2023 Hometown Heroes
Magazine

My nomination for Hometown Hero: Tim Searby, A Man for all Seasons
By Dr. John Castelein

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[June 19, 2023]  In every town there are those magnetic personalities that seem to hold a community together through thick and thin. We refer to those local leaders as “Hometown Heroes” and I wish to nominate Tim Searby as such a hero! Every person that I contacted enthusiastically seconded this nomination!

Dr. Paul Boatman says of Tim that he is one of the most effective “bridge-people” he has ever met: “His bridging brings community, church, business, and performance together as a healthier and more diverse entity. Tim is a collegial-style leader who has been willing to serve in such varied roles as minister, businessman, actor, director.” Dr. Boatman says Tim is a genuine “Man for All Seasons” (quoting the title of a famous 1966 play).

Tim sometimes jokes that he grew up in a prison. The reason is because the prison in Albion, where his father was sheriff, was annexed to their family home. Dinelle Frankland, who is also from Albion, has nothing but the highest praise for Tim as her mentor and cheerleader!

Growing up in a prison or not, Tim is, without a doubt, one of the freest men I have ever met: free in his kindness, free in his smiles, free in his services rendered, and free in his devotion to church and community! He has liberated so many people here in Lincoln and Logan County to discover their musical, theatrical, spiritual, and leadership talents! Testimonials as to Tim’s versatility and influence have come to me from every segment of our population.

Tim first came to Lincoln in 1970 to study music and drama under his beloved mentor, David Hargrove. He learned singing and directing from observing Mr. Hargrove’s leadership in The Master’s Men and The Restoration Players (in the Christian school’s drama department). Vera Thomas remembers that it was there that she first became acquainted with Tim.

Starting already in his college years, Tim was performing in and directing plays and musicals at the Christian College and in the Lincoln Community Theater (LCT, where he has served on the board for many years). Notable plays in Tim’s repertoire are Fiddler on the Roof, Godspell, Oklahoma, My Fair Lady, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and I Do, I Do (at the opening of the Maple Club)!

Tim became married to his fantastic partner, Lorna (now, for 48 years)! According to how he tells the story of seeing Lorna for the first time, it was love at first sight for him, and, indeed, they look glowing in their wedding pictures. I noticed that Tim bore a striking resemblance to the young Paul Newman in those pictures!

In an hour-long interview I had with the irrepressible Gossetts (Bill and Jean), they repeatedly emphasized to me that Tim has been a leading visionary for stage performance in Lincoln by his integrity, credibility, and winsome personality. He has recruited many in our county, trained them, and motivated them to entertain the community. Bill and Jean credit much of the appeal of the shows and of the number of local actors and singers to Tim’s joyful personality!

In 1977, Tim and Lorna moved back to Lincoln from Windsor, IL. Tim and Lorna had gone to Windsor after college to work in a church with the music and the youth. Tim returned to Lincoln to work as chaplain under Jim Emerson at the Christian Village. However, after 6 months, Tim was promoted to become administrator of the facility. With obvious pride and joy, he speaks in glowing terms of the staff he worked with for 23 years!

From 2000 to 2010, while Tim was on staff at Lincoln Christian Church, I first met Tim. It was there that both Vera Thomas (as church secretary) and I (as preaching minister) worked closely, for some years, with Tim. Also working closely with Tim at that time was the lead minister of the Christian Church, Tom Gerdts. Both Tom and Tim excelled in providing comforting and beautiful memorial services for the community.

Thinking back on the many years that Tim has preached and sung at Christian funerals, Dr. Boatman has written: “For funerals of my own loved ones I have asked Tim to seek out some not-so-familiar pieces, which he delivered with excellence and good-taste. In doing so he provides a sensitive touch of music that helps bereaved families to cope with tragic loss.” In fact, thinking back on those years of serving the Lincoln community together, Tom Gerdts says he sometimes wondered if Tim had a clone since he was popping up in so many leadership roles!

