Presenters - 2027
Speakers are subject to change
Randall Soland
Randy grew up in Nauvoo. Recently, he and his wife Jody returned to Nauvoo for their retirement years. Randy has multiple graduate degrees in Psychology, Counseling and History. He has been a full time private counselor for 42 years. He works with a variety of mental health issues. In addition, he is part-time college instructor teaching psychology, history and film. He is the author of the book, "Utopian Communities of Illinois-Heaven on the Prairie."
Lester Ramsey
I grew up playing with my toy John Deere tractor in the grape vineyards of Nauvoo while mom pruned grapes in the spring and picked grapes in late August or early September. Mom also worked in the Nauvoo Grape Growers Association Warehouse that was a block and half west of our house on Parley Street. And come late May, just as school was ending for the year, there were always jobs picking strawberries for us kids from the Flat. I attended Nauvoo Grade School and graduated from Nauvoo-Colusa High School. From there it was on to Western Illinois University and a 47-year career as a high school teacher of mathematics, physics, and Spanish. My wife and I have written over 160 short stories. Some of these stories include our parents, our childhood years, our da ting years, our marriage and honeymoon, our parenting years, our teaching years, and our many answered prayers. Some of our stories have been shared with our school students, in sermons with our church members, and at least half a dozen stories have been published.
Alan Moberly
Alan Moberly is a Kansas native who has lived in Nauvoo since 2017 and considers Nauvoo his home. In 2018 he became a Correspondent for the Hancock County Journal-Pilot and has written over 700 newspaper articles.
Lisa & Denny Gillespie, and Maralyn Candido
Denny Gillespie's Biography: Son-in-law of Dean Gabbert and fellow river child. Retired dentist from Ottumwa, IA and husband of Lisa Gabbert Gillespie. Lisa Gabbert Gillespie's Biography: I'm Dean Gabbert's youngest child who shares the same view of the Mississippi River since Denny & I had bought Mom & Dad's home. I witnessed my Dad's journey through Fairfield and Nauvoo experiences and friendships along with accomplishments.
Dane Chapman
Dane M. Chapman, MD, PhD obtained his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School and PhD in Education from Brigham Young University in 1985. He then pursued residency training in the new specialty of Emergency Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences in Denver, CO, before embarking on a 25 year academic career including nearly a decade at the Barnes-Jewish, St. Louis Children's Hospitals, and Washington University in St Louis. In 2013, he became board certified in Integrative Medicine and has been atempting to integrate traditional and alternative medicine ever since.
Dr. John Turner
John Turner is a professor of Religious Studies and History at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. John has written several books: Rise and Fall of an American Prophet [Joseph Smith], They Knew They Were Pilgrims: Plymouth Colony and the Contest for American Liberty, The Mormon Jesus: A Biography. The place of Jesus Christ in Latter-day Saint thought, artwork, and spirituality, Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet. A prophet, colonizer, and politician who led his people to the Great Basin and several others.
Bill Furry
William "Bill" Furry is executive director emeritus of the Illinois State Historical Society, from which he retired on June 1st of this year. He was editor of Illinois Heritage magazine and associate editor of the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society for 25 years, and editor of Illinois Times from 1994-2001. He is a veteran of the United States Navy, and has a masters degree in English from the University of Illinois. He is married to Paula Pugh Romanaux, organist and director of music ministries at St. Paul the Apostle Episcopal Cathedral in Springfield. Together they are parents of three adult children, and two cats. The couple and cats reside in Petersburg.
Pat Hallman
Pat Hallman is just another old man with a story to tell.
John McCarty
Lifelong resident of Nauvoo. Attended Nauvoo Public Grade School and then Nauvoo-Colusa Jr. & Sr. High. After graduating in 1978 I entered into the working world for 5 years at the Nauvoo Cheese Company before going fulltime with my T shirt and sign business Outlaw Tees. I married Connie (Hopp) Haas in 1996 and became an instant father of 4 children and we added a fifth child in 1997. Owned and operated a T shirt business for 38 years and have been doing signs since 1972.
Rita Souther
One of Rita’s earliest childhood memories was of pickup truck rides to the Roscoe Cemetery to watch her mother and neighbors clean up the cemetery where her grandparents were buried in Missouri. The Southers moved to Roseville, Illinois in 1956, and was soon introduced to the magic of Nauvoo. She became fascinated with genealogy at age 13 when her mother and cousin talked about researching their family. She has a BA Archaeology, but that early interest in genealogy developed into 35-year career as a professional a genealogist: first, at the Daughters of the American Revolution followed by almost 25 at the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington, DC. She retired to Nauvoo in February 2017, and got involved with the Nauvoo Historical Society, where she now serves as its president.
Mike Wiant
Schooled and trained in anthropology and archaeology at Illinois State and Northwestern universities (B.S. and M.S. at ISU; M.A. and Ph.D. at NU), Michael Wiant spent most of his career exploring Indigenous history in the Midwest, particularly in the Illinois River valley. In 1982, he began a 35-year career at the Illinois State Museum, serving as Curator of Anthropology (1983-2002), Director of the Illinois State Museum—Dickson Mounds (2003-2015), and Interim Director of the Illinois State Museum (2015-2017). His research interests include the development of Native American culture, landscape history, and, more recently, the profound changes to Native American life from the 17th through the 19th centuries.
Rebecca Willamson
Rebecca is a single working mother. In her spare time she does genealogy, sews, quilts and gardens. She owns The Cambre House and Farm outside of Nauvoo, IL. It is an event venue, available for weddings and other events. The Cambre House also hosts events like painting nights, ghost tours and open houses during the summer. She is presently the Nauvoo Tourism director.
Larry Nicholl
Larry Nicholl - a Nauvoo resident who is interested in Nauvoo's history.
Miranda Bailey-Peetz
2024-Present Illinois State Historical Society Springfield, IL Communications Director, in 2016-2023 Private Nanny, from 2010-2016 Calvary Temple Christian Center Springfield, IL, Preschool Teacher, from 2007-2009 St. John’s Lutheran Church Springfield, IL Director of Communications. Volunteer experience 2022-2024 Illinois State Historical Society Springfield, IL Social Media Relations and 2022- Present St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee Springfield, IL Media Relations.
Dr. Paula Pugh Romanaux
Paula Pugh Romanaux, International Concert Organist, is the Cathedral Organist and Director of Music Ministries at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral in Springfield, Il. Dr. Romanaux holds degrees from the Royal Academy of Church Music, London UK and The University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, Austria and MacMurray College, Illinois. Former professor of music at Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI for 25 years and Western Michigan University, Dr. Romanaux has widely performed and taught throughout England, Europe and North America. She is also known as a choral director and her choirs have performed widely in Cathedrals in the United Kingdom and served as summer residencies in throughout England, Oxford and St. Andrew's University, Scotland.