Our

FOUNDATION

Team

Jackie “Jack” L. Hatfield, Jr.

President
Author
Curator

Jackie “Jack” Lee Hatfield Jr. is a direct descendant of William Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield, the patriarch of the Hatfield family during the infamous Hatfield-McCoy feud. Jack is the 3rd great-grandson of Devil Anse Hatfield and serves as the President of the Hatfield McCoy Family Foundation. He is also the curator of the Hatfield McCoy Museum, where he works to preserve and promote the history of the Hatfield and McCoy families.

In addition to his family heritage, Jack is an accomplished author. He has written An American Vendetta: Legend of the Hatfield McCoy Feud, which explores the history and legacy of the feud. He is also the sole author of Eat’n With The Hatfields, a family cookbook that shares recipes from the Hatfield family.

Jack holds an MBA with a specialization in Organizational Leadership from American National University in Salem, VA. His professional background includes significant experience in executive leadership and sales, having worked with major companies like Verizon, Cigna, Anthem, and Florida Blue Cross and Blue Shield. He has a deep commitment to peace, diversity, and equality, which he advocates through his speeches, appearances, and writings.

Jack is also actively involved with the Hatfield family’s historic sites. He owns Devil Anse Hatfield’s homeplace in Sarah Ann, WV, which features a family museum, gift shop, and gem mine. This property is part of the Hatfield-McCoy Trails system and is a popular spot for tourists and history enthusiasts.

Jack’s work and public efforts focus on healing the historical wounds caused by the Hatfield-McCoy feud, advocating for reconciliation, and sharing the legacy of both families in a way that promotes understanding and unity. In 2025 Jack was awarded the WV History Hero Award from the WV Department of Arts, Culture, and History.

Jack Hatfield Jr.’s Family Origin / Family Tree:

William Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield (3rd Great Grandfather)
- Robert E. Lee Hatfield (2nd Great Grandfather)
  - John B. Hatfield, Sr. (Great Grandfather)
    - John B. Hatfield, Jr. (Grandfather)
      - Jackie L. Hatfield, Sr. (Father)
        Jackie L. Hatfield, Jr

Judy Hatfield

Representative (Original Founder)

Direct descendant, is the 2nd Great Granddaughter to Devil Anse Hatfield. Her goal was to protect and save the original home site of the famous leader of the clan, she created the Hatfield’s & McCoy’s Foundation in hopes of accomplishing much more.

As a Philanthropist, she enjoys bringing others to connect their talents and history and good will to a destination for all to enjoy to the great States of West Virginia and Kentucky.

James Aaron Hatfield

Representative

Aaron is a Direct Descendant of “Devil Anse” Hatfield. He was also the Chairman of the Wyoming County Republican Executive Committee, since 2017. He is co-owner of a small natural gas producing company since 2019. Aaron is married with 2 daughters, when not working he spends most of his time coaching sports, and helping his family achieve greatness!

Brandon Kirk

Board Representative / Historian

Brandon is the official historian for Logan County, and has focused his whole life on learning, and preserving Appalachian history, specializing in the Hatfield and McCoy feud history.

Brandon joins our team with an impeccable Bio, He is a 1990 graduate of Harts High School, a former Library Assistant at James E. Morrow Library, Research and Writing at Hartford Music in Tennessee, former substitute Teacher at Lincoln County Schools, former reporter for at Lincoln Independent Newspaper and the Logan Banner, former Advanced Placement History Teacher at Harts High School, former Teacher at Chapmanville High School and Placement History Teacher and currently an Associate Professor of History and the Historian for the City of Logan a member of the Logan Lions Club, Logan Kiwanis Club and the International Order of Odd Fellows, Logan Chapter #274 in Logan, West Virginia.

Cher Smith

Representative / Secretary

Cheryl (Cher) Kandra-Smith is a dedicated healthcare professional, genealogist, and historian with deep ancestral ties to the Hatfield and McCoy families. She is the 3x great-granddaughter of Basil Borden Hatfield and Nancy Jane Lowe and a many-times great-granddaughter of “Old” William McCoy and Cordelia Campbell.

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Cher spent much of her childhood in the hills of Kentucky, particularly on Joe’s Creek in Coal Run Village, where her great-grandparents, George and Lona Smith Gross, had a farm. It was there that she developed a deep connection to her family’s history, walking the same land where Basil Hatfield once served as Sheriff.

