Angus
1983-84 LeRoy C. Sanders Jo Ann Schliesmann Georgeann Hemry Peggy Scott
1984-85 Jo Ann Schliesmann Gene Loveland Deb Pugliese Peggy Scott
1985-86 Jo Ann Schliesmann Gene Loveland Deb Pugliese Peggy Scott
1986-87 Peggy Scott Bill Smith Sandi Boone Dick Spencer
1987-88 Peggy Scott Bill Smith Anita Wood Dick Spencer
1988-89 Jo Ann Schliesmann Dan Kramer Pat Rose Peggy Scott
1989-90 Jo Ann Schliesmann Dan Kramer Pat Rose Peggy Scott
1990-91 Anita Wood Dick Spencer Marilyn Loveland Peggy Scott
1991-92 Anita Wood Dick Spencer Marilyn Loveland Peggy Scott
1992-93 Anita Wood Robert McGinnis Marilyn Loveland Peggy Scott
1993-94 Anita Wood
Jim Garrison
Robert McGinnis Carol McEwen Peggy Scott
1994-95 Jim Garrison Linda Gordy Carol McEwen Aleta Herr
1995-96 Jim Garrison Linda Gordy Carol McEwen Aleta Herr
1996-97 Jim Garrison Linda Gordy Carol McEwen Aleta Herr
1997-98 Jeff Settell Linda Gordy Carol McEwen Aleta Herr
1998-99 Jeff Settell Joyce Nichols Carol McEwen Aleta Herr
1999-00 Kent Washburn Joyce Nichols Carol McEwen Aleta Herr
2000-01 Kent Washburn Joyce Nichols Carol McEwen Aleta Herr
J.R. Johnston
2001-02 Kent Washburn Rogene Clements Carol McEwen J.R. Johnston
2002-03 Kent Washburn Rogene Clements Carol McEwen J.R. Johnston
2003-04 Kent Washburn Rogene Clements Carol McEwen J.R. Johnston
Melanie Hildreth
2004-05 Kent Washburn Rogene Clements Carol McEwen Melanie Hildreth
2005-06 Kent Washburn Rogene Clements Carol McEwen Melanie Hildreth
2006-07 Kent Washburn Jim Rose
Bert Kennedy
Carol McEwen Robert Henicksman
2007-08 Kent Washburn Bert Kennedy Carol McEwen Robert Henicksman
2008-09 Kent Washburn Ed Staley Carol McEwen Robert Henicksman
2009-10 Kent Washburn Ed Staley Carol McEwen Robert Henicksman
2010-11 Kent Washburn
Linda Bredengerd
(Pro Tem) as of Feb 2011
Linda Bredengerd Carol McEwen Robert Henicksman
2011-12 Danny Cornelius Linda Bredengerd Carol McEwen Robert Henicksman
2012-13 Danny Cornelius Linda Bredengerd Carol McEwen Robert Henicksman
2013-14 Danny Cornelius Linda Bredengerd Carol McEwen Robert Henicksman
2014-15 Danny Cornelius Linda Bredengerd Carol McEwen Robert Henicksman
2015-16 Danny Cornelius Pam Meyer Linda Bredengerd
Betty Buersmeyer as of Jan 2016
Robert Henicksman
2016-17 Danny Cornelius Pam Meyer Betty Buersmeyer Robert Henicksman
2017-18 Pam Meyer John Fields
Jane Schleinzer as of Dec 2017
Betty Buersmeyer Robert Henicksman
2018-19 Pam Meyer Trudy Norman as of 8/21/2018 Betty Buersmeyer Robert Henicksman
2019-20 Pam Meyer Trudy Norman Betty Buersmeyer Karyn Hilliard
2020-21 Pam Meyer Trudy Norman Betty Buersmeyer Scott Pierce
2021-22 Pam Meyer Trudy Norman Betty Buersmeyer Scott Pierce
2022-23 Pam Meyer David Hollingshead Betty Buersmeyer Scott Pierce
2023-24 Danny Cornelius David Hollingshead Andrea Henne Scott Pierce
2024-25 Danny Cornelius David Hollingshead Andrea Henne Scott Pierce