Bruce F. Anderson was born in Glendale, California, and was raised in San Gabriel, California. Bruce is a third generation Californian and a graduate of Brigham Young University in 1976 with a B.A degree in Political Science and a minor in International Relations. Married to Nancy Ashby, in 1974, they are the parents of four children and 8 grandchildren.

He is currently Sales Manager of A4 Promotions & Incentives in Sacramento, California. A4 Promotions is a nationally ranked promotional products, premium and advertising specialty firm. Bruce has served on various community boards and has been involved in various, public affairs and political activities over the last thirty years. Bruce has a passion for California History and enjoys working on Family History in his spare time.

Daniel is a native of Orange County, California. Dan is the former Managing Partner of a regional law firm headquartered in Irvine, California.  He is an experienced business trial lawyer and serves as the outside General Counsel of a large construction company and its affiliates. For a decade, Dan volunteered his time in the Orange County Superior Court as a part of its temporary judge program. He was recognized for his contribution to the legal profession with the 2019 J. Reuben Clark Award by the Orange County Chapter of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society.

Dan took a three-year leave from the practice of law to serve as the Mission President of the Peru Piura Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Among his many responsibilities were the care and direction of 483 young men and women (ages 18 to 25) and support of local Peruvian church leaders. He and his wife, Shauna were involved in many humanitarian endeavors, including the drilling of freshwater wells in rural communities, delivery of school desks and supplies, providing equipment and training to local hospitals, disaster relief following flooding and training and delivery of equipment to combat mosquito-borne diseases. Dan speaks, reads, and writes fluently in Spanish.

Dan graduated from Brigham Young University in 1982 with a B.S. degree in Finance. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 1985.

Dan and Shauna are the parents of four children and are blessed with many grandchildren.

Dennis Amaral grew up in the San Francisco Bay area and is a third generation native Californian. He graduated from Washington High School in Fremont then attended Merritt College in Oakland, California and the University of California in Berkeley, California.

Dennis has always been an avid reader and researcher of local history his specialty being the pre and post Gold Rush era in California and Nevada. During his research he has collected and read numerous historical books, journals, records and documents pertaining to this era of time.

Utilizing this research he is currently finishing a driving guide and historical book on the Mormon Emigrant Trail in El Dorado County, which will be finished this year.

He and his wife, Antonia, devote time as volunteer docents in Coloma, Old Town Sacramento, Sutter’s Fort, Clarksville, Colombia, Genoa Nevada and Virginia City Nevada. In addition to these duties they also participate in presentations given for local historical groups, churches and schools. Often times they use a team of horses and historic wagons as aids in their presentations as well as bringing artifacts and being attired in period correct clothing.

He currently resides in Pilot Hill, California with his lovely wife, children and some grandchildren. Some of the organizations and recognitions that he has received are listed here.

• Served as a Shingle Springs / Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce Ambassador for 5 years.
• Served as the chairperson on the board of directors and created the ad campaign for the ‘Live In El Dorado County’ foundation.
• Recipient of the Chamber of Commerce’s “Outstanding Business Award” in 2001.
• Recipient of the “James N. Wilson Outstanding Business” award in 2002.
• Recipient of the “Outstanding Businessman’s” award from the United States Republican Committee in 2003.
• Recipient of “The Larry Cameron Outstanding Public Service Award” in 2003.
• Recipient of the “Realtor / Affiliate Citizen Of The Year” award in 2005 from the El Dorado County Association Of Realtors.
• Recipient of the Chamber of Commerce’s “Outstanding Business Award” in 2006.
• Recipient of the “American Spirit Award” from U.S. Sen. John Ensign in 2006.
• Served on the Gold Discovery Park Association Board of Directors from 2005 until 2008.as a board member and Vice President.
• Became a Docent in Coloma in 2003 and is still active in presenting and preserving living history in Coloma, Columbia, Sutter’s Fort, Old Town Sacramento, Genoa, Nevada, and Virginia City Nevada.
• Served as the assistant to the director for the Northern California region of the Sierra Nevada Mormon Pioneers Living History organization from 2003 until present.
• Is a member of the Clarksville Historical Society
• Served as chairman of the board of directors for the ‘Debbie Amaral Memorial Scholarship Foundation’ from 2005 until present.

