On behalf of its participating research scientists and laboratories, volunteer research groups, individual DNA sample submitters and countless thousands of witnesses now vindicated, the Sasquatch Genome Project wishes to extend our deepest gratitude to its primary benefactor, Wally Hersom of Henderson, Nevada. His generous support ensured that the Sasquatch species’ existence would not only be proven, but more importantly, that they would be recognized as a people deserving of our respect, our stewardship and our commitment to a greater understanding of their nature and way of life.

Wally Hersom was born on a small farm in Compton, California, in1935. He graduated with a BA degree in music from California State University at Long Beach. After spending two years in the US Army playing the clarinet in the 6th Army Band, he decided not to pursue music as a career. He left the Army in 1960 and spent several years working for aerospace companies in the area of electronics.

In 1970, Hersom co-founded a company called LH Research, where he served as vice president of engineering. LH Research was formed for the purpose of power supply development using a new technology of high-frequency switching power conversion. Hersom became known as one of the early pioneers in the development of this technology. LH Research grew to a $40 million company by 1983 because of the success of this new power conversion technique.

Hersom started his own company, HC Power, in 1984. This company was formed to further develop this high-frequency power conversion technology into much higher power levels.HC power’s pinnacle product was a 10,000 amp 48volt power plant. This product was designed into many large switching centers for powering the Internet. In 2000, Hersom sold HC Power to Power One, Inc. He retired as president of Power One’s telecommunications division in 2001.

Hersom pursued his long-time interest in Bigfoot/Sasquatch, and wanted to be involved in solving this mystery one way or another. He went on his first Bigfoot expedition in 2006 with the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO). He helped fund the BFRO and provided a variety of technologies such as trail cams, night vision and thermal imaging devices, etc. Hersom more recently joined forces with the Olympic Project where he learned about Dr. Melba Ketchum’s growing success in Sasquatch DNA research. He started funding Ketchum’s work in 2010.

Adrian Erickson

The Sasquatch Genome Project also expresses its sincere appreciation to Adrian Erickson of British Columbia, Canada, who funded a significant portion of the project’s activities.

Adrian grew up in the bush of northern Alberta, Canada, hunting and trapping with his father at an early age to augment the family’s meager farming income. His first encounter with a Sasquatch was in 1959 when he was seven years old. He had his second Sasquatch encounter at age 16, while guiding American moose hunters. After graduating from high school, the young entrepreneur expanded his guiding and outfitting business into reclamation work for the oil and gas industry.

Adrian’s first love was hunting, and by 26 he had switched strictly to bow hunting. His hobby took him to remote locations in Alberta and British Columbia where he had other Sasquatch encounters. By his 40s, Adrian had grown his business into a large, international group of companies conducting seismic exploration for the oil and gas industry. He also expanded his hunting range, successfully hunting dangerous game in many African nations, armed only with a bow.

In 2001, a Sasquatch crossing the road in front of him was the catalyst that drove him to find out everything he could about these elusive creatures. He became an investigator for the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) in 2003. By 2005, he had talked to hundreds of witnesses who were relieved to finally talk about Sasquatches to someone who took them seriously, and who had seen them himself. That same year, Adrian envisioned secluded estates set in nature, and created Regal Ridge, a world-class acreage development in Osoyoos, British Columbia, Canada, where his two sons Jason and Ryan, work with him today.

In 2005 Adrian also started The Erickson Project, the first multi-site field study of the Sasquatch in both Canada and the U.S., with the goal of achieving species recognition for the Sasquatch.
 





Other support

We also would like to thank the SGP’s other funders: Robert Densford – Texas; David Paulides – California; Richard Stubstad – California and Larry Surface – Ohio, whose research funding is equally appreciated.
 




No testing fees

Because of the generous funding received for the SGP, DNA sample submitters were not charged for the testing and analysis of their DNA samples.
 




Looking to the Future

Further genome analysis and associated research is needed and ongoing to better understand the mysterious and fascinating Sasquatch people and similar "wild people" on other continents. It is hoped that the SGP's findings will encourage the extension of federal research funding for this emerging field, as well as continued private funding.