Murrysville speaker series will explore stock investing, history’s mysteries and life as a Civil War general
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The Murrysville Recreation Department’s spring speaker series will give the public a chance to hear from local historians, a resident who served three presidents as the chief steward aboard Air Force One and the man who won the Civil War for the Union.
Well, that last one might not be fully accurate.
That said, Ken Serfass, 53, of Gettysburg makes a pretty convincing General Ulysses S. Grant. In fact, the former Marine even fooled one of the 18th president’s descendants during a presentation at Grant’s tomb in Manhattan’s Morningside Heights neighborhood.
“She asked if she knew me from somewhere, and I told her I didn’t think so,” said Serfass, 50, who was dressed in full military garb as the Civil War general and former commander-in-chief. “Then she told me I looked more like Ulysses Grant than any of his living blood relatives.”
With a hand-rolled cigar clamped between his fingers, Serfass-as-Grant has toured the country with an interactive presentation, taking listeners through his childhood in Ohio, his time at West Point, his exemplary service during the Mexican-American War, and, of course, his command of the Union Army that led to General Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, Va., and the end of the Civil War.
Serfass will bring his Grant presentation in a virtual format via Zoom on May 7.
“We actually served together in the Marine Corps,” said recreation Director Carly Greene. “He’s very knowledgeable about all of the history surrounding Grant and the Civil War.”
Here is a small portion of Serfass’ 2017 presentation at the Penn Area Library:
Additional presentations
Hobby investor Mike Zetwo will also give a virtual presentation about casual stock investing, via four-part Zoom series March 4-25. The series, however is not related to the recent RobinHood trading situation that has been in the news, recreation officials said.
The series will include two presentations with limited in-person attendance.
On April 22, local historian Mike Silvert will give a presentation on his experience traveling to Nikumaroro Island with the National Geographic Society in hopes of uncovering what happened to famous pilot Amelia Earhart.
And on May 13, John Haigh Sr. of Murrysville will talk about his experience serving presidents George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter as the chief steward of Air Force One.
All of the programs are free, but registration is required. You can do so by going to MurrysvillePArecreation.com and clicking on “Adult, Teen & Family Programs” under the “Programs & Events” menu.