Cher later pursued a career in public service, becoming a nurse, firefighter, and EMT before earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Management. Despite her demanding career, she always nurtured a passion for genealogy. She began researching her family tree at just fourteen years old, interviewing relatives and gathering stories from anyone willing to share. Today, her research has grown into an extensive family tree with over 50,000 names.

Cher serves as the board secretary and property manager for the Devil Anse Hatfield Homeplace in Sarah Ann, WV. constantly working with Jack Hatfield to preserve and celebrate their shared heritage.

Benjamin C. Morgan

Board Member

Ben Morgan brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in aerospace operations, contract management, and procurement across both military and civilian sectors. A proud veteran of the United States Air Force, Ben has overseen multimillion-dollar government contracts and led cross-functional teams supporting global Air Force operations.

He holds a Master of Science in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and multiple technical and leadership certifications, including a Six Sigma Green Belt. Known for his precision, integrity, and commitment to continuous improvement, Ben is dedicated to advancing the Foundation’s mission of preserving and sharing Appalachian heritage.

Ben lives in Ohio with his wife and two children, where he’s known as an amazing father and mentor who brings the same dedication to family life that he’s shown throughout his distinguished career.

Melissa Shawn Plumley

Board Member – Communications & Outreach

Melissa Shawn Plumley is an educator and communications professional based in Logan, West Virginia. She serves as a Social Media Manager and Project Consultant with MSP Solutions, where she develops digital marketing strategies and creates content for nonprofits, tourism organizations, and local businesses.

Melissa has also been an elementary school teacher with Logan County Schools since 2007. Her work often focuses on promoting Appalachian heritage, community engagement, and storytelling through modern digital platforms.

As a member of the Board of Directors, Melissa supports the Foundation’s communications and outreach efforts while helping expand public awareness of the history and legacy of the Hatfield and McCoy families.

Past

Board Members

Reo B. Hatfield II

Vice President

He has over 40 years of experience in executive management and transportation logistics industry, and co-founded Reo Distribution Services, Inc., where he served as the company’s President for 31 years.

He has also taught transportation law at colleges in Virginia and Georgia and received awards for his contributions to transportation from both states. Hatfield is a graduate of the College of Advanced Transportation held at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.

He is most well-known for brokering and writing the truce that ended the famous Hatfield-McCoy feud in 2003. He, along with Bo McCoy and Ron McCoy, signed the truce live on national television to an audience of 3.5 million viewers.

He served in the Vietnam War as a Sergeant stationed in Seoul. Later, he also sat on the city council in Waynesboro, Virginia for eight years. He would go on to receive a Distinguished Service Metal and other awards from the Waynesboro Police.

Ron McCoy

Treasurer

Ron McCoy is the great-great-great-grandson of Randolph McCoy, patriarch of the McCoy family during the time of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud. His improbable discovery of his family heritage in 1998 led to his involvement in key events that added new chapters in the history of the families.

In 2000, he organized the first national reunion of the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s in Pikeville, KY. He was one of the principals involved in the historic Hatfield-McCoy Truce signing, broadcast live on national television in 2003. In 2014, he participated in an archaeological excavation of the former McCoy homestead site in Hardy, KY, the first scientific endeavor to recover artifacts from the feud era. The dig, sponsored by National Geographic and the University of Kentucky, was broadcast on the television show “Diggers” in August 2015.

As a proponent of unity between the families, Ron has been interviewed by numerous national and international radio, television, and print-media outlets. He continues to advocate for the development and preservation of Feud-era historical sites in Pike County, KY, and travels there several times a year for events. For the past twenty years, he has spoken about his family history at events around the country. In 2015, he chronicled his experiences of the past twenty years in his first book, Reunion: Hatfield’s and McCoy’s.

A graduate of Campbell University, Ron is an accountant by trade and training. Currently, he serves as the Finance Officer for the Orange County (NC) ABC Board. He is also Chief Financial Officer for Smart Water Smart City, a marketing firm specializing in global market intelligence, business development and marketing strategies for green energy technologies. He and his wife, Bobbi reside in Durham, NC.

Ron’s author page: https://www.hatfieldsandmccoys-reunion.com/

Ron McCoy’s Family Origin / Family Tree:

Randolph “Ole’ Randall” McCoy (3rd Great Grandfather)
- Samuel McCoy (2nd Great Grandfather)
  - Clyde Floyd McCoy (Great Grandfather)
    - Eugene McCoy (Grandfather)
      - Ronald G. McCoy Sr. (Father)
        Ronald G. McCoy Jr

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