About
The Plymouth Rock Foundation:
The Plymouth Rock Foundation seeks to preserve, rehearse
and propagate the rich Christian heritage of the United
States of America, beginning with the Pilgrims.
History
The Plymouth Rock Foundation was chartered in 1970 by John G.
Talcott, Jr. of Plymouth, Massachusetts for the purpose of
preserving, propagating and understanding the significance
of the Pilgrim story and its legacy throughout America’s
rich Christian heritage.
John served as the chairman of the Anniversary Committee for
the town of Plymouth when it celebrated the 350th anniversary
of the landing of the Pilgrims in 1970-1971. Dr. Charles
Wolfe, the Executive Director of the 350th Anniversary Committee,
became the first Executive Director of the Plymouth Rock Foundation
in 1971
From 1977 until 1999, Rus Walton served as the Foundation’s
second Executive Director, moving the Foundation’s headquarters
to southern New Hampshire. It was under his leadership
that the Plymouth Rock Foundation became a leader in the propagation
of America’s Christian history through the publication
of books, republication of primary sources, the distribution
of the scholarly Letter from Plymouth Rock, and the establishment
of local Christian Committees of Correspondence throughout the
nation. Rus went home to his eternal reward in the fall
of 1999, and in January of 2000, the Foundation returned its
headquarters to Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Dr. Charles Wolfe became the President of the Plymouth Rock
Foundation in 2001, moving back to Plymouth, Massachusetts in
January of 2005. At its annual meeting in 2006, Dr. Paul
Jehle was asked to be the Foundation’s third Executive
Director.
Mission:
The National Board of Directors of the Plymouth Rock
Foundation recently affirmed the original mission, as stated
in its Constitution and By-Laws, to be as follows:
As members and Directors of the Plymouth Rock Foundation,
we are organized for religious, charitable, scientific, literary,
or educational purposes to foster a greater public awareness
and understanding of American history, ideas, and ideals, particularly
as embodied in the lives of the Pilgrims who founded the Plymouth
Colony in 1620.
We want to make more widely known and understood
the Pilgrim principles and characteristics - their devotion to
God and the Bible, to freedom and to tolerance, and their embodiment
of courage, brotherhood, and individual moral character. We
also seek to make better known the ideas and achievements of
later generations of Americans who followed after the Pilgrims
in both spirit and deed, forging our nation's Christian heritage
Board of Directors
John G. Talcott, Jr.
Honorary Chairman
John Talcott was born in 1908. He was converted at a Billy
Graham crusade in 1950. He began to understand the Christian
heritage of America in the 1960’s, and became the chairman
of the 350th celebration in Plymouth to honor the anniversary
of the Pilgrims landing in 1970-71. John Talcott, Jr. began
the Plymouth Rock Foundation in 1970, and was also instrumental
in founding Intercessors for America by 1976. Though John
will turn 100 in late February, he is still active in various
historic committees, leads the July 4th and Thanksgiving parades,
and gives advice and insight as the honorary Chairman Emeritus
of the Plymouth Rock Foundation, residing in Plymouth, Massachusetts
and Boca Raton, Florida.
Charles Wolfe
President
After a productive career with advertising, Charles served as
an advisor of economic insight and analysis with the Foundation
for Economic Education in New York. He worked with John
Talcott, Jr. as the Executive Director of the 350th anniversary
celebration of the arrival of the Pilgrims, and helped to found
the Plymouth Rock Foundation, both in the year 1970. Charles
has worked with various Foundations and educational ministries
in helping to communicate the truths of our nation’s rich
Christian heritage. Charles became President of the Plymouth
Rock Foundation in 2001 after its second Executive Director,
Rus Walton, passed away in 1999. Charles remains active
in writing his latest project, the American Pilgrimage, communicating
the heritage of America in narration, song and vivid images to
be published soon. Charles resides in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Paul Jehle
Executive Director
Paul Jehle has served as the Senior Pastor of The New Testament
Church in Plymouth, Massachusetts since 1987. He founded
The New Testament Christian School in 1980, serving as its Principal
until 2006. Paul has a B.A. in Mathematics, as well as
a P.H.D. and Doctoral degree in Education. Paul travels
the United States and foreign countries speaking on a wide variety
of topics relating a Biblical world view to every area of life. Paul
serves on several local historic committees in the town of Plymouth,
and is active as the third Executive Director of the Foundation
since 2006, helping to promote its programs and goals.
Jerry Perera
Director of Development
John Adams
Bobbie Ames
John Talcott III
Paul Goedecke
Lynda Brown
Ralph Bullard
Ike Burress
John Eidsmoe
Archie Jones
Bob McNeil
Justin Thain
Ila Walton
Honorary Member
As an honorary Board member, Ila Walton, the widow of the Foundation’s
second Executive Director, Russell Walton, brings expert advice
and insight. Though unable to travel and participate directly
with the Foundation’s latest activities, Ila continues
to keep up with what is happening, not only with the Foundation,
but with the latest events in American history. Ila now
resides in Jacksonville, Florida with her daughter.
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