The Nominating and Governance Committee has resolved to establish the position of Distinguished Trustee as a part of the governance structure of our Museum.
This distinction is intended to apply to that relatively small number of very exceptional trustees who have served the Museum with unusual distinction over a substantial period of time, and have also made contributions of unusual merit, importance and/or value to the Museum. The purpose of conferring this honor is to create a position of distinction that is both rare and scarce.
Besides being an honor, the Distinguished Trustee specifically exempts this Trustee from normal participation requirements. A Distinguished Trustee may engage himself or herself in such activities at the Museum that are particularly important or in which he or she can make a particular contribution, while not having to attend other meetings and activities, or the fiduciary responsibility of voting.
- The election of a Distinguished Trustee will be based on a recommendation by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee, or the Executive Director made to the Nominating and Governance Committee.
- If the Nominating and Governance Committee acts favorably on the recommendation, it would then be sent to the Board for action.
- A Distinguished Trustee appointment can only be created by a super majority of 80% of the Board of Trustees.
- The term will be in perpetuity.
- Committee assignments would be handled in the usual and customary manner.
- The Distinguished Trustee will be exempt from all attendance requirements.
- Removal would require an action by the Board for cause by a super majority of 80%.
Distinguished Trustees
Class of 2025: Harold Johnson, Paul Regan Jr., Edward C. McNally, R. Ian Tatlock, Anthony S. Mollica Jr.
Class of 2010: Cleveland E Dodge Jr., Norton Dodge, Charles Darwin Snelling
Class of 2007: Bolling Haxall, Tony Lewis, Andy McNally, Robert Cox
Class of 2025
Harold Johnson (posthumous) served 39 years from 1983-2024. Harold was a long-time dedicated and loyal member of the Governing Board at the Antique Boat Museum for nearly 40 years. He served as Chairman on multiple occasions and was a steadfast supporter of the museum from its infancy to its world-renowned status today. He guided us through many perilous periods and has always been a trusted source of good advice. His community service was well known and made his involvement with the ABM that much more valuable. He was a rare and important member of the community at large, the ABM in particular as well as being a person strongly committed to family and friends. Always a leader, Harold and family run Watertown Daily Times provided the Annual Boat Show Program for decades until it recently was converted to a digital format. Harold has left an indelible mark and helped to shape the Antique Boat Museum in ways beyond measure.
Paul Regan Jr. served as a Trustee of the Board for 16 years from 2008-2024 and has been a Friend of the Museum since 1995. One of Paul’s largest contributions during his years of service to the Board was chairing the Human Resources Committee. With an MBA from Cornell University, Paul worked for Corning Inc. for 32 years and Corning Canada Ltd. as Director for 10 years; Paul was elected Corporate Vice-President (1983) and Corporate Senior Vice-President (1986) – both roles with worldwide responsibility. During his tenure as Trustee, the Paul Regan Fund was formed in 2011 to provide monies directed toward special needs in areas of education and professional development. Paul championed the cause of providing recognition to the paid staff, from seasonal employees to professional roles. He often reiterated that, despite being a museum with a priceless collection, the staff team was the Museum’s most valuable asset. Paul and his wife Susie live in Gananoque, Ontario. Paul’s board service also includes the Thousand Islands Boat Museum as well as others on both sides of the border.
Edward (Teddy) C. McNally served 9 years from 2006-2015 and has been a Friend of the Museum since 1995. During his time at ABM he was Chair of Board and on the Advancement, N&G and Steering Committee. He also served as Chair of the Campaign Steering Committee for the Comprehensive Campaign in 2004 and was a benefactor towards the restoration of Pardon Me. A lifelong summer resident on Wellesley Island, Teddy was instrumental in the planning, construction and endowment to provide maintenance of the McNally Yacht House. He and his wife, Peggy, have generously hosted numerous events on behalf of ABM on Wellesley Island, Naples Florida and LaDuchesse. Teddy is a retired Banking Executive and Officer of Rand McNally and has volunteered on the Board for Save The River and the Thousand Islands Safe Boating Association.
Ian Tatlock served 27 years from 1992 – 2019 and has been a Friend of the Museum since the start of the program in 1995. Ian served as Chair of the Museum’s Finance Committee for several years. Ian’s professional career as a Chief Financial Officer and real estate developer in Rochester, New York, lent itself to the needed financial oversight of this emerging world-class museum. Ian was instrumental during the museum’s most significant growth period. He headed the Building Committee during the construction of the Elizabeth & Bolling Haxall Building and was highly involved in the construction of the McNally Yacht House. Ian applied his financial and real estate prowess to guide the development of the Museum’s 4.5-acre waterfront campus, which today welcomes visitors from around the world. Ian and his wife Eve reside on the River in the summer months.
