Featured speaker will be William (Bill) Brown. III .Mr. Brown will speaking on the life and times of his 5th great grandfather, Dr. Joseph Dobson Sr. (1720-1791) who was an early settler of Burke County, the first college educated physician in western NC, the first Clerk of Superior Court for the Morgan District, and one of the early Entry Takers of Land for Burke County

Mr. Brown has held various positions in the county. For 30 years as an elected Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor, 35 years as a volunteer firefighter with Oak Hill and has served over 40 years on the departments Board of Directors. Mr. Brown has been a member of the American Long Riffle Association for over 30 years, serving as an officer as well on several occasions editor and publisher of the ALRA Gazette. Mr. Brown is also a member of the Col. Alexander Erwin Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and served as the Chapter President for several years. He has accomplished much more in his life than what I have written, but be assured he is well qualified to talk about the early history of Burke County