Small College Advantages - Part D 1955-1956

This is the last of a series of five postings. If you haven’t read the previous four, please do so now before reading this story.

D. Senior Year 1955-1956

The summer of 1955 up to July 22nd was spent working full time (wasn’t I already doing that?) at the book store. I took my earned vacation and drove back to Kansas City to be married. I left on a Friday night after work and drove continuously until I could no longer see straight. Stopped in Kansas for a three hour nap and continued on to Kansas City. It’s a wonder I got there at all. But we do crazy things sometimes and this I can chalk up to one of those.

Dick & Ann Moore - Married July 22, 1955 in Kansas City, Missouri

After the wedding, we spent our honeymoon driving back to California by way of Colorado. When we arrived back home in Pasadena, we began our life in a duplex at the corner of Carmelo and White. This was owned by one of the teachers at the college and Ann’s traveling sponsor/speaker the previous summer. The duplex was furnished and water paid. It had a kitchen (small), living room, bedroom, and bath. No garage. But it was home to us and we loved it. Paid $45 a month which was a lot considering I made $200 gross a month.

Dick Moore standing at the door of our duplex on Carmelo in Pasadena, CA.

Ann Moore at our front door of the duplex 1956

Ann had a job lined up to work for an insurance company office to help support as I continued to work at the book store. Well, she actually worked for one half a day! Came home very sick and was unable to return to work. Seems that she was pregnant with Ricky and for the next 3 months was too sick to do much of anything. So our married life is off and running at a much slower pace than we had planned. We thought I would be making $200 a month at the book store and she would be making $200 a month at the insurance agency. Now that is cut in half and an addition to the family was going to make an appearance within a few months.

I was in my senior year of college and taking 16 units to complete my studies for graduation. With a very sick wife and a baby coming, my thought went to supporting my family instead of finishing college. Ann’s parents, Robert and Mildred Edwards, came to our aid and told me they would pay the last year’s tuition if I would work and support the family. So that is how I was able to make it financially through my last year of college. We will be forever grateful to them for helping us get through this difficult year.

To me, college was my passport to the future and I needed to complete that if I was ever going to accomplish anything in this life. With taking a full load of studies and working full time as well, this left little time to be a part of the college community. I was not in sports or any clubs. I was living off campus and had little time to socialize outside of our home.

Dave Cole had a part time job of music minister at Central Church of the Nazarene in Pasadena. He got three other guys and a piano player forming a church quartet that sang every Sunday evening. I was the bass and Dave was the first tenor. Each of the guys (except Dave) were paid $5 a week for that one song. Dave got more since he was in charge of the entire music program. The $5 came in very handy and we enjoyed singing together.

My yearbook that year had no signatures or comments written by other school attendees. Apparently I didn’t have time to stick around after I got the book. Since I lived off campus and was married with a child here at the time the book was available, I had things to do that didn’t include finding people to sign my book. I regret that I didn’t get any but that’s life.

My sister, Faye, was a freshman this year at PNC. She appeared in three pictures in the yearbook other than her class picture for activities she was in. She was at the school only one year, my senior year. She attended Whittier College but didn’t graduate. Ann appeared in one of the pictures of the crowd at a basketball game. I was sitting next to her but wasn’t in the picture. Ann was wearing maternity clothes. I just had my senior class picture in the book. At this point I was ready to move on.

Richard Robert Moore born in Pasadena, California. Picture taken in hospital.

On April 10, 1956, our family grew by one with the addition of Richard Robert Moore. This was two months before my graduation. I attended the Senior Retreat in Big Bear as my last social contact with the college students before graduation.
Graduation Day picture of Dick Moore June 1956

Attending and graduating from Pasadena Nazarene College was a highpoint of my life. I met many friends that have become life long friends. Being in the Nazarene church for many years and singing in the Watchmen Gospel Quartet in Nazarene churches, brought me in contact with many of the people I knew at college. Last year I wrote an article about what my freshman year was compared to my granddaughter Emily’s 55 years later. You can read that article here.

Through the years we have attended a number of class reunions held at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. The first one was our 25th. Other reunions were the 30th, 35th, 45th, and the big one - 50th. In November 2006, Dave and Marlene Cole and Dick and Ann Moore attended together the Golden Anniversary of Dick & Dave’s graduation. There were 27 of the 111 in the graduating class of 1956 that attended. It was great to see them again and remember “The Good Old Days” of college. Many of these people had changed so much they didn’t even recognize me!

Here are some pictures from the 50th College Graduation Anniversary held in 2006.

