The members of the Board of Directors are people who have been directly involved with the history-making and preservation of Gospel Music in Texas. Each member serves a three year term and attends regular meetings, in addition to their ongoing direction and special contributions to the organization.
Randy C. Wills, President in Memoriam
Randy took over the role as President in 2002 following Calvin´s passing. He was a music producer, professional musician, worship leader and member of the Gospel group, SpokenFor. Randy was the music director for Transformation Anglican Church in Rockwall for 12 years. He also worked for many years with his father at the Sword and Shield Record Company, has a diploma from The Frank Stamps Conservatory of Music and is a graduate of Dallas Baptist University.
Ben Pegues, Executive Director
Ben is a graduate of Dallas Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and has spent the past 45 years plus in church work and serving on the faculty at a local Bible college. He taught voice at the Stamps School of Music and is a nationally recognized Gospel Music historian and contributor to a number of publications. He has served on the board since 2004.
Darrell Bledsoe, Director
Darrell has had a lengthy and impressive career in music. He is a noted church musician and arranger, publisher and producer. He has been a popular speaker at church music seminars and is recently retired from the Commercial Music Department at West Texas State University. He and his talented wife Beverly have moved to the Seattle area to be near their grandchildren.
Liz Autry, Director
Liz graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas and attended the Stamps School of Music. She is the former Curator/ Associate Director at the Southern Gospel Music Association in Pigeon Forge TN, and now serves on their advisory board. Liz is president of the board for the Texas Southern Gospel School of Music. It is the premier summer music school that teaches the true American Art form of Shaped Note Gospel Music to all ages every summer.
Rudy Gatlin, Director He is the youngest brother of the very popular, award winning Gatlin Brothers! He along with brothers Larry and Steve still perform at concerts and benefit shows all across the country. Before their very successful career in country music, the Gatlin Family (with sister Ladonna) recorded their first three gospel albums with Calvin and Lou for Sword and Shield Records.
Larry Rice, Director Larry’s story about attending the Stamps-Baxter School of Music in the 1950s with Bill Gaither is a favorite to all who hear it. His passion for Gospel Music began back then and continued down many different avenues through the years. He has sung in several Gospel groups, owned and managed radio stations, been a concert promoter, supported local church music ministry tours and events, and has been a keynote speaker for “visionaries” all across Texas!
Joe Willis, Director
Joe has spent over 36 years in Christian broadcasting both in ownership and general management of radio stations. He served as President of the SW Chapter of National Religious Broadcasters. He began his career back in the late fifties with a radio program called Gospel Singing Time in Longview, Texas. He attended the Stamps School of Music, and worked closely with the late W. B. Nowlin.
Cindi Wills, Museum Curator
Calvin’s daughter has served on the Board of the North Texas Potters Guild and is a gifted artist. Cindi sang with her family in The Junior Wills Qt. and recorded one solo album along the way. She and her husband Roy have been very involved with the artifact preservation of the TGMHF Gospel Music Museum since the very beginning.