BY SCOT ANDREW PITZER
Times Staff Writer
Buchanan announced his departure as foundation president in a four paragraph press release issued at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
No reason was given.
Buchanan was hired in October 2009 to replace Bob Wilburn, who led the fundraising and management partner of Gettysburg National Military Park for nine years.
“The Gettysburg Foundation’s leadership team and excellent staff will continue to work with the National Park Service to preserve Gettysburg and inspire visitors to understand the importance of this hallowed ground,” Foundation Chairman Robert A. Kinsley said in a written statement.
Buchanan’s resignation was effective Tuesday, according to foundation spokeswoman Dru Anne Neil. She said Buchanan left to pursue “other opportunities.”
Buchanan was the non-profit agency’s second president in its 10 year history. He was not made available to the press during his short tenure.
His salary was not disclosed, although Wilburn made more than $398,000 as foundation president. When the foundation offered the presidency to former GNMP Superintendent John Latschar in 2008, the salary was $245,000.
No details were provided about the foundation’s plans for a new president. The foundation formed in 1999-2000, primarily as the fundraising partner of GNMP. After helping the park raise more than $103 million to construct a new Battlefield Visitor Center and restore its famous Cyclorama painting, Wilburn departed in 2009 to take a position with Carnegie Mellon University.
The foundation is shifting out of a fundraising phase into an operational and management mode. Currently, the foundation — which employs 100 staffers in the peak tourist season — operates the 139,000 square foot Visitor Center.