Earlier this year we announced the recipient of the Gene Stechschulte Award, Mr. Chas Myers. On Tuesday, April 21, the Stechschulte Family presented the award to Mr. Chas Myers at the Spring Band Concert. Above is a picture of Mr. Chas Myers with his wife Beth, members of the Stechschulte family, previous award winners along with Mrs. Rita Illiff and current band director, Mr. Jacob Litwiller, who recommended Mr. Chas Myers for this award. Mr. Myers kept his comments brief that evening to keep the focus on the band students that were showcasing all the time they have been giving to perfecting the songs for the concert. Later he expressed his appreciation of the award in a Facebook post.
"I am very grateful and honored to receive the Gene Stechschulte Award. I wanted keep my remarks brief last night because the audience came to hear the kids play, not me ramble on. Here is want I wanted to say:
First of all, I’m grateful for the support of my family, especially my sister, brother and two of our sons who came last night. Many school districts have policies prohibiting married couples working in the same building. At the end of my first-year teaching in Kalida, when Superintendent John Phillps hired Beth, he said it was conscious decision. He wanted the kids to see a married couple work together. Beth has always a get support throughout my career from teaching the color guard to accompanying the choir and the musicals. I couldn’t have done any of this without her and I share this award with her.
Through my 27 years at Kalida High School I had great support from many of the parents. Many don’t know that Gene Stechschulte was the only man to serve as Music Booster president. In 1980, Bands of America sponsored clinics called “Weekend with the Experts” where could do an entire weekend of drill design, color guard or percussion. I wanted to attend all three, but the school board policy would only pay for one. Gene got the Music Boosters to pay for the other two. What I learned those three weekends guided the rest of my career at Kalida and is still affecting things today. I was always grateful for what Gene did.
Gene and Mary Jane and many of the parents believed in a well-rounded education, as did principal Dick Kortokrax. All the Stechschulte kids were in band and/or choir. With the support from Dick Kortokrax, we were able make it possible for kids to be in band and participate in athletics. It was a great partnership and the main reason I stayed at Kalida.
I am pleased that Lori Klausing and now Jacob Litwiller have maintained the level of excellence with the Kalida Band program. Mr. Litwiller is leading the program into new and creative new directions. I am the longest servicing band director at Kalida with 27 years. My hope if he will break my record.
