Officers
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President: Mike Harlan
1321 Leighton Circle
Louisville, KY 40222
Bio
Mike is the most recent addition to the Board, elected in June, 2019 after participating in two of the reunion planning sessions and Board meetings.
Mike's first encounter with family history was when his Dad took him to a Harlan mini-reunion in Houma, LA in 1979, where he was fascinated by a family Bible from his GGGF John Harland (#6828), who was born in KY but settled in LA. He went with his Dad to the Harlan 300 th Reunion in Philadelphia/Wilmington in 1987 and has been the family genealogist since then. Mike, his 3 children, one of his brothers, and one of his nephews attended the 2017 330th Celebration in Philadelphia. Mike is working on getting an even better turnout in Lexington in 2022!
Mike has lived many places but now calls Louisville, KY home. He is a business leader and has been CEO, President, etc. of several companies. He and his wife Sarah have 2 daughters and a son, who live in New York, Washington, and Los Angeles. He is an active Scouting leader.
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Vice-President: Nancy Harlan Gooding
4478 Tea Olive Dr.
Evans, GA 30809
Bio
Nancy Harlan Gooding joined the board in 2014. She never stood a chance in not being interested in family history as her father; John Robert Harlan (Georgia) served as the treasurer for the Harlan Family in America from its inception until the San Antonio reunion in 2012 (25 years). She has attended every reunion since 1987. Her father John was an enthusiastic board member and is the cousin responsible for the reprint of Alpheus Harlan’s book, fondly known at home as "the green book". She can trace her ancestry back to George Harlan and she has enjoyed several trips to England and Northern Ireland tracing our heritage with the Harlan and Hollingsworth families.
Nancy has a BA in Sociology and a BS in nursing. She has been working in the field of cardiology since 1990. She enjoys singing with the praise band at her church, traveling, reading, cooking and spending time with family, especially at the family farm. She and her husband Bill were married for 30 years before he passed away and she has 2 sons, 2 wonderful daughter-in-laws and 3 grandchildren. She is the co-chair of the 2022 Lexington reunion.
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Secretary: Gerry Lundgren Harlan
2517 - 190th
Stanton, IA 51573
Bio
Gerry Harlan Lundgren was born in upstate New York where she lived until age 16 with her parents, a brother, and a sister. After her parents died in a car accident, her father's brother and his wife finished raising Gerry and her sister. She was fortunate to have the chance to live with such a loving and stable family at a difficult time in her life. She was also fortunate to live on the family farm in the hills of Tennessee, which is an area full of family history.
This was the beginning of Gerry's fascination with her Harlan heritage. She enjoyed working with children and families in rural Iowa for over 30 years. Gerry retired in 2013 and has enjoyed spending more time with community activities, camping, hiking, riding horses, and reading. Gerry has enjoyed her work on the Harlan Family in America board and has attended and helped with reunions beginning with the Mt. Pleasant, Iowa reunion in 1997.
Gerry and her husband Dan have a daughter Christine and son-in-law Beau who live in Tokyo, Japan. Gerry and Dan live and farm in southwest Iowa where Dan grew up.
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Treasurer: Robert A. Harlan
326 Firestone Road
Greensburg, PA 15601
Bio
Bob has been a board member for The Harlan Family in America since 1999. He served as co-coordinator for the national Harlan reunion held in Brandywine Valley, in 2002. He was born and raised in Columbus. After graduating in 1966 with a BA degree from Central Methodist College in Fayette, Mo., he taught and coached at a junior high school in Ohio. He joined the U.S. Army in 1969 and spent the next twenty years at various assignments around the world, including two tours in Germany and one in Vietnam. He and his family flew from Germany to attend the 1987 national Harlan reunion in Delaware. After retiring he worked for the U. S. Post Office for several years and has been active with the National Ski Patrol. Today he enjoys his life as a grandfather and cares for numerous animals on their farm. Bob lives with his wife, Cindy, in Greensburg Pa. They have three children: Becky Shavel of Pennsylvania, who was Hospitality Chairman at the 2002 national Harlan reunion; Scott of Wisconsin; and Elizabeth of Virginia. They have two grandchildren, Nicholas and Julia Shavel.
Board of Directors
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Pat Fluetsch
(CA)
Bio
Pat Harrison Fluetsch became involved with the Harlan Family Board in 2003 when she attended a planning meeting for the 2007 Reunion in Reno, Nevada. Pat ended up co-chairing Reunion 320 and became a board member in 2007. Through the urging of other board members and with the suppport of her husband, Mike, who passed away in 2013, Pat accepted the Presidency of our Association in 2012.
Pat has been interested in her Harlan family history since fourth grade when she heard stories from her Grandfather Leroy Harlan, about his father Elisha crossing the country as a 4 year old boy in the Harlan wagon train lead by her great, great grandfather George Harlan. She is proud to be in the fifth generation of "The Harlan Family in California." Pat spent over 32 years teaching young children. She also mentored new teachers and gave presaentaions on effective teaching strategies to teachers locally, statewide and nationally. In 1993 she was named her school district's teacher of the year.