In 2010, Tim became the Executive Director of Castle Manor. His extraordinary love and caring for the elderly, which is his life’s passion, and one of his outstanding characteristics, originates from his grandmother and grandpa, Edna and August Hering. With obvious emotions. Tim told how his grandparents instilled this love for the elderly in him and Mark, the brother he is closest to.

Kay Dobson commented that Tim has been one of the easiest conductors for her to work with. She also observed that Tim knew how to encourage people to become even better than they would have imagined. Linda Storm, one of Tim’s closest friends, who also regularly plays the piano or organ with him, says: “Tim is one of those rare people who see things in others that they may not see in themselves. Then, he sets about connecting people to best use their giftedness and interests. The end result always reminds us that we are better when working together for a common goal!

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Brandon Davis, who has worked closely with Tim in theatrical performances, both in the church and in LCT, observes: “He approaches every show, sketch or song with integrity and pure joy. He has also instilled the importance of creating a loving community with fellow cast & crew members. The typical theater drama is always at a minimum whenever Tim is at the helm.”

Throughout all this time, we have continued to observe his quiet, persistent, dependable leadership in all these important organizations in our community. He has also directed LAMS, a community choir, for nine years. Dr. Boatman became a member of LAMS and described Tim’s leadership this way: “Through leading by instructing, guiding, running over segments repeatedly, demonstrating, coaxing, and cajoling Tim repeatedly produced a choir performance that bridged genres from Classical to Pop to Broadway to Ethnic to Religious!”

However, following a very serious episode with Covid, that brought him near death, Tim decided to retire from LAMS and is now planning trips and adventures with Lorna. The new leader of LAMS is Dinelle Frankland, part of Tim’s legacy to the community.

Featuring high in the Searbys’ plans are his son and daughter. Emmary (married to Aaron) is beloved throughout our community and church. Jason (married to Robin) lives in New Albany, IN, and has made a remarkable recovery from a very critical surgery for Crohn’s Disease. You should have seen the pride in Tim’s eyes as he lists his three grandchildren: Owen, Eli, and Ella!

So many enjoyable evenings of theater plays, so many inspiring worship experiences, all performed by local talent, are due to his vision and encouragement! Tim’s own singing talent, as well as his skills at the piano and the organ, continue to bring joy and delight to so many in Logan County! In addition, many families in Logan County, like Tom and Karen Gerdts, remember with gratitude the influence that Tim and Lorna have had on their children and family!

Tim and his wonderful wife have been infusing our town with character, laughter, culture, and deeply rooted Christian values for many years. Despite his many achievements and accomplishments over so many years, Tim remains a caring, humble servant. When I asked him if I could nominate him and interview him, he asked for an hour to think it over.

BTW, Dinelle Frankland had warned me that Tim is a giver who always thinks of others more highly than himself. Within that requested hour, however, Lorna called me and said she’d love for me to nominate him, but it would be hard for him personally to give me permission!

Everyone who reflected on Tim and Lorna’s impact on our community has commented on the obvious joy in living that God has instilled in this wonderful couple! Tim, you are one of the major reasons that our group of men gathers weekly at Mama’s Café: we are enchanted by your stories, your infectious laughs, and the obvious joy in living under God’s providence that your presence invites us to!
 

Read all the articles in our new
2023 Hometown Heroes Magazine

Title
CLICK ON TITLES TO GO TO PAGES
Page
Hometown Heroes - a tribute to ordinary people doing extraordinary things 4
My good friend became my hero when she literally saved my life! 6
How lessons from ay high school coach literally saved my life 7
Tim Searby, A Man for all Seasons 8
Fraternal Order of Eagles People Helping People 12
Selfless and giving define Elaine Aue as a 2023 Hometown Hero 18
Retired LCHS Teacher Jeff Cooper - his "Open Door" policy and concern for his students make him a hero in many of their eyes 22
Memorial Behavioral health - A place where heroes serve up solid futures for those with challenges 30
John Guzzardo - An overwhelming example of selfless love and generosity 38

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