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January 2008
Live Wires
In April, 1967 the "Dickey Goobers" square dance club was federated with the
Heart of America Federation. The caller was Ted Posey and the club danced every
Friday night at the Delta Wing Service Club, Richards Gebaur Air Force Base,
Belton, Missouri. The sponsoring clubs were: Rhythm 8's, Grandview Squares, and
Town & Country Squares.
At the start of the 1967-68 dance season, caller Ted Posey received orders for
service in Vietnam and Bill Coleman became the new caller for the "Dickey
Goobers". Bill had been calling since 1957, most recently for three clubs in
Tennessee while stationed there.
In February, 1971, at the request of the base commander, the name of the club
was changed to Live Wires Square Dance Club. In keeping with the communication
mission of Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, a symbol of communications was
selected for the club emblem.
In the fall of 1977, caller Peery Lindsey, gave lessons to six couples and
formed the Belmo Tops Square Dance Club. Although the club did not have
sufficient membership to be federated, they were an active club, and had another
class of students in the fall of 1978. In late 1978, the Live Wires visited the
Belmo Tops and had an enjoyable evening of dancing. Caller Bill Coleman, now
retired from the Air Force and in the insurance business, wanted to retire from
calling, and he felt that Peery Lindsey was the caller to replace him with the
Live Wires. In January the two clubs decided that the Belmo Tops would join with
the Live Wires, and both gentleman called for the club for the remainder of the
dance season. In September, 1979, Peery Lindsey became the full-time caller of
the Live Wires and has been their caller to the present time. Bill Coleman
retired from calling, but remained a member of the Live Wires and a big booster
for square dancing, until his death in 1999.
After dancing for many years at the Air Base, the Live Wires, danced for a short
time at St. Matthews Presbyterian Church in Grandview, and Scott Elementary
School in Belton, In June 1981, the club moved to their present dance location,
Hillcrest Elementary School, Belton, Missouri.
Through the years, the Live Wires have been a visible part of the community;
participating in "Operation Handshake" at the Air Force Base and from 1978
through 2004 we have hosted square dancing at Belton Community Days each June.
The Live Wires have had five Knot-Head Trips (driving 100 miles or more to
attend a regular club dance and return the same evening) to Nevada, Missouri,
Sedalia, Missouri, Marshall, Missouri and twice to Brookfield, Missouri.
Starting in 1983, the club members and families enjoyed camp-out week-ends each
summer; first at Pomme de Terre and later at Lynn Valley Lakes. Because of a
decrease in "camping dancers", in 1996 we discontinued the camp-outs and began
an annual picnic for all current and former members. For several years we have
enjoyed an ice cream social in August in anticipation of another dance season.
We have also enjoyed hayrides and wiener roasts.
1967-2007 |
