Tom Bost ’78 was a former Drama Major at Illinois Wesleyan University. He now lives in Rocklin, CA where he teaches drama and English and performs in the Sacramento area.

Tom was recently nominated for an “Elly”, a performing award for best supporting actor in a comedy. There are over 50 professional and nonprofessional regional and community theaters in the general Sacramento area.

Duck Hunter Shoots Angel is the production that Tom performed in as the Supporting Male.

Congratulations Tom!

Illinois Wesleyan and Delta Omicron Sigma Chapter were well-represented at the National Triennial Conference of Delta Omicron, in July 2018, in the Orlando, Florida, area. Among those in attendance were (from left): Brenda Maurer Dannewitz ’77, Fern Noth, Jennifer Klafeta ’88, Victoria Morford ’20, Jake Scheuring ’20 and Matthew Neylon ’11

David Darling ’79, a partner/shareholder in the law firm Stone & Johnson, Chtd, in Chicago, IL. has been nominated by his peers and selected as one of Illinois Leading Lawyers in Construction Law in 2018. Dave concentrates his practice in construction law, product liability, transportation and general negligence defense work in civil litigation.

Michele (Millotte) Doss ’76 competed in the International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission Dragon Boat Festival, held in Florence, Italy, in July 2018. Michele was a member of the Sarasota, Florida-based team, Survivors in Sync, which finished fourth out of more than 120 boats. The race along the Arno River was very close, with Michele’s team finishing just 1.5 seconds behind the winning team in the 500-meter race. Dragon Boat paddling has become a rehabilitation therapy activity for tens of thousands of men and women who have undergone surgery, and over 3,000 breast cancer survivors participated in the IBCPC Dragon Boat Festival this year.

Congratulations, Michele!

Larry Johnson ’73 of Johnson Photography in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has a book, “SHOW CATS”, just released by Amherst Media that is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble both in Paperback and Kindle version. Larry Johnson is the world’s leading cat photographer and portraitist. His work has appeared in Cat Fancy and National Geographic, and has also appeared on CNN and in CFA (Cat Fancier’s Association) materials. Larry travels widely across the United States and around the world to photograph felines at cat shows. Johnson captures the true personalities of cats in his unforgettable images.

In this book, he shares his favorite photographs, stories, and insights gleaned from cat owners and cats shows held around the world. Cat enthusiasts young and old will delight in this unique and fascinating book!

Here are links to the purchase the book on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble.

Congratulations, Larry!

Dave Lawrence ’79 served as the second base umpire for the 2018 Congressional baseball game on June 14, 2018 at Nationals Park in D.C. The game was first played in 1909 and at its 57th iteration this June, attendance was over 16,000. More than one million dollars has been raised for local charities in 2018 alone due to this event!

Congressman Scalise, who was seriously wounded in the 2017 mass shooting at the Republican baseball practice, was able to return to be the starting second baseman for this year’s game. However, as CNN noted in a profile they did on him the week of the game, his health is still an issue – in particular limiting his mobility to the point that he would not be able to field a ball unless it was hit right to him.

Lawrence recounts what it was like with Scalise at the game: “Well, in a moment that must have seemed like it was scripted (though I can assure you it was not), the very first play of the game was a ground ball right at Congressman Scalise which he backhanded as he fell to his knee, and he then successfully threw the batter-runner out at first. As he did so, the entire stadium erupted”. Here is a link to the incredible play.

Jumbotron picture of the umpire crew – Lawrence ’79 is second from left.

Lawrence ’79 on the infeild with Congressman Steve Scalise, the starting Republican second baseman who was so grieviously wounded in the mass shooting a year earlier to the day.

Congressman Scalise at second base with US Capitol Police officers David Bailey and Crystal Griner, the two officers who saved his life a year earlier. Officers Griner and Bailey helped Congressman Scalise out to his position as the starting second baseman (he normally uses a crutch these days).

Congratulations, Dave!

The Texas Bandmasters Association recently named the George Jones ’77 of Wylie, Texas recipient of the 2018 Lifetime Administrator Achievement Award.

After graduation from IWU, he was offered a full scholarship to attend Southern Methodist University, where he served as the Graduate Assistant Conductor of the Wind Ensemble under the legendary Howard Dunn. While working on his degree, he also served as a member and arranger for the Dallas Cowboy Band.

In 1977, George began his career with the Garland Independent School District serving as band director at Memorial Middle School and assistant band director at South Garland High School with Randy Bartlett. In 1983, he assumed the position of head band director at Lakeview Centennial High School. In the thirteen years that he served as director, the Lakeview Band earned many local, regional and national awards. In 1996, George served as the first band director at the newly constructed Rowlett High School in the Garland school district where he wrote the school’s Alma Mater and Fight Song.

George has served as the Director of Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) for the GISD since 1997. In this capacity, he oversees the daily operations, curriculum, staff development, budget, and staffing for Music, Art, Theatre Arts, Dance and Competitive Speech. Under his leadership, the Garland school district has earned the distinction of being named one of the Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation nine times. Additionally, GISD groups have performed at The Midwest Clinic, Western International Band Clinic, ACDA Conventions, many TMEA Conventions as well as national and international festivals.

George has served as the chairman of the Metroplex Music Supervisors as well as President of the Texas Music Administrators Conference. In 2012, he was named the TMAC Music Administrator of the Year. He is an active member of TMEA, TBA, TMAA, Texas Music Administrators Conference, Phi Beta Mu-Alpha Chapter professional band fraternity and he is a Lifetime Member of the PTA. George has served as a music adjudicator and as a clinician throughout the state.

For 34 years George served as conductor of the Richardson Community Band. During his tenure as the director, the band grew both in size and popularity. He instituted the band’s summer series, which has become a favorite summer activity for families across the Metroplex. In 2010, George was presented with the first “Real Heroes Award” by the Richardson Coalition for his service as conductor of the RCB. In 2011, the Richardson Arts Alliance presented him with the “Lifetime Achievement Award.”
George is passionate about offering the very best possible arts education to the students of GISD.

Read the full press release here.

Congratulations, George!