Commissioners
State Commissioners
Colorado
Bob and his partner Natalie have a clan tent at several festivals in Colorado. Bob collects names and emails of Farquharsons at these festivals with the aim of spreading our history, increasing membership and finding volunteers. He usually locates our tent near other Clan Chattan clans to create a Clan Chattan row. He generally attends St. Brigit’s Valentine Tea, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Tartan Weekend, CO Celtic Festival, Long’s Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival and St. Brigit’s Celtic Festival.
Connecticut
Stuart was born (1952) and currently lives in Connecticut. He has also lived in NY, TX, MI, IN, and CA. Stuart has been a CFUSA Commissioner and/or Vice President since 1997.
He descends from William Farquharson (b. ~1740) and Anna Mason (married 1762) Aberdeenshire. Four of his great-great grandsons (brothers) and their mother immigrated to New England in ~1890 from St. Andrews. Their grandfather, James, and several generations of his descendants are buried in St. Andrews Cathedral Cemetery (16 people from 1793 to 1950). His wife Susan (nee Wilson of the Gunn Clan) and he have been fortunate to have visited Braemar and our late Chief Alwyne Compton Farquharson several times over the last 30 years, thanks to his father’s initiating a correspondence in the 1960s.
He has written one book “The Jacobite Rising of 1715 – A Clan Farquharson Perspective”, and is in the process of writing “The Jacobite Rising of 1745 – A Clan Farquharson Perspective” as suggested by our late Chief. He also wrote a number of short stories for The Cairn (CFUSA Quarterly Newsletter) from 1998 to 2005. Stuart also has a PhD Chemistry: University of Texas. Faculty positions: Abilene Christian U, Michigan State U, Purdue U. DoD Contractor: Chem-Bio Analyzers and Medical Devices (Two current contracts are keeping me from retiring.) He has published over 150 scientific articles including one in Science (the #1 scientific journal), one with Nobel Laureate Henry Tauby, one with Priestly Winner F. Albert Cotton, and one with Stephen A. Morse, lead investigator for the CDC regarding the 2001 anthrax attacks.
Stuart was fortunate to have been trained by Olympic Diving Coach Phil Moriarty and Olympic Gymnastics Coach Abie Grossfeld, which led to a verbal invitation to try out for 1980 USA Diving Team. He won 3 gold medals for Team USA Ultimate Frisbee Team, and one National Championship in Ultimate Frisbee with Boston Team (The latter is harder to achieve, yet my wife won 5!).
He has had a privileged life, but by no means did he have a privileged upbringing. All of his family and relatives are blue collar tradesmen, many serving in the military. He paid for all of his education with money earned as a carpenter, beginning at age 13.
Florida
Colin hails from Glasgow and has been the Central Florida Commissioner since 2018. He sets up tents at the Central Florida Highland games and Mount Dora Scottish Festival each year. Colin hopes to expand his reach as time allows.
Georgia
Colin hails from Glasgow and has been the Central Florida Commissioner since 2018. He sets up tents at the Central Florida Highland games and Mount Dora Scottish Festival each year. Colin hopes to expand his reach as time allows.
Kentucky
Jim is the Clan Farquharson, USA, Commissioner for the great state of Oklahoma! He is a Finlay by blood, Camp being an adoptive name of his paternal grandfather. His uncle, Calvin Camp, and he, have been running the Clan Farquharson tent at the Highland Games and festivals across the state, for two years now. Together they hope to grow our membership across Oklahoma, and surrounding states. He is an RN in Anadarko, OK. Jim has been married to his beautiful wife, Stacy, for thirty years, and they have four awesome children.
Maine
Hello, I am C.A. Wortley, the North East Commissioner. I joined Clan Farquharson USA in 1987 and became the Commissioner in 1995. At that time, I was a full-time performer on the touring festival circuit, traveling as far as Oklahoma, Florida, and Scotland to perform at Highland Games and Celtic Festivals. During the New England summers, I would also attend nearby games with the clan tent in tow. I often juggled between playing music on stage with my Martin D28 guitar and representing the Farquharson clan on clan row.
However, after September 2001, the tours stopped, and I spent my time running a small kilt shop in rural western Maine and working in law enforcement. In 2006, I went to a lonely mountain to record, write, and search for the meaning of life. After several years of not finding it, I returned to Portland with my studio and held various interesting jobs. I even teamed up with an old friend from Ireland to play at pubs. The last ten years of my working life were spent supervising a security team serving cruise ships at the Port of Portland.
Nowadays, I spend my time split between protecting cathedrals, recording audio and video, puppeteering with Punch & Judy puppets, playing with British model trains, and serenading anyone who wants to listen with my Irish Bouzouki on a bench in the Old Port. And of course, I’m back to traveling with the “wee Farquharson tent” to as many Highland Games as possible.
Massachusetts
Hello, I am C.A. Wortley, the North East Commissioner. I joined Clan Farquharson USA in 1987 and became the Commissioner in 1995. At that time, I was a full-time performer on the touring festival circuit, traveling as far as Oklahoma, Florida, and Scotland to perform at Highland Games and Celtic Festivals. During the New England summers, I would also attend nearby games with the clan tent in tow. I often juggled between playing music on stage with my Martin D28 guitar and representing the Farquharson clan on clan row.
However, after September 2001, the tours stopped, and I spent my time running a small kilt shop in rural western Maine and working in law enforcement. In 2006, I went to a lonely mountain to record, write, and search for the meaning of life. After several years of not finding it, I returned to Portland with my studio and held various interesting jobs. I even teamed up with an old friend from Ireland to play at pubs. The last ten years of my working life were spent supervising a security team serving cruise ships at the Port of Portland.
