Please join us for lunch!

For our meeting Monday, December 8th, 2025, we welcome 
Rick Peterson, Doolittle Raiders. 

Richard Burton “Rick” Peterson is the founder of The Doolittle Raiders Remembrance Project, an initiative dedicated to preserving and sharing the extraordinary story of the World War II Doolittle Raid. His family holds a direct connection to this history. His uncle, J.C. Townsend, and his father, Dan Peterson, were involved in the OSS screening and evaluation of B-25 crews whose skills would influence selection for the top-secret mission that became the Doolittle Raid. Their wartime work also led to a family love story, making this history deeply personal for Peterson.

Beyond his commitment to honoring the Raiders, Peterson is well known throughout the Midlands for his decades of leadership in broadcasting, community engagement, and regional development. A graduate of the University of South Carolina’s School of Journalism, he has served in roles ranging from radio station management to President and CEO of the Lake Murray Chamber of Commerce. His community work includes promoting heritage tourism, supporting local history programs, and highlighting the cultural and economic value of the Lake Murray region.

Through his speaking, storytelling, and historical advocacy, Rick Peterson continues to ensure that the heroism of the Doolittle Raiders—and the legacy of the families connected to them—remains alive for future generations.