Randy Wells of Huntsville started his duties Tuesday as the new director of the HEARTS Veterans Museum.

Wells, who has lived in Huntsville for eight years, takes over as museum director from longtime director Charlotte Oleinik.

Oleinik, who has served as director since 1999, was appointed to the museum’s board of directors May 6 and moved into the role of events coordinator for the museum.

Richie Harris, who chairs the museum’s executive board of directors, said the changes were made because of the museum’s growth and efforts to increase educational endeavors.

The museum is located in West Hill Mall, but will be moving to its new location off state Highway 75 North later this year.

The new museum is scheduled to be completed in September, according to Harris.

The hiring of Wells ends a three-month search for a new director by a committee consisting of board members, museum workers, outsiders from the museum and Sam Houston State University professors.

“We’re elated that we have found a person already familiar with the community, with the abilities to adapt to this new museum and stimulates growth,” Harris said in making the announcement.

“Randy is a people person and understands the directions the board wants to go to facilitate, educate and serve as an inspiration for children and adults concerning our patriotic heritage and the sacrifices made to preserve our freedom,” Harris said.

With his dad being a member of the U.S. Air Force, Wells said he was born in England, but they wound up calling Oklahoma home.

He also is a Church of Christ minister and served as chaplain for the Sam Houston State University football team.

“It’s exciting,” Wells said of being named museum director. “Charlotte and Richie and everybody set the bar high. Just want to continue what they have started and keep it going.”

Wells said he worked with the school system in Oklahoma, obtaining government grants, and he said trying to get grants to help fund the museum will be a major concern.

“I hope we can pick and expand on the education, particularly in the schools in Huntsville and Walker County,” he said. “I think that is a critical part of their vision when they started it and as they have grown and with the new museum it’s time to expand upon that.

“We’re working on some new exhibits that will be on the outside. We’re looking at getting a tank, helicopter, things that will bring exposure to the new museum because it’s going to be very visible.

“As people drive by, they will see a tank, fighter jet. Kids who come to the museum can go up and touch them and get a better understanding of what’s taken place in history.”

Wells said he lived on and grew up around military bases all of his life.

“I think that we need a greater emphasis and understanding of how we’ve gotten to where we are,” he said. “I think we’ve lost a lot of that. I don’t think the young people have the appreciation.

“That is one of the great things they have done here is to bring that to site. When people come in, they can actually see it and talk about their grandparents, uncles, and now fathers, brothers, sisters.

“I am excited about the opportunity. If we can just maintain what they have already started, it will be great.”

Wells said that with the new museum “we anticipate a lot more exposure, anticipate a lot more traffic with the location. We’re really excited about it.”

Harris said the new veterans museum helps develop a museum district in north Huntsville along with the Texas Prison Museum and adding the other military equipment outside the veterans museum.

“On two sides of us, we have Highway 75 with a highway count Monday through Friday of 10,000 cars a day and I-45 Monday through Friday with a daily count of 47,000 cars,” Harris said. “We’re going to see this exposure from both sides.

“What’s going to happen is the attendance at the museum will just increase tremendously. Last year, the attendance at the prison museum was 24,000. We’re hoping for numbers of 40,000 to 50,000 annually as we get set up.

“We’re excited about it and we’re excited about bringing tourism to Huntsville.”