Van Greenwood
Joplin, Missouri

2005 Caller / Cuer Hall of Fame

Van Greenwood began calling in 1954 after taking beginner square dance lessons in 1952. In 1955 he, along with two other couples, started the Shirts and Skirts Square Dance Club. He became the caller for a club in Sarcoxie, Missouri, in 1956. He and another couple started the Carthage Maple Squares. Later on he became club caller for the Crosstrailers in Raytown, Missouri, and has been caller for several clubs in southeast Kansas and northeast Oklahoma. Van is the presently the caller for the Western Twirlers Square Dance Club in Joplin. He became their club caller in 1988.

He calls for clubs throughout southwest Missouri, southeast Kansas, northeast Oklahoma, and northwest Arkansas. Van has served as featured caller for the Northeast Oklahoma State Festival. Van enjoys calling for special exhibition dances, benefits, and workshops, and is often asked to call for those activities throughout the area. He has been invited several times to Fun Valley in Colorado and to the North East Oklahoma Square Dance Association festival as the Featured Caller. Many times, he has enjoyed calling in Germany while visiting his wife's family.

Van and his lovely wife Elfriede, a native of Germany, have been married 22 years. Van meet Elfriede while she was taking beginner square dance lessons in 1981 and finished teaching her to dance and became his "Taw". According to Van, 'Those have been great years together. She encourages me in my calling. She is my blessing."

Van has helped support many square dance functions throughout the years including the area Kidney Foundation Dance and Cerebral Palsy Square and Round Dance benefit. Van has been teaching a beginner square dance class on Monday nights the last five years. He also has included a workshop for beginners before his club dance.

Presently Van has "not" semi-retired in calling or his personal life. He has taken up painting in the last year, besides his singing ability with his church and The Choral Society.

To Van and Elfriede we offer a hearty thanks for many years of service to the community of square dancing, and present Van the 2005 Caller Hall of Fame award.