Gary has served on several non-profit boards including as VP Marketing on the Executive Board of the Golden Empire Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and on the Board of Directors of the Sacramento Chapter of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. He has been serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the California Pioneer Heritage Foundation since January 2016.

Gary currently serves his church as a communication specialist working in media and Interfaith Religious Freedom activities in the Northern and Central California area . He and his wife, Debbie, are the parents of 4 children and grandparents of 9.

Gary Zavoral is a media relations manager for Sutter Health, a pioneering healthcare system in Northern California and one of the largest health networks in the United States.

Born and raised in Northern California, Gary has spent most of his career in storytelling, first as a writer and editor for several Northern California newspapers – including The Sacramento Bee, The Sacramento Union, Chico Enterprise-Record and Oakland Tribune – and then as editor and publisher of his own newspaper geared toward members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Latter-day Messenger. A book called “The Grateful Dad” is compilation of humor columns he wrote for The Union.

Transitioning to a similar career in public relations, Gary learned under the tutelage of legendary Sacramento PR maven Jean Runyon. For Jean’s PR agency, Gary received more than five dozen writing and campaign awards on behalf of such clients as the Sacramento Kings, the American Lung Association and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, for which he was honored with a global Gold Quill Award from the International Association of Business Communicators.

However, his first job beginning at age 12 was as a “printer’s devil” at his father’s print shop, Citadel Press, which was located a block from Sutter’s Fort. From that early age, Gary became intrigued by early California history and the stories of pioneers who came to our great state from all over the world. It has been an interest of his ever since.

Gary lives in Citrus Heights with his wife, Denece, where they raised five children. They currently have 12 grandchildren.

He married Emily Ellen Tanner in 1968 and they have seven children and 30 grandchildren. During their married life, they have lived in San Diego, California, Lawton, Oklahoma, Guadalajara Mexico, Garden Grove, California, Omaha, Nebraska, Albuquerque, New Mexico and San Clemente, California.

He was drafted in 1969 and served two years in the army, including one year in Vietnam.

He has been involved in church service serving in several leadership positions. He has also served in BSA, both in youth and council positions.

He and his wife served as Senior Missionaries at the Missionary Training Center in Mexico City 2016-2018. They currently are Senior Missionaries in the California Living History Program since 20

A fourth generation Californian, Josh F.W. Cook is a seasoned government affairs and communications consultant with over 30 years of experience solving complex political problems in California and Nevada. Cook’s areas of public policy expertise include Indian sovereignty, property rights/land use, mining remediation, local government, water, forestry, and rural economic development. Cook worked in the California Legislature for 15 years and served as Chief of Staff and Minority Caucus Chief of Staff. Josh is a 9 year veteran of the CA State Guard and serves as a law enforcement Chaplain with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Chaplain Cook In 2025, he was appointed by the President of the United States as EPA Region 9 Administrator. Josh and his wife Robin live in Chico, California.

For the past 19 years, Rick has worked as an insurance consultant specializing in employee benefits and Medicare products. His career reflects a strong background in business operations, client service, and long-term relationship building.

Rick is deeply involved in his community. He volunteers with a local living history program, presenting California history to schoolchildren, and has served as a volunteer leader with 4-H and as a Scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts of America. He has also officiated high school wrestling, baseball, and football for many years.

Rick and his wife, Myrna, enjoy spending time with their four daughters and six grandchildren.

In 1997, Roberta joined Daughters of Utah Pioneers whose objective is to teach an appreciation for pioneer contributions. She has served in her local camp and on the Sacramento Company Board in several offices including President. She is currently serving as northern California Regional Representative on the International DUP Board. She also serves locally as the Sloughhouse Pioneer Cemetery Co-Chairman. The cemetery is the oldest pioneer cemetery in northern California and is the final resting place of some of the original settlers of Sacramento County. DUP has owned the cemetery for over 40 years when it was deeded by descendants of the Rhoads family. For the past four years, Roberta has been involved in the maintenance and upkeep of the cemetery; the restoration of over 40 tombstones; and overseeing the many Eagle Scout projects that help in the restoration process. She drew a map to identify tombstone locations and wrote the biographical sketches used during cemetery tours.

