THE SOUTHWEST ASSOCIATION OF TURNERS (SWAT)
HALL OF HONOR
Purpose: The SWAT Hall of Honor serves to celebrate and recognize individuals or organizations that had, have and continue to have significant impact on the growth and success which contributes to the legacy of the Southwest Association of Turners (SWAT).
Recognition: Individuals that have been instrumental in the forming, continued progress and growth of, and assisting in the legacy of Southwest Association of Turners (SWAT).
The inaugural class consists only of the Founding Fathers:
Gary Roberts, James Johnson, Clay Foster, Mark Potter, Larry Roberts and Eugene Fitzwater.
There can be no more than five (5) inductees into the SOUTWEST ASSOCIATION OF TURNERS (SWAT) Hall of Honor in any given year.
Gary Roberts - Founding Father
Sixth generation native Texan, born and raised in Texas. I'm a retired Commercial Realtor and Business Consultant.
I met my Imagene (Gene) in high school and we married when I was a freshman at University of Texas. We were married 68 wonderful years.
My younger brother, Larry Roberts, gave me my first lesson in woodturning when I was about 40 years old. I had been a woodcarver since I was a child.
My love and passion for woodturning was instant and I became involved with forming the American Association of Woodturners, Inc. in 1986. I registered their first Corporate Charter here in Texas and became Member #16.
Shortly after forming the AAW, Mark Potter offered to have a mini symposium for Texas turners at his place near Columbus, Texas on Columbus Day weekend.
We called the event the Texas Turn or Two, which over the years has become the South West Association of Turners (SWAT). Original Founding Fathers were Mark Potter, Gary Roberts, Larry Roberts, Clay Foster and James Johnson.
James Johnson - Founding Father
I made my living in commercial/industrial construction. I started woodworking at the age of 4 when my father gave me a pocketknife, "James, here is my old pocketknife, I bought me a new one because I am tired of you borrowing mine all the time".
Like many woodworkers, I built houses, furniture, and whatever was called for.
In 1965, I built my first lathe. I wasn't much of a lathe, and I wasn't much of a woodturner, but it served to make handles and such things.
In 1983, I read an article in Fine Woodworking about a symposium put on by the Woodturning Center in Philadelphia, PA. Looking at some of the pieces in the article, I thought to myself "that's not possible! But I wished that I had a lathe that I could try it on." In the fall of that year, FFW had an article about Ed Moulthrop and his home-built lathe. So, inspired by the article, I built a copy and promptly started turning.
In 1987-88, I built my current lathe. So, I have used for 25 years now. Occasionally, refer to it as my "Gorilla" lathe. You know, big, strong, mean, and ugly!
On my home page, you can see an article written around 2000 about the lathe. Since then I have built a new shop, new dust collector, and made several changes to the lathe.
Clay Foster - Founding Father
Clay Foster began the life of an artist and woodworker at the age of five when his father gave him his very own hand saw. He has work in museums and collections throughout North America and has taught at conferences and schools around the world. Clay is Founding Member number 50 and Honorary Lifetime Member in the American Association of Woodturner and Founding Father of Southwest Association of Turners. He currently lives in Plainfield, Indiana.
Mark Potter - Founding Father
Shown with Clay Foster, Mark is on the right.
Larry Roberts - Founding Father
Larry Roberts loved everything wood! His journey in wood began in Colorado High School in wood shop class and continued throughout his life. He loved sharing his skill and knowledge with everyone. Larry often stated that Buddy Compton was the best student to come through his shop. His wife, "Pat" of sixty one years, witnessed first-hand his impact on Local, State and National Organizations. He assisted in the founding of Texas Turn or Two (SWAT) and American Association of Woodturners, along with having an impact in forming local clubs. He was an inspirational leader in the woodturning world and ha great impact of the organizations he co-founded and supported throughout his life. He would be proud to stand, along with Pat, next to the organizations that he helped form and the impact they have had on the woodturning world and so many woodturners.
Eugene Fitzwater - Instrumental in helping set up the first event
SWAT 2026
SWAT 2026