|
 Mr.
Robert Bagby, superintendent of Lincoln Community High School took
the podium first acknowledging that, “Telling a kid how well he/she
is doing, sending a note that is highly positive, taking time for a
phone call to tell a parent or a student that you appreciate all his
or her efforts” is what made Mac a legend to so many kids who passed
through the LCHS Fine Arts Department.
LCHS superintendent
Robert Bagby
Turning
to Mac he said, “Mr. McLaughlin, you thought back in the day that
your true passion went unnoticed. I hope you can now always look
back and realize that your passion did matter.”
Jim Mammen
Jim Mammen, president of the LCHS Board of Education stepped forward
to share that during Mr. McLaughlin’s reign at LCHS he taught
English, Speech and Literature. His true passion, however, was
teaching performing arts.
Mr. McLaughlin’s crowning achievement was to coach the 1981 speech
team to a State Championship. “In addition to directing hundreds of
productions, he oversaw the massive renovation of the auditorium in
the fall of 1991. It was the auditorium that symbolized Mr.
McLaughlin’s commitment to his students and it was in the auditorium
where he created tradition for his students and for the school.”
Now the auditorium has a name and plaque recognizing all those years
and efforts: The Dan “Mac” McLaughlin Stage.
Mr. McLaughlin took center stage to say, “It’s not a big surprise. I
had support from the board of education and my administration
basically from day one.”
[to top of second column] |
Mac
went on to share memories of his students and his time in the
theatre department at LCHS. He explained to the students in the
audience that he used to help with Fall and Winter Play, Spring
Musical, Group Interp, Contest Play, and something they no
longer have, Radio Play.
Mac and his wife, Mary, spent their 25th wedding anniversary in the
auditorium. She brought his suit and tie and when rehearsal was
over, they went to the Tropics for dinner. Mary often would go home
to find furniture or lamps missing from the house because it was
needed for whatever production was taking place at the time.
Dan and Mary
McLaughlin left with son and daughter-in-law Tom and Brittney
Mac thanked everyone in attendance saying “I am extremely humbled.”
He thanked his sons, Mike and Tom and their wives, Colleen and
Brittney for spearheading this tribute. He thinks that probably
close to 2000 students “crossed the boards” of the stage during his
teaching career. Those students “became wonderful people who learned
how to communicate because of theatre.”
The McLaughlins with Dan's former
student
Jay Schwalbach, Class of '74.
[Lisa Ramlow] |