Old Friends - Dick Moore and Dave Cole. Spent four years in college together and a lifetime keeping in touch with each other's families.

Dick Moore, Ross Irwin and Lyle Pritchard. Ross was very active with the college alumni.

Dave Cole, Keith & Sheila Holly. Sheila was still working for the university then.

Dave & Mert Jones. Dave was a member of the Shoremen Quartet from Long Beach for many years. Mert was my first date in my freshman year and a regular at our morning breakfast.

Years ago the alumni sold bricks for the "Alumni Walk" with your name and year of graduation. Here's mine.

Thanks for coming along with me on this memory tour of my college days. Hope you enjoyed reading these postings.

A Celebration Of Thanks (4-8-84)

This coming April, I will be celebrating my 75th birthday! But, just 25 short years ago I celebrated the BIG ONE -- number 50. Ann and I like to celebrate milestones in a big way and she planned a concert in my honor at the church we were attending at the time -- South Coast Community Church in Irvine. I wrote up the story for my company paper as it was unique.

She called the concert “A Celebration Of Thanks”. Here is the story as it appeared in my company paper (edited).

Bulletin insert for South Coast and Liberty Baptist churches.

It’s true -- you don’t turn 50 every day! But it is one of those times of your life that need to be celebrated. Just think -- a half a century!

My wife, Ann, started planning for my party several months in advance and was making it a surprise. However, at one point close to the event, she had to tell me about it since I needed to prepare for my participation. She gave a concert in my honor with a reception following it. For 11 years, I sang with a quartet called The Watchmen Gospel Quartet traveling up and down the coast of California with a couple of trips to Idaho. I left the group in November 1982, turning the bass singing part over to our son, Rick, who did it for 8 years and carried on the Moore tradition. He later started his own quartet called The Crimson River Quartet which is still going though not as active at this time (2009).

Ann wanted to feature The Watchmen in this concert along with other specials. She wanted me to join them so I needed to get together with the fellows and practice once more. It had been 16 months since I sang with them and, frankly, I was a little rusty on the words. Ann also wanted me to sing a solo which is why she had to tell me about the concert ahead of time and not make it a complete surprise.

We had been attending South Coast Community Church in Irvine for about a year when she approached the Board of Directors with a proposal. Could she have the use of the 1850 seat auditorium for a concert to be given in honor of my 50th birthday and invite the church next door, Liberty Baptist, to join us. We’d call it “A Celebration of Thanks,” uniting our two congregations following our Sunday evening Bible study. She also requested the use of the fellowship hall for a reception with cake, punch and coffee. The board thought it was so unique that they gave the use of the auditorium and fellowship hall for no charge. Normally there is a charge for that even though it is only the charge for janitorial services.

Over 300 engraved personal invitations were mailed to friends, neighbors, co-workers, and relatives. A special insert was printed and placed in the church bulletin for three Sundays preceding the concert. The insert was given to Liberty Baptist church also and they used it in their bulletins. An ad was placed in the Orange County Register newspaper featuring The Watchmen Gospel Quartet. A friend who is a caterer was hired to provide the cake and other items needed for the reception.

The Watchmen Gospel Quartet featuring their former bass singer.

One of the reasons we wanted to involve the church next door was the lead singer in the quartet attended there. Also, our church had moved in to this location about six months before and we needed to get better acquainted with them. The music director at Liberty Baptist was a friend of our daughter, Brenda. He and the lead singer for the quartet used to sing with Brenda at La Quinta High School. The two fellows also prepared some musical numbers for the concert.
Ann and I sang in a small group called The Madrigals at South Coast. They were to sing in the concert also. So you see, I had three things to get ready for, and no one would want that just to happen without any practice.











The South Coast Madrigals - Dick Top left -- Ann 2nd from left front row

My uncle and aunt, Ray and Edith Moore from Oklahoma, surprised me and joined us for the celebration. Ray was in music all his life and sang a song for the concert. I had lived with them my last three years of high school.

Uncle Ray Moore singing a solo -- Dick Moore featured on a solo also.

So the big night arrived and, believe it or not, we had about 1,000 at my 50th birthday concert party. And I knew most of them! The quartet sang, invited me to join them, the Madrigals sang, I soloed, Uncle Ray soloed, Danny and Dave from Liberty Baptist performed, a trio called The South Coasters sang, and a good time was had by all. The reception followed with cake cutting, pictures, etc. Ann had a professional photographer and also had the concert put on videotape for my future enjoyment.

Dick & Ann cutting the cake with daughter Brenda looking on.

Relatives that attended the concert and reception.

