The American Bigfoot Society Board of Directors is made up of talented individuals who share the common goal of sharing research information, are no kill proponents, and active field investigators.

Melissa Hovey, ABS President,

Melissa works as a Paralegal and began her research in Dallas, Texas, she then moved to Ohio in 2008. Melissa is the current President of the American Bigfoot Society (ABS). Melissa owns a blog and website forum titled The Search for Bigfoot. In 2007. Melissa began co-hosting an Internet radio show, "Let's Talk Bigfoot," on Talkshoe. Then joined Sean Forker and "The Sasquatch Experience" in February 2008. In June of 2008 she began co-hosting a new program on Talkshoe, with friend and Field Researcher Monica Rawlins, called "The Grey Area" which has now moved to BlogTalk Radio.

Melissa was also featured on the all female expedition episode of the History Channels "MonsterQuest" titled "Bigfoot".

Billy Willard, ABS Vice President

Billy Willard is vice-president of an environmental consulting firm. He oversees various types of environmental assessments and cleanup projects (e.g., leaking underground petroleum tanks, environmental site assessments, and soil/groundwater remediation) . Billy is an OSHA Hazwoper Supervisor and holds many other credentials. Billy became interested in the Bigfoot phenomena early in life as a kid after watching such movies as the Legend of Boggy Creek and the Creature From Black Lake. In 2005, Billy and his son Josh formed Sasquatch Watch of Virginia, which he currently serves as Director. Billy was co-host of a radio show called Squatchdetective Radio and is currently the host of Sasquatch Watch Radio on theBlogTalk Radio Network. Billy currently serves on the Board of Directors with the American Bigfoot Society (ABS). Billy is also a member of several other Bigfoot groups.

Wayne Larsen, Sgt. At Arms

Wayne Larsen is 40 years old and is a life long Ohio resident. He is a journeyman locomotive electrician for a large eastern railroad, for which he has been employed for over 10 years. Wayne has always held an interest in the subject of Bigfoot, since seeing The Legend of Bogey Creek as a child, but sat on the fence about it until last year. He then decided to see for himself what all the noise was about, concerning this animal. Wayne is currently on the ABS Board of Directors, and is the Sgt. at Arms.

Kelly Fain, ABS Secretary

Kelly works as a catastrophe insurance adjuster handling claims for hurricanes, hail and wind storms. My job requires me to inspect losses and document all storm related damages.

 

Kelly is a Texas resident and has been interested in cryptozoology for the majority of her life, with a special interest in Bigfoot. I first saw the Patterson/Gimlin film on the big screen of a movie theater as a child and was fascinated with the image and the idea that there was something like that out in the woods. I also saw the Legend of Boggy Creek as a kid and had to deal with a little sister refusing to sleep in her own bed for a month because it was too close to a window. Then we got smart and moved the bed. Whenever the family went camping she and I would explore the woods searching for Bigfoot.

 

Once I got internet service I was able to explore my interest in Bigfoot in depth and I met people online who were researchers. I became friends with Melissa and was recruited to become a member of the ABS.

Toby Tollman, Board Member

Place of birth:  South Eastern Wisconsin, 1974

What's the deal with the Bigfoot hunting?  This is a question I have been asked more times than I can keep track of.  My fascination with the idea that such a creature may exist stems from my early childhood when my father took me to the movie theater to see a film about Sasquatch in the late 70's.  I can clearly remember having to find every book I could get my hands on in the elementary school library. 

Many years passed by.  Then about 8 years ago I purchased my first computer and was introduced to the internet.  Since that time I have spent countless hours reading reports, looking at pictures and watching the videos of this purported creature. 

Then in November 2007 I decided to take my interest to the next level and joined The M.A.B.R.C. which at the time was a research organization just starting out.  Their group consisted of people who shared the same ideas I had on how to find and document this hairy giant. 

Shortly thereafter I introduced www.wisconsinbigfoot.com to the BF community and started partaking in field expeditions and analyzing other researcher's data  in hopes of tracking down this elusive  beast.  Along the way www.minnesotabigfoot.com and The Squatch Inc. Forums were born.

Since I started this endeavor I have found a new and exciting way to spend time in the woods.  You can never have too many excuses to get outside and enjoy mother nature.  I have also been extremely privileged to meet and work with people who I now call my friends.

DB Donlon, ABS Board Member

 

DB Donlon is a stay-at-home dad for three awesome kids.  He used to be a high school and community college English teacher.  

 
His interest in bigfoot began back in the 1970s when such shows as In Search Of were common fare.  Shortly after the family watched the episode dealing with the Honey Island swamp monster, DB's dad got transferred to that area (the federal government had a test facility at a place nearby), and the whole family moved to a small Mississippi town just over the highway from the outskirts of the Honey Island swamp.

 Local people were still talking about the filming of the show, and talk of bigfoot and swamp monsters was everywhere. DB caught the fever and started reading everything he could about bigfoot and other cryptozoological creatures, but he didn't pursue the interest any further at that time.  In 2004, DB decided to make something of his interest.  

He went on several expeditions during the next few years, including in 2005 participating in an investigation of a sighting in Richmond with Billy and Tom of Sasquatchwatch of VA.  Though members of different bigfoot organizations at the time, they all kept in touch and did research together many more times over the intervening years.  Now DB is very pleased to join the ranks of Sasquatch Watch of VA.  DB is also the owner of The Blogsquatcher, a blog that deals with issues in bigfooting.

Contact Us:

The American Bigfoot Society

americanbigfootsociety@gmail.com