Anthony S. Mollica, Jr. served as an Antique Boat Museum Trustee for 34 years from 1982-2016 and has been a Friend of the Museum since 1995. Tony held the post as Chair of the Collections Committee for many years, overseeing the Museum’s collections policies and procedures. After publishing several successful books on the subject of wooden production boats, with Gar Wood being his first, he began donating his lifetime of research to ABM’s library and archives. The archival collection included items ranging from original correspondence between Gar Wood and his famous clients to the copyright of his published works. Tony’s independent work fully aligned with the Museum’s mission as both celebrate the history of freshwater recreational boating. Tony’s model-making efforts provided the design for the pewter half hull currently presented to the new Friends of the Museum. Tony’s passion for the boating history and his shared research earned him a place in the Antique Boat Museum’s Hall of Fame, as it launched in 2019. Tony currently resides in Syracuse and carries his passion for boating, research, and modelmaking with him in his thoughts daily.
Class of 2010
Cleveland E. Dodge, Jr. served the Antique Boat Museum for nearly nineteen years as Trustee from 1979 until 1997. During that time Clee was instrumental in raising funds for the Cleveland E. Dodge Launch Building and the Pauline Morgan Skiff House, both of which are named in memory of his parents. Clee also served on the board’s investment committee. When Clee died in 2007 he bequeathed to the Museum his portion of Wild Goose, which he and his sister Joan Rueckert had inherited from their parents. Joan had already gifted her portion of the boat to the Museum in the late 1990s. Clee’s estate also provided a generous bequest, which the Board designated for the care of Wild Goose and whichis now being used to begin a major restoration of that unique long deck Hutchinson.
Norton Dodge also came on the Board in 1979 and served the Museum for eighteen years as Trustee until 1996. Norton first came to the Museum with his father Homer, who was seeking an institution that could care for his canoes and artifacts. With the help of his family, Norton raised the funds for Homer Dodge Hall, which was the Museum’s first significant structure and served for years not only as an exhibit hall but also as a meeting room where the Board met for years. Norton was also responsible for introducing his sister Alice Dodge Wallace to the Museum. Norton was a great fundraiser and friend raiser for the Museum and as a Trustee Emeritus he continues to help interest people in the Museum.
Charles Darwin Snelling served the Museum as Trustee for 33 years! He came on the Museum Board in 1975 and was voted Emeritus in 2008. A man of great energy and communication skills, Charles was instrumental in helping the Board become more disciplined. He endorsed the Committee structure, Board self-evaluation and provided energy and insight as the Board undertook its AAM Museum Assessment Governance Program. He was also a wise advisor to the Board as it undertook its first efforts in long range Strategic Planning. Charles also took his responsibilities of raising funds seriously and made many a call on behalf of the Museum during his 33-year tenure. Charles donated to the Museum Akabo, 1898 thirty-one foot sailing scow that served as a prototype for the modern racing scows.
Class of 2007
Bolling Haxall
- He and his wife Betty were among the founders of this Museum.
- They co-signed the mortgage to purchase the Brooks Property – the main part of the campus.
- Bolling worked for years as the unpaid Director.
- He started the library and archives.
- He was an advocate for small non-powered boats.
- He was the MC for the first Boat Shows.
- Provided the Museum with P.R. exposure through his former firm of Doremus & Company.
Tony Lewis
- Was one of the first women on the board.
- She helped to create the Museum Store.
- They hosted the first Museum event in Florida at Vero Beach at the Link Oceanographic Institute.
- She and her husband were pioneers in the art of boat collecting and restoring.
- They were involved in the first brainstorming sessions to create the Museum.
- They provided the land for Bartlett Point Storage;
- The gave Barn Number One to the Museum in their will;
- Tony later gave their cottages on Bartlett Point as a Life Tenancy Gift.
Andy McNally
- Andy McNally was the Chairman of the Museum’s first Campaign.
- He solicited the Lewis’s by phone and on Video for a major gift and they responded by giving the Museum Pardon Me.
- Provided equanimity and dignity to Board.
- Was a strong annual supporter of the Museum.
- He gave La Duchesse to the Museum – in a form of Life Tenancy gift – and subsequently hosted Museum Board Meetings on Board.
- This gift served as a catalyst for the growth of the Museum attracting quality and committed people into the Museum fold.
Robert Cox
- Was one of the founding members of this Museum along with Bolling and Betty Haxall and Jim and Tony Lewis.
- Helped organize the first boat shows.
- Worked tirelessly to publicize the boat shows by visiting local radio and television shows with Bolling.
- Challenged Bolling in the early years to provide for power boats.
- Has poked and prodded the Museum to excellence.
- Has given to his utmost ability. Including Suwanee.