Looking at the pictures I see many of my relatives who are no longer living. I’m so glad that they were able to participate in my special night of celebration.

Year In Review - OR - What Happened To 2008?

Does it seem like a few days ago that we welcomed 2008? On December 31, 2007, none of us knew what was in store for us in the brand new year of 2008. It’s like that every year. A clean new slate to see what we can do with 365 days to make our life and lives of others better. It’s a mystery out there in front of us waiting to see what adventures we will about to endure.

And now 2009! Here are a few things that 2008 brought us that had an impact on my life. You can add to the list through the Comment section at the end of this post.

1. Since June of 2007, we have planned and saved for our 9th cruise and the first one since 1999. Our daughter’s family wanted us to take this with them since it originates in San Pedro which we can easily drive to because Ann needs her electric scooter to get around. A seven day trip to Mexico. This happened at the end of June. You can read about it and see many pictures on postings written in July.

2. In May we drove to Fresno to attend a Tribute to the Watchmen Gospel Quartet who announced their retirement for the end of 2008. I was privileged to be a co-founder of this group in September 1971 and sang bass for 11 years before turning it over to my son, Rick. Dennis Zimmerman kept the group going through many personnel changes and finally after 38 years of spreading the gospel through quartet music, they are retiring. Congratulations Dennis.

3. July 22, 2008, Ann and I celebrated our 53rd wedding anniversary. Talk about time passing quickly!

4. On Sunday evening, September 7th, I performed in a musical evening at Town & County Manor in Santa Ana. My cousin, Eileen, lives there and she and I put together a pretty good program for the residents of that retirement community. Lots of great comments. You can read about that in September’s offerings.

5. In November we as a nation participated in an election year that didn’t quite go as I had hoped but we have to deal with disappointments as they come. A lot of factors combined to bring about the results in the Congress and the White House. Now we will have to pray for those in leadership that they will use good judgment in handling our national and international affairs.

6. Another highlight in my life came on December 5th as I appeared as Angel Gabriel in a Star P.A.K. production at Coast Hills Church. This was the first time I have performed with my two youngest grandchildren in a program. What an honor! This has also been in a previous posting this month.

7. If you want to watch time pass swiftly, just be around grandkids. I can’t believe that we have a granddaughter in second year of college. Emily is home for the winter break now and we’re very glad to see her again. Her brother, Eric, is now a Senior in Mission Viejo High School and will be graduating in 2009. Hannah is in Middle School in the 6th grade and Rachel is in Elementary School in the 4th grade. Gee - I can remember when all of them were born! And I can remember me being in all those grades - has it really been that long ago? I guess I must be having a lot of fun because time is flying by very fast.

8. Things to look forward to in 2009:

A. My 75th birthday in April. WOW! Three quarters of a century!

B. Son-in-law Scott's 50th birthday in March!
C. My daughter’s 50th birthday in April! She’s always been exactly 25 years behind me. I wonder why that is?
D. Eric’s high school graduation in June.
E. Many school programs and plays my grandkids will be doing.
F. Ann and my 54th wedding anniversary in July.
G. New opportunities to sing and perhaps some acting as well.

I imagine there will be many other interesting things that we will do but that will be noted in future postings. Thanks for being along for the journey this year and let’s all hope for a great year in 2009.

My family all wish you a wonderful and Happy New Year. May it be your best year ever!

Dick & Ann Moore - 53rd Wedding Anniversary Portrait

Anne, Emily, Eric, and Rick - Christmas photo 2008

Hannah, Brenda, Rachel, and Scott -- Christmas photo 2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009 from the Dick & Ann Moore Family!

Early Television - Part 2

When television started in the late 1940s, the sets had channels 2 through 13 - no remote - and you “clicked” through the channels to find the one you wanted. No instant going to a channel like we have today. In most TV markets, this was enough channels to satisfy the demand. In Kansas City, Missouri, for instance, we had one channel at first and then quickly grew to three. Channels 2, 4, and 7 became CBS, NBC, and ABC as time went on in major markets across the United States. Independents carried programs from all networks depending on what they wanted to show.

As the demand grew for more channels, another frequency was developed called UHF - Ultra High Frequency. These would be channels above number 13 and you had to have a converter attached to your set with a special antennae to receive these channels. These stations were “dialed in”. No clicking - just turn the dial like you did on the radio to the position that brought that station in the best.

