Biographies of the Officers President Michael R. Hawley Line of Decent: Joseph-Samuel-Ephraim-Jehiel-Jeptha-Sheldon-Johnson-Sheldon Stoughton-Thomas Frederick-Wilmont Ray-Rochard Michael was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and has lived in San Francisco, New York andChicago. A lifelong merchant, he is currently Vice President and General Manager of Saks Fifth Avenue in Chicago. His passions include fashion, interior design, and genealogy. He also enjoys traveling and loves animals. He shares his home with a high spirited Cornish Rex named Amarilla. She was named for a daughter of Jeptha Hawley, Amarilla Hawley McCay, Sheldon's sister, who was one of his fourth Great Grandmothers. His interest in genealogy began early in life, having known two of his maternal Great Grandmothers. Listening to their stories of the family led to his interest in learning more. He finds it fascinating to learn history from the more personal perspective, of why they did what they did, and to discover who they were. Grateful to the researchers who preceded him, including Elias Sill Hawley, whose work opens avenues for further research, he is committed to furthering the research for all those in the future who will come after us. Michael was elected President of the Society of the Hawley Family in 2007. He is a member of Fashion Group International and was included in the 2007 edition of Who's Who. He has applied for membership in the United Empire Loyalists Association of Canada to honor his Loyalist ancestors, Jeptha, Sheldon, and Johnson Hawley. Secretary Paul V. Hawley Line of Decent: Joseph-Samuel-Capt. Joseph-Ebenezer-Ichabod-Salma-Salma B-Ward-Garth One of six siblings, Paul grew up in Birmingham, Michigan, near Detroit. After an unsuccessful year at Northern Michigan University, he volunteered for the Army and served in Vietnam. He retired from the Army due to injuries he incurred in Vietnam. Paul married Trudy in 1984, while enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He majored in history and minored in journalism. Paul and Trudy love travel, especially to explore their ancestral roots. Joining The Hawley Society in 1999, they have enjoyed the memorable annual reunions and met many new Hawley cousins and friends. On one jaunt, Paul and Trudy reversed the path of his Hawley ancestors, from Kent County, MI, to Erie and Saratoga Counties, NY, in search of the grave of Paul's Revolutionary Patriot forefather Ichabod Hawley at Reynolds Corners, NY, a four-way stop near Glens Falls. After several passes through the intersection, they spied a large grave marker among the trees. Hurrah! Unfortunately, tall brush and small trees hid the tombstones. With poison ivy and bugs everywhere, Trudy voted to abandon ship, but Paul plunged forward with his camera and stomped around until he found Ichabod's grave amid other family markers, still in good condition. Since then, someone has performed a Random Act of Genealogical Kindness and cleaned up this cemetery. Paul enjoys research, especially when he learns how and where any Hawley fits in the context of American history. An old Carnegie Library is a treasury of knowledge. He likes books, and collects first editions of his favorite authors. But technology is a challenge. His trusty electric typewriter works just fine. On a computer, he can get the red queen on the black king. And if you see a microfilm roll unraveling across the floor at some historical society, think of Paul – that's his trademark. The Hawley Society elected Paul as secretary at the 2007 reunion, much to his surprise. Paul has also participated in the Hawley DNA project, which confirms his relationship to other descendants of Joseph listed in The Hawley Record.