Council of Past Presidents Committee

The Council of Past State Presidents is an advisory body to the President of the Virginia Society. The Current President may refer to the Council any matter he may consider appropriate. Such matters might include;

a) obtaining the collective views of experienced members on a particular issue,
b) undertaking a study of a problem or an issue facing the Society – such as validating a major change being considered by either the General Membership or the Executive Committee,
c) strategic planning in regards to the long-term goals of the Society, and
d) other similar tasks.


The Chairman may also convene the Council to address issues its members consider important and require the attention of the Society President.

SAR insignia on a gold lapel in gold with blue enamel banner labeled

MEMBERSHIP: The Immediate Past President shall chair the Council. All past Virginia Society presidents in good standing shall be members of the Council. 

MEETINGS: The Council shall meet at the call of the Virginia Society President or at the call of the Chairman of the Council.

REPORTS:  Any special reports shall be rendered to the Virginia Society President. and/or to the General Membership as deemed appropriate. Written reports shall be considered as valuable information and a copy will be kept by the Secretary as a permanent record. Electronic means to capture such reports may be used.

Committee Members

  • Ernest Brockman Coggins, Jr. 2023–2024 (Immediate Past President)

  • Bruce A. Wilcox 1997–1998 **
  • Donald F. Reynolds, DDS 2000–2001
  • Richard S. Austin 2001–2002
  • E. Trice Taylor, DDS 2002–2003
  • Lawrence E. McKinley 2005–2006
  • James M. Bayne, AIA 2006–2007
  • Joseph W. Dooley 2007–2008 ** 
  • William Lee Simpson, Jr. 2009–2010
  • Mark S. Brennan, Sr., Esq. 2011–2012
  • Henry P. “Phil” Williams II, PhD 2012–2013
  • W. A. “Bill” Broadus, Jr. 2014–2015
  • Reverdy E. Wright, PhD 2015–2016
  • Michael J. Elston, Esq. 2017–2018
  • Patrick M. Kelly 2018–2019
  • Peter M. Davenport 2019–2020
  • William L. Schwetke 2020–2021
  • Jeffrey D. Thomas 2021–2022
  • R. Bruce Meyer 2022–2023

 ** = has served as National SAR President General