Raleigh W. Newsam

Raleigh Newsam is an attorney in Dallas, Texas, where he practices construction, real estate, and intellectual property law.  He earned an architecture degree from Cornell University, a master’s degree in management degree from MIT, and a law degree from Southern Methodist University.  Born in New York City, he spent his youth in Long Island, New York and Clarksville, Tennessee.  It was in Clarksville that he developed his love and enthusiasm for bluegrass and country music.  Raleigh has been active with numerous charitable organizations in the north Texas area and is a former President of Dallas Christian Leadership.

Charlie R. Seraphin

Charlie Seraphin has lived and worked in nine states and two foreign countries.  Professionally, he managed radio news operations in five cities including Miami and San Francisco.  He served as VP/General Manager of top-rated radio stations in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Dallas.  He spent 15 years in professional sports as chief marketing officer for the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball, as Executive VP/General Manager of the Tulsa 66ers, and as Senior VP of Sales and Marketing for Hunt Sports Group in Dallas.  Charlie also served three years as an adjunct professor at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida. 

Charlie is now an author and guest speaker based in Payson, Arizona.  His message is simple and direct, with strong emphasis on reflection and personal responsibility.  His recent book, One Stupid Mistake–Smart Decision-Making in a Crazy World, is drawn from personal experience with roots in common sense.  His favorite keynote speech to deliver is Making Good Decisions in a Crazy World, which outlines a simple formula for personal responsibility and success.  For more about Charlie, see CharlieSeraphin.com.

Clifford G. Fitch

Cliff Fitch was a founding member of the board of directors of the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation in 2008, and he re-joined the board in 2016.  A native of east Texas and the builder of Fitch Banjos, Cliff has been active as a musician in bluegrass music since the age of 15.  Cliff built 85 professional-grade 5-string banjos before retiring from his banjo-building business in 2009.  He is a licensed funeral director and the owner of Fitch Mortuary Transportation, LLC, based in Azle, Texas.  He has been married to his wife Paula since 1985.  Cliff’s other interests include playing electric bass, restoring antique tube radios and Victrola phonographs, and restoring antique Winchester and Colt firearms.

Richard S. Tucker

Richard Tucker, a resident of Boulder, Colorado, is an arbitrator and a retired partner of the Texas-based law firm of Jackson Walker, LLP. He graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and earned his law degree at SMU.   Richard served as the mayor of the Town of Argyle, Texas from 2001-07 and was responsible for the creation of the Argyle Bluegrass Festival.  Richard was a founding board member and past president of The Foundation for Bluegrass Music, Inc., a tax-exempt organization affiliated with the International Bluegrass Music Association that is dedicated to fostering awareness of bluegrass music with a focus on youth and education.  Richard has also served with organizations including the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, the Fort Worth Symphony Association, the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth Foundation, and the Planning Commission of the City of Fort Worth.