About Us--Who We Are

Mission and Purpose | Non-Profit Corporation | Board of Directors

MISSION STATEMENT
Polk County Genealogical Society, Inc. promotes genealogical research by providing educational and research opportunities, offering community services in related fields, and collecting, preserving, and publishing genealogical and historical records.

The purposes of this Society shall be:

1) To encourage the interest in and study of genealogy and the practice of genealogical research, particularly, but not limited to, the ancestry of its members and individuals who now live in, or formerly lived in Polk County, Missouri.

2) To encourage and educate members in the art and practice of genealogical research, compilation and careful documentation and otherwise promote scholarly writing; to maintain and elevate genealogical standards.

3) To encourage the interest in and the expansion of the resources, equipment, and physical facilities which will be the private property of the Society. The gifts and bequests of books, materials, manuscripts, photographs, and financial contributions to the Society, would thereby enable the Society to remain in a constant state of growth and progress.

The Polk County Genealogical Society Research Facility is open four days a week and staffed entirely by volunteers from the Polk County Genealogical Society, a non-profit corporation. The society and its facility is supported entirely by membership fees, research fees, book sales and donations. Over 60 percent of our membership is from areas other than Polk County, Missouri.

Collage of PCGS Group Pictures (not all members were present)
Please visit our Facebook album to see larger versions of each picture with names included

Board of Directors

Cay Sergent, President

Cay grew up where there were more cows than people. However, she has lived in Polk County for over 40 years. After 32 years as an educator, she is happy now to volunteer her time for causes that she believes are important. She loves to look through old family photos, even if they are not hers and delights in hearing stories from the past. She believes that while the history books often tell the stories of the kings, queens and popes – the real story lies with the ordinary men and women who lived out each day in very common ways. She is passionate about saving those stories and memories for future generations.  

Morris Westfall, Vice President

Morris Westfall is a native Polk Countian. He has been many things over the years, but he considers himself a self-employed livestock producer, having raised cattle, hogs and sheep most of his life.  "Morris’ father was a storeowner, not a farmer. His family didn’t own much land, only about 20 acres, but Morris loved working with livestock.  Upon graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a degree in animal science, Morris became a field representative for the Hampshire Hog Association for two years, then the farm news director for KWTO in Springfield, Mo. It was during his time at the radio station that Morris became a pioneer in the Missouri cattle industry." It was his and a colleague's suggestion to separate the Missouri Livestock Association into two groups, one of which became the Missouri Cattlemen's Association in 1968. For his work in the cattle industry and his support of agriculture throughout his career, the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association presented Morris with its Pioneer Award in 2020.
(Ozarks Farm & Neighbor, March 11, 2020 written by Julie Turner-Crawford Link: https://ozarksfn.com/2020/03/11/an-industry-advocate/)
Morris is also a former member of the Missouri General Assembly, serving both as a Senator and Representative for the counties of Barton, Cedar, Dade, Greene (part of), Lawrence, Polk and Vernon.
Morris has lots of stories to tell from all of his adventures over the years and has presented several programs for the society.

Leta Gass, Secretary

Leta Matthews Gass is a fifth-generation Polk Countian and has documented her family back to the
beginning of the county, receiving the very first certificate in the First Families of Polk County, Missouri program for her descendancy from Matthew Glaves Campbell. Leta is married to Charles and they have one daughter, Valary. Leta began volunteering at the library in July 2003, after retiring from 30 years of teaching. She now serves the facility as the archivist, creating finding aids for the collections and preserving/repairing documents, photos, etc. that have been given to the library. She has served the group as president, treasurer, and is currently the secretary. 

Julie Trout, Treasurer

Julie Wollard Trout is a sixth-generation Polk Countian. Julie is a charter member of the Polk County Genealogical Society, which was formed in 1994. She has been interested in genealogy her entire life but the start of her active research came after a visit to a family cemetery at age 13. She graduated from Bolivar High School and then Southwest Baptist University with a degree in History and Sociology. She graduated from the National Genealogical Society Home Study Course in 1995. She is married to Brian and has two adult sons and one daughter in elementary school. Julie tries hard to balance her time between being a wife, mom and genealogy. She spends lots of time on her computer late at night researching!

Betty Doyle, Director at Large

Betty grew up in the city but, during her high school years, she moved to Polk County. She attended Southwest Baptist University and studied accounting. She is a long-time member of the Bolivar United Methodist Church and serves on the Missions committee. Betty is retired and busy doing volunteer work at PCGS and the Polk County Christian Social Ministries, including the Share Your Christmas program. She enjoys researching her family history as well as helping others. Awards include the Bolivar United Methodist Women’s group Special Mission Recognition award in 2005 and, in 2013, the Bolivar Rotary Club Civic Service Award. 

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Copyright 2003-2025, Polk County Genealogical Society, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Last revised: March 2024

Located on the southeast corner of the courthouse square in Bolivar, MO