50 YEARS OF CAVALIERS

Writing anything about high school is a risk.  People, places, events, friends, teachers and others will not be mentioned as they should be.  To preface this with an apology risks immediate boredom for the reader, but I must offer one to all of my friends and teachers whose past (and present) influence are extraordinarily important and not mentioned here.  Anything like this is subjective and hopefully, not maudlin.    Carol Harrison Alley, Class of  72  asked me to write this, and in light of all of her work and that of many others, I couldn’t beg off with “I’m too busy with my wife, children and work”.  I can, on the other hand, narrow the focus.

I’m going to guess 1965.  I knew who he was because my brother Rodney (Class of ’67) had actually referred to this teacher as “cool”.  Teachers, from my limited experience at the time, were not generally cool.  Charles Dunlap was.  He walked into Miss Elizabeth Huntley’s class smiling, well dressed and confidant.  This guy was serious about what he was doing and having fun in the process.  He introduced the entire class to the flute.  Flutes became the thing of the moment; the inexpensive, seven note with an octave key, standard black flute.  The Marines Hymn on this instrument was a big hit.  I can still play it.

Mr. Dunlap showed his colors at the outset.  He used extraordinary patience in teaching the fundamentals and refused to suffer foolishness.  Music was fun, but it was also an art, a science and a source of creativity that required real effort.  But something else was going on.  Music, I think, rewires the brain, especially young ones.  Mr. Dunlap taught a completely different language made of symbols, with Italian keys to unlocking modulation, time and texture.  As time went on, those of us who were still interested picked an instrument and joined the Band.

The level of instruction that Charles Dunlap gave to his students was off the chart.  He was building something that was truly multidimensional.  There was a sense of community in his band and a positive outlook.  Even in the early days, Toby Perdue was rock solid on the snare. Lu Graham was a fantastic trumpet player and could also outmarch anyone on the field.  Patti Barnes could really play the flute (a real one).  John Hatley had a solid saxophone, as did Sam Sharpe.  I know Sam still does.  Rick Godby could play trumpet really well.  Lane Graham and Steve Lomax were great drum majors.  In 1971, the majorettes, as Keith Richards would say, were mighty, mighty fine.  Seven of the eight were from the class of ’72.  Debby Gaskey Sparger, Cindy Whitley Clark, Liz Sales Kahn and all the others had real star quality, check out their pictures in the annual. 

From the beginning, we were taught how to contribute our own part in a greater, common effort.   Spencer isn’t large, but the North Rowan Band was an enormous and genuine source of pride for the community.  And we learned how to learn music, a gift of a lifetime.  Great teachers can do this – teaching their students not only the substantive work but how to approach a problem so that you can invent your own solution.  Frances Driscoll knew how to do this and did.  Her influence was a huge benefit to me in college. As was Elizabeth Huntley, Larry Thomason, Ralph Shatterly, James Lentz and Linda White, to name just a few.

In remembering that time, I remember the music.  Rick Godby called me early one morning in June, 1967 and insisted I ride my bike to his house to hear a new Beatles album “that had dogs, really, dogs barking on it”!  Sgt Pepper was more than good – even better than Britney Spears’ stuff.  Mr. Dunlap was listening to Chicago and Blood, Sweat and Tears.  Music was Important.  Celebrity was good if you had it, but the music was always the driving force.  Now, this is big time backwards.  Celebrity is the grail.  There’s a sameness about radio that’s unbearable.  Even hip hop is homogenized.  In this respect, I miss the old days. 

Mr. Dunlap decided to put it on stage at North Rowan.  I got a part as a withdrawn kid with a lisp, along with others from the Class of ’72.  Suddenly, and every night for months, I got to rehearse with a great cast and crew.   Eric Ellenburg pulled off what is considered to be one of the most difficult songs in musical theater – “Trouble”, and the rest of the male lead.  Bonnie Hutchins was phenomenal as Marian Paroo.    Steve Julian taught me a lot.  And I was privileged to become friends with Tish Stoudemire.  At 13 years old, it was difficult being thrown in every night with some of the most beautiful women on the planet – Rita Russell, Dianne Shuping, Regina Watson, Nancy Simpson and all the rest.  Really.  But, somebody had to do it. 

I have wondered if Charles Dunlap ever identified with Professor Harold Hill.  They had a great deal in common except for the grift.  In the play, Hill wins out in the end because the River City Boys Band can really play.  And they could play because Hill taught them how to believe in themselves, an intangible that Mr. Dunlap would enthusiastically give his students.

The review for the North Rowan production should have read, “Dunlap Hits Grand Slam!”.  The show was a big success and I have never forgotten the experience.  It influenced me during the time I served on the board for Piedmont Players.  What Charles Dunlap taught me directly translated into a passion for building the Meroney Theatre.  I got to help Ed Norvell, Reid Leonard, the Hurley family and many others in creating a great facility.  One of the cornerstones were Tom and Martha Hatley Smith, Martha being (as you may already know) a North Rowan Band alumnus.

I’ve been using what Charles Dunlap taught me recently, after the children have gone to bed.  I’m learning a Pete Townshend song on acoustic called “God Speaks of Marty Robbins”.  The song is so simple, it’s fairly difficult.  But I can read the music and see what Townshend intended.  I can break the song into its component parts and put them back together one by one.  I’ve learned to have enough patience.  And I can truly enjoy it.  I can do this because I was taught how to learn.
 

What do you say to a teacher like this? 

Thanks, Mr. D.  Thanks.

She was the best at North Rowan. I learned so much about children from her. I now have two wonderful kids. Ms. Graham taught how important it is to read to your child everyday.  Start while you are pregnant and when they are newborns. I did that the moment I found out I was pregnant to both of my children. Now I have very smart learners. I owe everything I know to her. Thanks so much Bonnie Graham for your time you gave to North Rowan High School.

When mentioning favorite teachers....I think of so many of the dedicated individuals that taught me much more than the subject...life lessons and character traits that I carry with me today. Mr. Wayne Crowder, a history teacher that made me to look at history in a new light and join the History Bowl Team. Mr. Larry Thomason, someone that instilled in me more than the theories of geometry. The list goes on and on...Ms. Bryan, Ms. Ramsey, Ms. Pinkston, Mr. Black, Mr. Frank Corriher, Ms. Kesler, Ms. Baker, Ms. Bartlett, Mr. and Mrs. Hundley.....all of these individuals have contributed to who I am today and I am so grateful for each one of them and many others that taught so much! 

Kyle Huffman Class of 81