SWATurners' Executive Committee
President, Raul Pena (Hill Country Turners)
I'm a native Texan born and raised in Corpus Christi. I attended the University of Houston, got a degree in Biology then went to work for Shell Oil Company. In my 28 years with Shell I did software support, software development in process control, and then managed a process control training facility until I retired. While doing an addition to my house, in my spare time in the 70s, I needed three newel posts for a stairway. When I priced them at $200 apiece, I decided to buy a lathe at Sears instead, and turn them from scrap wood for an estimated cost of $200. That started what has become a life-long obsession with turning and the desire to continue learning and to use my turning as a medium for self-expression. My degree in Biology has been very useful in my woodworking and woodturning avocation. When I moved to the Texas Hill Country near Kerrville in 1996, I joined the Hill Country Turners, and later served as its president. As a member of that chapter, I attended my first Texas Turn or Two (now known as SWAT) and AAW Symposium. Later, I became a demonstrator for both Texas Turn or Two and then SWAT. SWAT has played such an important role in my continued development and education as a wood turner that I feel an obligation to help it continue providing learning opportunities for both novice and experienced turners.
Vice President Delbert Dowdy (ArkLaTex Woodturners)
A native Texan, I grew up in Sweetwater. I completed an undergraduate degree at UT Arlington and a Masters of Physics degree at University of North Texas. After some work toward my doctorate in Physics, I took a teaching position at Texarkana College where I have been for over 30 years. Currently I am the Physical Sciences division chair and professor of physics. My wife, two boys, and I live in Wake Village, on the outskirts of Texarkana. I have been turning seriously about 10 years. A founding member of the ArkLaTex woodturners, I have been the newsletter editor for the past 7 years. I enjoy turning, demonstrating, and writing about turning. Along with four demos at SWAT, I have given demos at our club and other clubs.
Secretary/Treasurer, Bob Matern (Dallas Area Woodturners)
As the only non-native born Texan on the Executive Committee, I have to confess to growing up in New York, but I got out of there ASAP to attend the University of Michigan, earn a Bachelor's in Economics and an MBA and get married. After moving to Texas in 1969, I spent about a decade in public accounting earning my CPA certification in the process, then spent the rest of my career in the financial area of the insurance industry. In 1999 we bought a place that had room for a shop (and my wife's horses) and I started tinkering in "flat stuff" but got attracted to turning after seeing some demos at a woodworking show. After taking some lessons, I joined Dallas Area Woodturners in 2003 and served as the SWAT rep from 2004 to 2007 and am currently its treasurer.
Past President, Ken Terrell (East Texas Woodturners)
I am a native Texan having grown up in West Texas. I spent 37 years with Sinclair Oil & Gas Company and Arco Oil and Gas Company in various capacities. The last 23 years were in the Sales Division of Arco Chemical Company and later Baker Hughes in management and upper level Corporate contact. Following retirement I continued to consult for Baker Hughes and my wife and I relocated to East Texas . After joining East Texas Woodturners in 1996, I developed a second passionate hobby that rivals my first, the love of fishing. I was an avid woodworker for a number of years until I discovered the world of woodturning. Between 1997 and 2000, I could have contested any woodturner for the largest “humble pile”. I have served the East Texas Woodturners as President, Treasurer and for the last number of years have acted as the Program Chair. I served Southwest Association of Turners as Demo Chair in 2003 and 2004, Co-Vendor Chair in 2005 and Instant Gallery Chair for 2006, 2007 and 2008.