Roberta also teaches local California pioneer history as part of a living history program sponsored by the Elk Grove Historical Society. Since 2008, she has been a docent at the Rhoads School House located in Elk Grove Park just south of Sacramento. By appointment, third grade students spend a day at the one-room school living and learning as if it were 1894 with Roberta as the school marm. Recently, Roberta was appointed Director of the School and is on the board of the Elk Grove Historical Society.

Several years ago, the California Pioneer Heritage Foundation produced a movie called “More Precious Than Gold” about the contributions the Mormon Battalion made to the settlement of California. Roberta was one of the contributing authors of the companion workbook which 4th grade students use as they study California history.
Outside of DUP, she has 6 amazing children, 9 adorable grandchildren and a wonderful husband who supports her in all her hobbies. She and her husband met at the University of Utah where she graduated from the College of Business in Accounting.

Mr. Thayne’s service in the community has ranged from board membership for the Boy Scouts of America for the Golden Empire Council in Northern California, and the Work Training Center – serving the disabled population in Northern California and several church leadership positions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Russ and his wife are parents of 5 children and 7 grandchildren.

Sandra’s interest in California history flourished as a member of the 2004 LDS State Living History Committee. Fascinating intersections between California and LDS history became apparent, fun to share and elicited a desire for further research. Her research led to her introduction to Ellen Rosa, a member of the Thomas Rhoads family. Mrs. Rosa helped identify yet another invaluable piece of California’s missing history – the location of Rhoads Diggings – right in Sandra’s home town – Folsom!

Together with Folsom City, California Pioneer Heritage Foundation, Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Folsom Historical Society, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Friends of Folsom Parkway, two markers memorialize this valuable missing piece of LDS history.

Sandra retired from environmental consulting and keeps the home fires burning for visits by her four children, 22 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. She enjoys volunteering with the California Living History Program to share experiences and stories with excited and high energy fourth graders.

Scott earned B.S. in science and math, master of international management, and MBA, joined computer industry, became a corporate turnaround specialist, CEO of three companies, then an entrepreneur, starting 12 companies, 9 failed, 3 succeeded. As a business advisor, he helped other companies. He and wife devote time to church, community service, family.

Scott, 7th generation Latter-day Saint, with 32 first convert ancestors. The Read family sailed the Ship Brooklyn. Englishman John Cox joined the Mormon Battalion, leaving wife and children in Winter Quarters. John helped build the first immigrant trail east over the Sierras which Hannah Read and family took to Utah where she married James Graham in 1849 after he had crossed the plains. James was called on a mission to Australia, arrived in San Francisco tattered, outfitted by Ship Brooklyner John Horner, opened Queensland to missionary work, returned with converts, survived the wreck of the Julia Ann near Tahiti, returned to San Francisco, then San Bernardino, then Utah.

Scott lived in Utah, Idaho, Oklahoma, and Nebraska before New Zealand. He and Lorraine lived in Utah, Arizona, and Texas before the Bay Area where they remain. Scott has served as a high councilor, bishop, stake presidency counselor, stake president, counselor to two San Jose mission presidents, and in Church Public Affairs, now Communication, for many years, temple ordinance worker for 12 years, temple sealer since 2007. They serve together in Los Gatos / Monte Sereno CERT and Interfaith, and Scott continues as CCCD for San Jose Coordinating Council.

Troy J. Mangrum is a retired CPA. The first 5 years of his career were with an International CPA Firm. He retired as a Corporate Controller of a large Poultry company. He has served on the Turlock Chamber of Commerce board, the Boy Scouts of America local Council board, and various leadership positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His degrees are a BA in Accounting from Brigham Young University and a Masters in Taxation from Golden Gate University.

Troy was born in Salt Lake City, UT and raised in Bremerton, WA. He is married to Debra Boice of Modesto and they are blessed with 5 married children and over a dozen grandchildren. They have lived in Fremont, Sacramento, Fresno, and Turlock. Troy values the benefits of younger generations knowing history, appreciating what they inherited, and developing a desire to build upon their inheritance. He continues to be a mentor for students in multiple roles.