Current Directors

Past Directors

Michael M. Miller

As President, Mr. Miller was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company. In 1975, Mr. Miller became the sole proprietor of the Morning Glory Gold Mines. Prior to that, he was self-employed in Santa Barbara County, California from 1965 to 1974. Mr. Miller served as a trustee and President of the Sierra County Board of Education (1979 to 1983 trustee; President in 1983). From 1989 to 2001 he served as a member of the Sierra County Planning Commission (Chairman 1992 and 1993). Mr. Miller is licensed as a California Class A general engineering contractor. He is a member of the American Institute of Mining Engineers. Dissident 16 to 1 shareholders elected him a director in 1977, he became president in April 1979, a position he has held since then; but lost the office four months later in a shameful coupe de tate. He regained the office in April 1983. In 1965, Mr. Miller received a B.A. from the University of California at Santa Barbara in combined Social Sciences-Economics. He was born in Sacramento, California.

President’s Annual Messages [Click Here]

Hugh Daniel O’Neill

Thirty years ago, Hugh Daniel O’Neill was described as “an innovator, a creator and a professional troublemaker” in a Forward to a collection of Odd Bodkins. For seven years his Odd Bodkins cartoons ran daily in The San Francisco Chronicle and in 350 other newspapers throughout the world—the youngest cartoonist ever hired by a national syndicate. He was born April 21, 1942.

Dan O’Neill elected to our Board of Directors in June, 2002, responded with a series of drawings to inform the mining world of highly questionable over-regulations in the industry:

“This is a Sideways. When I first read the attacks. I thought I should write a Backward, to deny everything in the Forward, but a Backward seems Retrograde – so this is a Sideways. Sideways is where you go when you don’t want to go Backward and you can’t go Forward. I’m still denying everything, but accepting it all. Let me make that perfectly clear.”

Robert Beso

Robert John Besso was born in Sacramento. Just out of high school, he drew Draft # 32 but joined the US Army 101st Airborne Division where he was assigned to tanks. Once in Vietnam he was promoted to Sargent at age 19 and took POINT for nine months. In 1971 he was decorated with two bronze stars (combat infantry badges): oak leaf cluster and V for valor. He earned Soldier of the Month and was the personal body guard for Officer Coast. He declined the offer to continue his military career at West Point and almost died from malaria. He returned to California attending American River College and El Camino College. Robert decided to cut hair which he has done for thirty-eight years. He has continued to serve our country with 25 years working with Alcoholics Anonymous, Jail and Prison inmates, Boys Ranch and Teen Substance addiction groups. He has and continues to take “point” to protect the things that he values.

“Like farmers and ranchers, the miners have value. The Sixteen to One is a reality and will work to reduce the ignorance about mining.”

Scott Robertson

Scott has been active in the Company as an outside accountant since 1984 and was a director from 1999 until 2016. In 1991, Scott co-founded the CPA and business development firm Robertson, Woodford, & Summers, LLP located in Grass Valley, California. Currently he is CEO of Emerald Cove Marina, a full service marina at Bullard’s Bar Reservoir and President of the Nevada County Broadcasters Inc, a local radio station group. Scott also serves on the board of a high tech company and a local toy company.

His community service includes Past President of Rotary Club of Grass Valley, Nevada County Economic Council, Nevada County Business Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Scott is a graduate of University of Santa Barbara in Business in 1981 receiving his CPA certificate in 1986. Scott resides in Nevada City, California with his wife of over 30 years Debra, a graduate of University of Santa Barbara. They have three sons, Trevor, Keith and Dan.

Andrew Yeiser

Served as a director of the Company from 2010 to 2013.

He took an active interest in Original Sixteen to One Mine for 18 years. In 1992, at Michael Miller’s request, he took his ground penetrating radar (GPR) equipment in the mine to investigate the possibility of using GPR to locate gold deposits at distances greater than the range of metal detectors. The concept was proven by the detection of echoes. “The mountain is transparent to radar!” was the surprised remark of Lambert Dolphin, Stanford Research Institute’s GPR expert who assisted him. The proof of concept was successful, yet the equipment had been designed for surface use and was not suitable for use in a mine.

Mr. Yeiser held a BA in Physics from MIT and a MA in Physics from UC Berkeley, a professor Emeritus in Computer Engineering at UCLA and UCI and taught classes around the world. He was project manager of the Polaris Atomic Submarine satellite navigation computer, ANBRN-1, project manager of the first MILSPEC computer, ANUYK-1, Director of the California State Water Project (Feather River) Completion and Activation Phase contract at North American Rockwell, project Apollo Lunar Landing Program Information, Systems Director at North American Aviation.

Mr. Yeiser’s directorship initiated a beta testing a GPR system designed specifically for use in the Sixteen to One Mine. His work is visible on the 1000 foot level south of Tightner Shaft.

Steve Wilson

Served as a director of the Company from 2002 to 2003.

He has over 30 years experience in the brokerage business working in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. He retired from the industry as a broker dealer/member of the Pacific Stock Exchange in 1994 where he was a floor trader of corporate bonds. While at the PSE he was the local gold analyst being interviewed on radio and quoted in the San Francisco Examiner. In addition, he was a member of the Listings and Marketing committees.

Mr. Wilson professionally wrote about and provided technical analysis concerning precious metals, gold and silver mining companies along with other financials from 1995 until 1998. Mr. Wilson is currently semi-retired while continuing to provide supportive efforts to the company. He has been a past member of the Sierra Club and he is currently providing financial support to Green Peace. Mr. Wilson graduated from Los Angeles City College with a degree majoring in finance. He was born in Los Angeles in 1944.

