Jackie and I took square dance lessons in 1979-80, the year we moved back to Nebraska from southern California, where I had been a teacher and elementary principal (19 years). I was born and raised in Elm Creek, Nebraska, and graduated from Kearney State Teacher's College (now UNK) in 1960. I was recruited to teach in Southern California that year. I was hired as the Middle School Principal in Ogallala in 1979 and retired from that job in 2003, after 43 years in the field of education. (In 2001, I was named Nebraska's first-ever Middle School Principal of the Year.)
Around 1983, I got interested in becoming a caller, and started "dabbling" in it. I enrolled in a caller's school in Kansas and soon realized there's more to it than meets the eye. I'm still learning the trade and will be learning until the day I quit calling. Jackie also began cueing and teaching round dancing (and clogging) about 1984 and continues to this day cueing the rounds nearly everywhere I call. She also began doing some singing calls with me, so she stays busy at my dances. We both truly enjoy this activity and plan to continue until we have to stop. We have met the nicest people dancing, calling, cueing, and through Jackie's apparel shop and value these friendships immensely.
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