From September 1971 to December 1982 I sang bass with the Watchmen Gospel Quartet mostly in Southern California. Our first TV appearance came on October 15, 1973 on a new station which appeared on UHF Channel 46 called Trinity Broadcasting Systems. It was a two and a half million watt station located in Santa Ana with call letters KBSA. This was a religious station that used our kind of music. Paul Crouch was General Manager and Jim Baker was President and Pastor On The Air. Their evening program was called PTL (Praise The Lord) and features gospel music along with speaking and interviews.

Another local quartet, The Californians, had recommended our group to the station and they had us on several times. In fact, we were the featured group on their Open House when they moved into better quarters. We provided the music for a banquet for Melodyland Christian Center and the event was videotaped for later broadcasting on TBN. Ann and I went to Catalina Island for a couple of days and stayed in the Zane Grey Pueblo. They had one (1) television and that was in the lobby. I knew the program was going to be on one night and we went in to the lobby to see it. Another couple came in to relax and I had the program on. I told them this quartet was very good and they would enjoy it. He looked at the screen - then to me - then back to the screen realizing that it was me on the tube! That was fun!

Dennis Zimmerman, Miles Collins, Roy Scott, Dick Moore, & Rick Moore (guitar)

This television company changed channels from 46 to 40 later and is now known as TBN, Trinity Broadcasting Network.

An Orange, California church called Brean Baptist Church took over the UHF channel number 46 and The Watchmen sang on it several times also.

When cable came to our homes, Channel 46 became Fox News and TBN is still on Channel 40.

For those who still use an antennae, your days are numbered. In February 2009, a converter is needed to receive programs on that set. Or you can go modern and get cable. Think of all the antennas on the roofs that will be coming down!

The Name Is The Same

Dick Moore meets Dick Moore at the Moore Family Reunion

Ever meet someone with the same name as you? I had the occasion to do just that at a family reunion of the Moores this last weekend.

My cousin, Eileen Nixon, set up a Moore Family Reunion at her retirement home in a special room for just such a purpose. Lunch was provided as we got a chance to chat with close and distant relatives from the Moore branch.

Go back two generations and you have the grandfathers of most of the ones that were there. Kids not included as I am a grandfather to two of the girls that attended this event. My grandfather was one of 12 kids in his family and he had 12 kids in his own family. So there are a lot of Moores out there. We had two of my grandfather's brothers represented at this reunion. Issac Pearl Moore, Howard Moore, and Jesse Irvin Moore (my grandfather) were part of that large family and had descendants at this luncheon.

Here is where the duplicate names come into play. Howard's grandson is Dick Moore. Jesse's grandson (me) is Dick Moore. Both of us were at this luncheon and met for the first time. I had heard of him before but never had an occasion to meet him. The other Dick Moore's dad was also Dick Moore. Getting confusing? I guess my name is more common than I thought. But when you have a lot of members of a family, they tend to use the same first names down the chain.

I'm Richard A. Moore. My son is Richard R. Moore. His son is Eric Richard Moore. Get the picture?

To add to the name confusion Richard R. Moore and Richard A. Moore are both married to Ann Moore except my son's wife spells her name with an "e" - Anne. Both couples live in Mission Viejo, California. He has received calls for me and I have received calls for him. Rick and I both sang bass in the Watchmen Gospel Quartet with Rick following his dad.

Sameness runs in our family.

Getting To Know You ------

That phrase is in a famous song and is a good way to start this story concerning my life. In 2003, I wrote my autobiography called "Piqua To Palmia - A Life's Journey". I was born in Piqua, Ohio and now reside in a retirement community in Mission Viejo, California called Palmia. This was for my family and long time friends. I printed about 100 copies and none are available at this time

This book has stories and pictures concerning my life's journey which I will share with you from time to time. Everything in life reminds you of something that happened in your earlier days which helps to tell a story.

This has been a wonderful trip for me. I have been able to do so many things in my life that many people only dream about. I have been on television and stage because of The Watchmen Gospel Quartet. I have recorded four record albums with them as well. My voice has been preserved so that others will know what it sounded like. Because of our 47th wedding anniversary (in 2002), I made a CD and cassette of 12 songs that meant a lot to Ann and myself.

I found a paragraph written by someone unknown that sums up our lives and put it at the beginning of my book. It goes like this ---

"As we look back over our lives, it is not too difficult to see that what we went through was for a purpose and helped to prepare us for some valuable work in life. Everything in our lives can help make us of some use in the world. Each person's life is like the pattern of a mosaic. Each thing that happens to us is like one tiny stone in the mosaic, and each tiny stone fits into the perfected pattern of the mosaic of our life, which has been designed by God."