Sandor Holly

Served as a director of the Company from 1997 to 2002.

Dr. Holly was employed by the Rocketdyne Division of the Boeing Company from 1976 until his retirement in 1998 as principal scientist in various assignments including, technical direction of high power laser development efforts, leading Boeing’s pioneering efforts in synthesized diamond development and development of various novel electro-optical sensor developments such as the design of Pulsed IR Wavefront Sensors, Electric Interferometric Sensor Systems and multiwave length probe laser design and construction. He is the recipient of eighteen U.S. and several foreign patents including one for the first Free Electron Laser patents issued by the U.S. Patent Office in 1967.

He has been active in national and international conferences in Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Russia, Uzbekistan. He was chairman and organizer of the Diamond Optics Conferences held in San Diego, CA between 1988 to 1992. He was a member of an U.S. Government committee, appointed by the President’s Science Advisor at the White House to review and evaluate Japanese Diamond Technology.

Born in Budapest, Hungary in 1933, graduating from ELTE University of Sciences in 1955, with the following graduate degrees: M.S. (Electrical Engineering) from MIT in 1960; S.M. (Physics) from Harvard University in 1962; Ph.D. (Applied Physics) from Harvard University in 1969. He was appointed to the faculty at the University of Maryland in the Physics Department.

Currently living in Los Angeles with wife Judith, he looks forward to activity at our Plumbago Mine east of the Sixteen to One.

Charles I. Brown

Served as a director of the Company from 1990 to 2001.

Mr. Brown served as the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Integrated Medical Systems, Inc., of Golden Colorado, a healthcare communications company, from 1992 until his retirement in 1997. From 1983 to 1992, he was active as a financial consultant to, and a director of, several banks and corporations. He was formerly Chairman of the Board of American National Bank-Laramie, Laramie, Wyoming, from 1986 to 1992, the Chairman of the Rawlins National Bank, Rawlins, Wyoming, from 1983 to 1991, and the Chairman of the Board of Prudential Bank of Denver, Colorado from 1984 to 1986. From 1974 to 1982, he served as Senior Vice President and Director of Energy Fuels Corporation, a Denver based, privately owned mining company. From 1959 to 1974, he served as Vice President/Finance and Director of Western Nuclear, Inc. Mr. Brown received a Master of Business Administrationwith distinction from Harvard University in 1959 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in geology from William College in 1954. He was born in Bombay, India.

Richard C. Sorlien

Director Emeritus
Served as a director of the Company from 1986 to 1999.

Mr. Sorlien served as a partner for 33 years and of Counsel for five years with the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania law firm of Pepper, Hamilton and Scheetz. Mr. Sorlien served 22 years as a Director of the Glenmede Trust Company in Philadelphia. He also served as a Director and Corporate Secretary of the Cressona Aluminum Company of Cressona, Pennsylvania from 1979 until January 1996. He is a Director of the International Lawn Tennis Club of the United States. He owns the Alaska Mine and Tree Farm in Pike, California. Mr. Sorlien received a Bachelors of Arts degree (A.B.) from Harvard University in 1947, and earned his law degree (L.L.B.) from Harvard Law School in 1949. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Leland O. Erdahl

Served as a director of the Company from 1992 to 1999.

Mr. Erdahl was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for AMAX Gold, Inc. and a Director of Canyon Resources Corporation, Uranium Resources, Inc. and Hecla Mining Company. He is also a trustee for a group of John Hancock Mutual Funds. Mr. Erdahl has been an active participant in the mining industry most of his life. From 1970 until 1984, he held executive offices including President and Chief Executive Officer with Ranchers Exploration and Development Corporation, a diversified mining company. From 1987 to 1992, Mr. Erdahl was President and Chief Executive Officer of Stolar, Inc., a company active in using underground radio communications and geologic imaging to assist mine operators. Mr. Erdahl is a graduate of the College of Santa Fe with a degree in Business Administrations, and is a certified public account. He was born in Doland, South Dakota.

Willard P. Fuller, Jr.

Served as a director of the Company from 1987 until 1992.

He is a registered Geologist, No. 77 and a Certified Professional Geologist. Between 1951 and 1953, Mr. Fuller worked for Original Sixteen to One Mine as a geologist. From 1954 to 1983, he was employed by Calveras Cement Company. He served two terms on the California Mining and Geology Board. He is a member of: American Institute of Mining; Metallurgical & Petroleum Engineers; Association of Professional Geologist Scientists; Phi Beta Kappa; National Historical Society.
Mr. Fuller attended Harvard College, receiving a Bachelors of Arts degree (magna cum laude) in Geology in 1940. In 1942, he received his MSC in Economics Geology from the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California.

Brian R. Van Camp

Served as a director & Secretary of the Company from 1982 until 1992.

Judge Van Camp was a senior partner of the Sacramento, California firm of Downey Brand Seymour & Rohwer. From 1971 to 1974, Van Camp served as Commissioner of Corporations for the State of California.

He served as former Governer Deukejian’s appointee to the California Health Facilities Finance Authority; Director of the California Chamber of Commerce; and the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization (SACTO), serving as President for the 1986-1987 term.

In 2012, after serving sixteen years on the California Superior Court of Sacramento, Judge Van Camp retired to commence serving as a mediator, arbitrator, and judicial referee, specializing in broad business, employment, commercial and real property areas of the law. Lawyers describe Judge Van Camp as well prepared, professional, an empathetic listener.

Mr. Van Camp received his Bachelors of Arts degree (BA) in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley in 1962 and his law degree (LL.B.) also from the University of California at Berkeley in 1965.