Honored Clan

Northeast Florida Scottish Games & Festival

Florida Scottish Highland Games

Honored Clan

Guest of Honor
and
Chieftain
of the 2010 Games

Douglas J. Fraser

Douglas J. Fraser - Chairman, Clan Fraser Society of North America

Born in 1929 in Hudson, Florida I am the only one of my siblings born in America. By the time I was three years old we had struck our way back to Bracebridge in north Ontario, Canada, where my father had been lumberjacking and prospecting for gold.

We moved from Bracebridge to Toronto in 1940, where my parents opened a rooming house. I attended the local public schools where I met my future wife, Leah.

We married in 1949 and moved to Cleveland, Ohio where I went to work for Industrial Rayon Corporation.

I developed diabetes in those early years, but the medical situation also helped me transition from the factory floor to a research laboratory where I became an assistant.

The years increased and so did the number of kids. We have five boys. Other changes were also on the horizon. My company was purchased by Hercules Inc. and we were transferred to Virginia. Rather than live in Clifton Forge, a paper mill town, we settled in Roanoke, on the banks of Tinker Creek.

This lasted only a short time because Hercules determined to set up a fiber research facility in the Research Triangle Park, located in a central point between Raleigh, the capitol, Chapel Hill and Durham, North Carolina.

It was while in North Carolina that I began exploring my Scottish heritage and with others, was on the ground floor of helping to create the Clan Fraser Society of North America.

In 1978 another company transfer brought us ever further south, this time to Atlanta. The CFSNA flourished in this hot bed of Scottish activity.

I retired from Hercules and as chairman of CFSNA in 1994, both because of bad health. After much recovery I was pulled from my Chairman Emeritus position to once again become Chairman.

Fortunately I have not had to go back to work.

The Society

Castle Fraser

Clan Fraser Society of North America
By Douglas J. Fraser
The Clan Fraser Society of North America found its origins in the 1970s, when it seemed Scottish Highland Games and Festivals were also springing forth.

In the summer of 1970, having recently moved from Roanoke, Virginia to Raleigh, North Carolina, I had heard of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and we decided to attend what was my first Highland Games. The atmosphere and setting were reminiscent of Scotland, with craggy peaks and misty vales.

The Games were much smaller than today and to my dismay I found there was no Fraser representation. Worse, there had never been. The only trace of Frasers was a mention in the program of a Clan Fraser Association in California.

I contacted “Big Bob” Fraser who indicated we could start a cadet branch of the association in our area, but a study of the by-laws and Constitution had me conclude striking out on our own was the better path to explore.

Contact with Angus Ray, editor of “The Highlander” was serendipitous. He said a group of Frasers in the northeast was also coalescing, and perhaps the forces could be amalgamated.

I got in touch with Jack Simpson, who had formed Clan Fraser Society, Inc. in 1975. After much written correspondence and telephone conversation, we had a meeting at the Grandfather Highland Games. Forces were in fact joined, a Constitution forged and the Clan Fraser Society of North America was formed, with its first annual meeting at Grandfather in 1977. Jack Simpson was elected chairman. I became vice chairman, Marilyn Simpson, Secretary and John A. Fraser of New Jersey as Treasurer.

Jack resigned as chairman in December, 1977 for personal reasons and I became chairman.

It was not long after that we moved from Raleigh to Atlanta and the CFSNA “Atlanta Mafia” came into being. This was of course because all of the CFSNA executive committee was from the Atlanta area.

During those years the Society grew and alliances with other Fraser societies, such as with the California Frasers and the Nova Scotia Frasers were sought out. While the efforts were unsuccessful, we have always maintained cordial relationships. We also met with the head of the Australian Clan Fraser Society and helped and encouraged him in his efforts to create a society modeled much on our own.

The Clan Fraser Society of North America has experienced ups and downs and has even seen its Canadian associates spin off into their own orbit, recreating the Clan Fraser Society of Canada. Today we continue to gather as family, attending as many Scottish Games as we can and enjoying our Celtic traditions.

Ron & Barbara Gemmel
of Clan Fraser

The North East Florida Committee salutes with great appreciation, Ron and Barbara Gemmel of Clan Fraser. They have been actively involved with our games and St. Andrew’s Society for many years. The Gemmels recently joined their daughter, Karen, and her family in Canton (North Georgia) where he serves as Secretary of Clan Fraser Society of North America. They continue to traverse the area, attending games and participating as accomplished Scottish Country dancers where Ron is a respected teacher.

Having met at a dance in Hawaii during active US Navy duty, Ron and Barbara celebrate TODAY, February 26, their Golden Wedding Anniversary. We thank you for sharing this special time with us and extend congratulations to your entire family. Slainte’!

Norman & Chris Williams
of Clan Fraser

Norman and Chris Williams are native Floridians, but their roots extend into the Scottish Highlands. Chris’ grandfather migrated from northern Scotland to Nova Scotia , Canada and on to NE Florida . Norman and Chris are members of the Jacksonville St. Andrews Society for many years and have been active in Clan Fraser Society for thirty years. Most of this time Chris has served as Florida Convener for the Clan. She has also served a term as National Vice Chairman.

Norman and Chris have hosted the Jacksonville Games for many years and recently also host the Blairsville, Ga. Scottish Games as they are very near their summer home in Hiawassee , Ga. The highlight of their lives was attending the Worldwide Gathering of Frasers at Castle Fraser in Kemney , Scotland in 1997.

Their love of Scottish activities has led their son Jim and daughter-in-law Barbara into the Clan. Jim currently serves as National Treasurer of Clan Fraser.