We Are Family - The TOPS IN BLUE Priors Newsletter

The TOPS IN BLUE Priors Newsletter, Vol. 6, No. 1, January 1999

A HOLIDAY MESSAGE FROM TOM EDWARDS

As we look to 1999, Linda and I would like to take this opportunity to wish each member of our TOPS IN BLUE Family a joyous holiday season and the very best for the coming new year. As I reflect on the upcoming year, there are some concerns I feel I need to address.

The first issue is regarding the bulletin board on the TOPS IN BLUE website. I feel it is important to allow people to reach our priors, particularly family members of those on tour.

In writing messages on the bulletin board, however, I must ask that we use it in a positive and uplifting way. It is not the place to air "dirty laundry" or to make negative comments about the program or family members. Keep in mind as a TOPS IN BLUE prior, you are never out of the public eye and there are always those out there who are looking to see us fail. We must not give them this satisfaction by making negative remarks on the bulletin board.

The need to maintain family integrity is of paramount importance. If you have something negative to discuss, use e-mail or some other form of communication. The bottom line here is "keep it on the bus," not on the website.

The other issue concerns the survival of the program. In order for TOPS IN BLUE to continue, it is imperative that we have increased participation Air Force-wide. To this end, you as TIB priors must get involved and help drive the program at your local bases. Times have changed, the recreation centers that were the focal point of the talent program are gone, as are many of those center directors who had a firm grasp on the program.

Today's Community Centers are trying to maintain the participation, but they desperately need our help. They need people who, from their experience in TOPS IN BLUE, can communicate what the program is all about and tell prospective participants what the rewards are. They need people who can help contestants prepare themselves for Worldwide and so they can put their best foot forward and succeed. Most of all, they need people to come forward and help them to find talented individuals and inspire them to participate.

Each of you must make a conscious effort to help. This is your program and I must count on each and every one of you to do what you can to help keep it going. I hope you will make a pledge this year to continue to involve yourself in the program and that next year we will see the fruits of those efforts.

Once again, I wish each of you a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous 1999.

Tom Edwards

TOPS IN BLUE '98: PACAF, WWTC AND INTO THE HOME STRETCH

TOPS IN BLUE 1998, "Red, White, Rhythm and Blue" will finish its PACAF swing and be on their way to Andrews for the AF Worldwide Talent Contest, January 15-22, before heading into the final segment of the tour.

TIB '99 STAGING TO BEGIN ON 1 APRIL; ASSISTANCE NEEDED

Following the 1999 Air Force Worldwide Talent Contest, which will be held at Andrews AFB, MD, January 15-22, staging for TOPS IN BLUE '99 will commence on April 1st with the worldwide tour beginning in early June. Assistance is needed in all areas for staging. If you can help, please contact Air Force Entertainment (AFE) immediately at (210) 652-6566. In addition, Tom is looking for any songs which may be suitable for this year's show. If you have any suggestions, please contact the office with the song title and artist.

LUCKY SEVEN FROM '57 REUNITE IN AN IRONIC TWIST OF FATE

Our TIB family members continue to be reunited with each other thanks to our website, newsletter, word of mouth, and sometimes a little bit of ironic luck. In an incredible twist of fate, seven priors were recently reunited. Here's the story: It begins with Jane Bunker Overy, TIB '57 who moved to Searchlight, NV 18 years ago.

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Oddly enough, when she moved there in 1981, she noticed in a newspaper that an entertainer named Jac Hayden was performing at the Landmark Hotel in Las Vegas. She wondered if it could it be the same Jac Hayden she toured with on TOPS IN BLUE in 1957? Curious, she went to the show, and sure enough it was! Jac was there performing with Siegfried and Roy and Joan Rivers. They met and continued to keep in touch. At the time, Jane had also been keeping in touch with another member of the '57 group, Marion Peet, now a retired postal employee and living in Jamaica, N.Y. She put Marion and Jac in touch and so it was the three of them hooked up, still wondering what happened to many of the others they toured with.

Meanwhile, during her time in Searchlight, Jane served on the Town Board and on several Clark County (NV) committees. She founded a museum and became well known in this tiny community southeast of Las Vegas. When it came time for Searchlight to put on its Centennial Celebration in '98, the town turned to Jane. In need of an MC, Jane turned to Jac, her former TIB cast member. Jac is still performing in Las Vegas as "Mundane the Grate," the same act he did in the '57 show.

Jac decided it would be nice to round up some additional talent for the event and having earlier located the TIB website, he put the word out that he was looking for TIB priors from the 50's. Through the website, that word managed to reach Pat Williams who runs a bed and breakfast in Oregon and who just happened to be another cast member from '57. Website guru Bob Morrow saw that note on the site's bulletin board and promptly called Pat to give her Jac's phone number. She hadn't seen or talked to Jac in 41 years!!!

But the story didn't end there! Jac then put Pat in touch with Jane, who in turn put Pat in touch with Marion. As it turns out, Pat had remained in touch with three other cast members from that fabled '57 tour -- the Air Chords: Phil Schwarz and Rick Wilson who live in Illinois and Frank Williams who lives in Ohio. So of course, Pat put Jane, Marion and Jac in touch with them. In all, seven TIB priors from the '57 tour were reunited. And now they hope to remain in touch and continue to look for other members of the group. And isn't it ironic that this story all began in a small Nevada town called what else -- Searchlight?

HOLIDAY CARDS TO COLONEL AL REILLY

Once again this holiday season presents us with an opportunity to say thank you to Colonel Al Reilly, who created TOPS IN BLUE in 1953. Tom Edwards and I believe that each and every one of us owes a continuing debt of gratitude to Col. Reilly and ask that you join us again this year in sending holiday wishes to him. Send your cards to: Colonel Al Reilly, 1625 Vickers Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 88091-8122.

SPOTLIGHT: Where are They Now?

Name

Specialty

Tours

Saundra Y.F. Herbert

Vocalist

Tops In Blue '88 (The Magic of Imagination)


'90 (Spirit of the 90's)


'91 (Tribute to America)

Saundra is still in Air Force blue and is currently stationed at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. She is assigned to the 20th Aeromedical/ Dental Squadron. Married to Khalil Wahid, Saundra has three daughters, Alexie 5, Aaliyah 4, and Aayahna 2. She says that as you can see, she's been busy since her last tour!

Name

Specialty

Tour

John Nadeau

Logistics

Tops In Blue '88 (The Magic of Imagination)

Having departed from the Air Force, John currently lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He owns an 18-wheel "big rig" and drives it for a living in and around Colorado Springs and the surrounding area. On the entertainment side, John is currently singing with a 50's "Doo Wop" group and loving it. He's married again and says he couldn't be happier.

BLUE NOTES

Congrats to Golden Roger recipient Antoine B. Wilson on his retirement from the Air Force! Here's an update on the current AFE Staff: Ms. Beckey Fine - Operations Coordinator; Ms. Bonny Handzlike - Finance & Logistics Coordinator; Ms. Carol Sudy - Tour Coordinator; Mr. Bernie Rone - Production Coordinator; Mr. Marty Patton - Technical Director. The address for AFE is 10100 Reunion Place, Suite #403, San Antonio, TX 78216 and the phone number is 210-652-6566. (DSN 487-6566)