Pat enjoys spending time with her family. Her son Chris, his wife Erika and their children Helen and Clara live in Davis, Ca. Her daughter Sarah, her husband Ed and their sons Edward and Keegan live in Stockton, CA. She loves to travel, spend time with friends, and volunteer in her community.
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Fred J. Harlan
(PA)
Bio
Fred has been interested in Harlan history since a young age having been introduced to it by his grandfather David Franklin Harlan, who was raised in the western Pa. village of Harlansburg. David had a taped together paper family tree that took up most of the room when rolled out. Fred remembers many times studying that document.
With Jim and Sue Harlan, his uncle and aunt, already involved with the Harlan Family in America, Fred volunteered to take over maintaining the Harlan Family genealogy database from Ester Wells in 2006. The first reunion Fred attended was the 2007 Reno reunion, while many of his immediate family attended Reunion 300 in 1987. Being encouraged by Junior Harlan, Fred joined the Board in 2011. Fred currently helps as the website coordinator and still maintains the genealogy database.
After 40 years working at an electrical generating station Fred retired and started a new career supporting some software he learned at the power plant. He is extensively involved with the First Church of God in New Castle, Pa. and spends lots of time with his grandchildren, much of that at a court, a ballfield or camping in the mountains of Pennsylvania.
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Robert R. Harlan
(CA)
Bio
Robert R. (Bob) Harlan is a native Californian and is the son of the late Ridge Harlan, who is a Board Member Emeritus. Ridge had served as a founding member and President during the 1990's.
Bob attended the first reunion (actually number 300) in 1987 in Delaware and when Ridge stepped down from his President's position in 1998, Bob stepped in and served in that position until 2012. He continues to be an active board member today.
Bob graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from The University of Missouri-Columbia in 1977 and spent his career in managing and later owning radio stations. In 2014, he switched careers and became Executive Director of Yuba-Sutter-Colusa United Way in Yuba City, California.
Bob married his wife, Robyn, in 1976 and they have one son, Scott, who lives with his wife in Southern California, where he is an attorney.
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R. Scott Harlan
(CA)
Bio
Scott is the son of former Harlan Family in America President and current Board Member Robert “Bob” Ridge Harlan and his wife Robyn Harlan. He is the grandson of former Harlan Family in America President and Co-Founding Member Ridge Latimer Harlan. Scott lives in Irvine California with his loving and much more competent and capable attorney wife, Tiffany Wang Harlan, along with their Chinese Shar-Pei Barry Harlan. He has attended 5 family reunions to date. He is a Libra, born Year of the Dragon 1988.
Scott is a business and general civil litigation attorney practicing throughout California, out of his office in Orange County. He previously worked as an attorney for two insurance defense law firms where he represented numerous Fortune 100/500 companies and many more businesses and individual clients. He also worked at a private criminal defense law office in Laguna Hills, California as a Certified Law Clerk. Before attending law school, Mr. Harlan gained valuable experience as a Congressional Law Clerk for Congressman Wally Herger, a 13-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives, in his District 2, Chico, California office.
Scott grew up in Yuba City, California. He loves sports and is a dedicated Giants, 49ers, Warriors and Sharks fan. He obtained his Juris Doctorate degree from Western State College of Law in Orange County, California, and attended Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana where he graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Political Science and a minor in Civic Leadership. Mr. Harlan was a member of the NCAA Division-I baseball team during his time as an Indiana State Sycamore.
Scott is excited to join the Board with a goal to represent the younger generation of Harlans. He hopes to carry on the unique and incredible Harlan family history and increase participation with generations of Harlans to come.
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Tony Harlan
(PA)
Bio
Tony Harlan became a board member in 2022. Tony's brother, Tim Harlan, introduced him to Harlan genealogy in the 1990's. Tim was able to trace their ancestry back to George #3. Many interesting stories and facts came out of that research such as, cousins captured by Indians, a cousin who died on Lake Erie during the war of 1812 and the Studebaker connection. Tony and his wife Debby attended the 2017 reunion in Philadelphia where they learned of a pending family heritage trip to England and Northern Ireland. They joined their cousins in 2018 and were able to trace some of the footsteps their ancestors took prior to arriving in America in 1687. A highlight of the trip was standing in St Peters Church (dates back to 674AD) where George#3 was baptized.
Tony and Debby were on the Lexington planning committee and provided all of the advertising and promotional products for the 2022 reunion.
Tony and Debby reside in Lewis Run, PA, a small town in Northwestern PA. Tony worked in the Oil and Gas industry for 39 years, conducting drilling projects worldwide. He retired as a Vice President of Drilling for an independent oil and gas company in 2019. Tony and Debby are members of Saint Bernard’s in Bradford PA. They enjoy traveling, hiking, biking, fishing, cooking, golfing and, spending time with their children and family.
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H. Edgar Hill
(KY)
Bio
Ed was elected to the Board in June 2022 after participating in two of the reunion planning sessions and Board meetings.