Nowadays, I spend my time split between protecting cathedrals, recording audio and video, puppeteering with Punch & Judy puppets, playing with British model trains, and serenading anyone who wants to listen with my Irish Bouzouki on a bench in the Old Port. And of course, I’m back to traveling with the “wee Farquharson tent” to as many Highland Games as possible.
Michigan
I am Will Christie and this is my wife Tammy. We have lived here in Michigan most of our lives, only leaving to serve in the Army 1990-1994 and 94-98 in the Michigan Reserves. I spent four years serving in the Infantry, in the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea and 101st Infantry Division in Ft. Campbell, Ky.
New Mexico
Hi my name is Senry Kiser and I am proud to represent New Mexico! Raised in northern NM I now reside in Albuquerque and work in biomedical research. In my spare time I am involved in the NM Celtic Renaissance festival, the St. Andrews Scottish Society of NM and recently joined a band as a tenor drummer following in my mother and uncle’s footsteps.
North Carolina
Colin hails from Glasgow and has been the Central Florida Commissioner since 2018. He sets up tents at the Central Florida Highland games and Mount Dora Scottish Festival each year. Colin hopes to expand his reach as time allows.
Oklahoma
Jim is the Commissioner for the great state of Oklahoma! He is a Finlay by blood, Camp being an adoptive name of his paternal grandfather. His uncle, Calvin Camp, and he have been running their Clan Farquharson tent at the Highland Games and festivals across the state, for two years. They hope to grow our membership across Oklahoma and surrounding states. Jim is an RN in Anadarko, OK, has been married to his beautiful wife, Stacy, for thirty years and has four awesome children.
Oregon
Carried acquired her commissioner status from past president Jim McKeehan. She has enjoyed bringing her daughter up to know her heritage and helping others learn about all things Scotland. Carrie’s husband loves manning the tent as much as she does. Carrie also enjoys riding horses.
South Carolina
Colin hails from Glasgow and has been the Central Florida Commissioner since 2018. He sets up tents at the Central Florida Highland games and Mount Dora Scottish Festival each year. Colin hopes to expand his reach as time allows.
Tennessee
Growing up, Amanda & Emily were always told that their family had a castle in Scotland. It was almost an inside joke, as hardly anyone in their family had ever been to Scotland, save for their grandfather, whose WWII deployment first landed him in that very country on the way to fight in western Europe. They already knew that their mother’s maiden name, Farquharson, was especially unique, but it wasn’t until high school that their curiosity and sense of history collided into the love of Scotland and Clan lore that it is today. They both started commissioner work in the fall of 2015, after speaking with a fellow clansman who encouraged them to share their love of history and culture. They currently work two events each year in their beautiful, adopted home state of Tennessee. They greatly enjoy greeting all of the visitors and hearing about their own genealogical journeys. It gives them such pride to wear their tartan, represent their ancestors, and listen to the skirl of the pipes along with so many others doing the same for their families.
Texas
Since 2019 Richard has had the distinct honor of representing our noble Clan as Commissioner for the Great State of Texas. While growing up listening to stories of our history from his beloved great-grandmother, Lillie Finley Warner, a deep and perpetual sense of pride for our ancient line was instilled in him. From tales of the 1745 rebellion onward, our clan has lived up to its motto: “Fide et Fortitudine”. By faith and Fortitude. Fast forward to the present, and our clan has stretched beyond the seas. But holding onto those most core of values, he is confident we will continue our incomparable legacy for centuries to come.
Utah
Mike has been the Utah Commissioner since 2011. Before that he was a Highland Athlete and in 2009 was the C Class National Sheaf Toss Champion. He retired from throwing and became the Commissioner when his dad could no longer run the Clan tent. He is extremely proud of his Heritage and appreciates what his ancestors went through so that he might not only exist, but also where he exists.
Mike is very patriotic and loves football, hockey, rugby, golf and swimming. At work he manages a team of Blood Donor Recruiters for a local non-profit blood organization. His wife and he are both Paranormal Investigators and will talk ghosts with anyone willing to listen. He likes to cook, and attempted his own homemade Haggis recipe. His wife and he have just about perfected the Scotch Egg and she makes award-winning Short Bread Cookies. He served a 2-year church mission to Connecticut and Rhode Island where he learned to be outgoing, and how to approach people. He has been a socialite ever since.
Vermont
Hello, I am C.A. Wortley, the North East Commissioner. I joined Clan Farquharson USA in 1987 and became the Commissioner in 1995. At that time, I was a full-time performer on the touring festival circuit, traveling as far as Oklahoma, Florida, and Scotland to perform at Highland Games and Celtic Festivals. During the New England summers, I would also attend nearby games with the clan tent in tow. I often juggled between playing music on stage with my Martin D28 guitar and representing the Farquharson clan on clan row.
However, after September 2001, the tours stopped, and I spent my time running a small kilt shop in rural western Maine and working in law enforcement. In 2006, I went to a lonely mountain to record, write, and search for the meaning of life. After several years of not finding it, I returned to Portland with my studio and held various interesting jobs. I even teamed up with an old friend from Ireland to play at pubs. The last ten years of my working life were spent supervising a security team serving cruise ships at the Port of Portland.
Nowadays, I spend my time split between protecting cathedrals, recording audio and video, puppeteering with Punch & Judy puppets, playing with British model trains, and serenading anyone who wants to listen with my Irish Bouzouki on a bench in the Old Port. And of course, I’m back to traveling with the “wee Farquharson tent” to as many Highland Games as possible.
Wyoming
Bob and his partner Natalie have a clan tent at several festivals in Wyoming. Bob collects names and emails of Farquharsons at these festivals with the aim of spreading our history, increasing membership and finding volunteers. He usually locates our tent near other Clan Chattan clans to create a Clan Chattan row. He generally attends the Wyoming Celtic Festival in Cheyenne.