Ed’s Harlan connection is his grandmother, Bernice Harlan Hill, who died before he was born. However, Bernice had a younger sister, Juanita Harlan Cox, who lived to the age of 93 and inspired Ed to learn more about his Harlan family. Ed’s dad, also Ed Hill, always kept up with extended family, including Harlan extended cousins.
Ed grew up near Louisville, in Henry County. He is an attorney and CPA and recently retired after 31+ years as an attorney for Mercer (US), Inc. He and his wife Karen have a daughter, who lives in Jeffersontown, Kentucky, a son and daughter-in-law, who live in Lexington, Kentucky, a four-year old grandson, and a grandson on the way. He volunteers for two botanical gardens and is an officer for the Louisville Chapter of Sons of the American Revolution.
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Debbie Hines
(CA)
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Mary Harlan Murphy
(PA)
Bio
Mary’s paternal grandparents were both descendants of George Harlan. Her grandfather gathered much of the Chester County information on the early Harlans from County and Friends Meeting records and sent them to Alpheus Harlan for inclusion in the "Green Book". So, to her, genealogy has been a life-long interest.
Mary was born in Pennsylvania and his lived in the area where the first Harlans settled all her life. After receiving a BA from Rosemont College and an MA from Villanova University , she taught Mathematics for 11 years before changing careers, going to Medical School and then practicing Emergency Medicine until retirement. Her husband, William Murphy, died after 40 years of wonderful marriage. Besides genealogy, Mary’s interests include travel, reading, cooking and involvement with her church community.
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Dorothy Harlan Sperry
(IA)
Bio
Dorothy Harlan Sperry came on the Board in 2011. Dorothy’s father, James Udell Harlan, was born near and raised in Salisbury, MO. After WWII, he moved the family from St. Louis, MO to Clarinda, IA, where Dorothy was born and grew up. She graduated from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, with a B.S. in Institution Management—School Food Service. As a Registered Licensed Dietitian, she worked as a Consultant Dietitian in small hospitals and long term care centers, had a private practice with a fellow dietitian, taught at two community colleges, and was a therapeutic dietitian in a medium security men’s prison.
Dorothy has always had a strong interest in food and cooking, and her first duty with the Harlan Family organization was to plan and coordinate the meals for the national reunion held in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa in 1997. She has also compiled/edited both editions of the Harlan Family Favorite Recipes cookbooks. Dorothy and her husband, Bob, live in Ames and Bob is a retired civil engineer. They have two grown sons, a daughter, and 4 granddaughters, ranging in age from 8 months to 13 years. In her free time, Dorothy enjoys reading, quilting, playing bridge, cooking for company, and spending time with her grandchildren.
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Robert C. Walters
(PA)
Bio
Bob Walters became a board member in 2020. Bob's mother, Louise Myers Harlan, descendent of Michael Harlan, was born in Stanton, DE, not far from where George and Michael originally settled. Although Louise was aware of the history of the Harlans in the U.S., she never had the opportunity to attend a national reunion. Unfortunate, because she would have loved to meet and come to know her many Harlan cousins. Bob attended the 2002 reunion with his family in Wilmington, DE which motivated him to learn more of the family history. Bob and his wife Denise joined the Harlan Tour of England and Northern Ireland in 2018 and count it among their best and most memorable trips.
Bob and Denise reside in Blue Bell, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia. Bob worked for IQVIA, formerly IMS Health, for over 25 years, primarily in program and project management for product development. Denise works as a Data Base Administrator for Cerner. He and Denise are heavily involved in their church, First Presbyterian of Ambler and volunteer for several other local non-profits. They enjoy traveling, hiking, museums and especially, spending time with their adult children and other family.
Board Member Emeritus
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Junior Harlan
(AZ)
Bio
Junior became involved with the Harlan Family in America Association by attending the 300th national reunion in Delaware. After taking several Harlan trips, he became co-coordinator for the 315th national reunion in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. At that event he was elected a member of the board, and later became Vice President and stepped down from that position at the San Antonio national reunion, but remained on the board until May, 2015. He had also served as Genealogy Director and Website coordinator.
He was born July, 1936, at Peoria, Ill., a son of Harold and Mildred Hunkler Harlan. After high school, he graduated from Browns Peoria School of Business, majoring in business management. He was employed by Caterpillar Inc., retiring after 40 years of service in 1996 and moved to Scottsdale, Ariz. For most of his years at Caterpillar, he worked in Information Services. He had been active in Boy Scouts, serving as Cub Master.
Junior married Dorothy McLaughlin in August, 1959, in Chillicothe, Ill., and they have two sons, David Harlan of Ariz. and Steven Harlan of Colo.
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Tom Harlan
(WA)
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C. J. King
(VT)
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Liz Harlan Sly
(VA)
Board Member Eternal
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Dan Harlan
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John R. Harlan
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Ridge Harlan
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Virginia Harlan Hess
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Ruth Harlan Lamb