No more than once a week I will write in this BLOG something from the book which will help you to know my life better. Come along for the journey.

Cinco de Me-yo

My son, Rick, posted the following story with pictures on his BLOG - HolyCoast.com today and I wanted it on my BLOG as well.

You can see these are two different pictures of the second group of guys to form the Watchmen Quartet (with piano player and bass guitar player). These were publicity photos that we used when out doing our thing. Rick was the bass player for 9 years before he took my place as bass singer with the group. Here is his entire article that appeared today.

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While the Mexican population is celebrating an old victory over France (but then again, what country can't celebrate a victory over France), Cinco de Mayo has a bit of a different meaning for me. It was on this day in 1974 that I walked up on stage and performed with a quartet for the first time. I was an 18-year old bass player back then (I didn't start singing bass until 1983), and the group was The Watchmen Quartet from my home church, Garden Grove Nazarene. Here's my first group publicity shot: Yes, that's me with the guitar, long hair and loud jacket. No wonder I didn't get married until I was 30. My dad co-founded the group, and that's him on the right.

As long as I'm embarrassing myself, no 70's group shot would be complete without...leisure suits!

At least I managed a weak smile in this shot, and how about the piano player's hair (it wasn't his).

I continued with that group through the end of 1990 and somewhere around 900 concerts, and then in 1992 started my own group, The Crimson River Quartet. I'm glad to say that none of our group shots were as embarrassing as the two above, but that's what everybody looked like back then.

It's hard to believe that 34 years have gone by and I'm still at this, but for The Watchmen the road will end this year. They're finally calling it quits after going since 1971. We'll probably stick around for awhile longer.

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Rick's group, The Crimson River Quartet, just celebrated their 15th anniversary with a concert last month at Lake Hills Church in Laguna Hills. Great concert. You can see the songs on YouTube.

The Watchmen Quartet and Dennis Zimmerman, Manager, were honored last weekend at the Western States Quartet Convention in Fresno, California. Ann and I drove up to be a part of the
tribute to Dennis and the group. The original Watchmen people were all there - from 1971! The quartet is retiring at the end of this year while in their 38th year of singing the gospel. It was my privilege to be a co-founder of the group and sing with them for 11 years.

In The Beginning - The Watchmen Quartet's History

The Watchmen Gospel Quartet announced their "retirement" last year to be effective at the end of 2008. As of September 2007, this group had successfully completed 36 years of Southern Gospel Quartet music to thousands of fans. I know something of their history as I was a co-founder and original bass singer for the group in 1971 when it started. Here is how it all began.

In the summer of 1971, at Garden Grove Church of the Nazarene, a Music Committee, led by myself, discussed what "specials" we would have for the Sunday morning and evening services. It was our job to fill the calendar with music specials and we decided it was time for the church to have a male quartet. I had sung in quartets since I was 15 years old and Dennis Zimmerman had just arrived at the church with an interest in Gospel Quartets from back East.

Dennis and I selected the choir director, Ken Pratt, as lead and Roy Scott as baritone. I was a bass singer and Dennis was a tenor which rounded out the voices needed for this group. The organist for the church, Pat Bounds, agreed to play the piano for us. We practiced a number and selected a Sunday evening in September to sing our first song, "God's Grace" also known as "Marvelous Grace Of Our Loving Lord".

Our music was straight out of the hymnal. We stood around two mikes and sang the song from the hymnal. The congregation loved it! And so did we. So we selected another number and spent the time in between our assigned times to practice that one. I believe we did it by memory. That started a regular once a month quartet number and we kept on adding numbers to our memory for future opportunities.

Dennis had a friend in Glendale who worked at a local church there. They were having a missionary conference during a week in February 1972 and he asked Dennis if our quartet could come and sing on a Tuesday night for the people. That started a "traveling" ministry and we needed to find a name. Tried calling ourselves "The Messengers". We found out there was a popular group back East called "The Messengers" and we didn't want to be confused with them. The program at the conference listed us as "The Basor Gospel Quartet" suggested by Dennis' friend. Basor meant messenger in Greek. At one of our practices we threw out names for consideration and finally accepted "The Watchmen Gospel Quartet". Little did we know that the group (with many personnel changes) would still be going in 2008.

Dennis is the only original member remaining with the group. There has been occasions through the years when he has called former members to come up and sing a song with the guys which brings back wonderful memories of great times. The original four guys were on the Homecoming program January 2006 singing our "first" song once again and from the hymnal! It was the 35th year of the Watchmen and was fun to participate in that program.

The Western States Quartet Convention this year will be held in Fresno May 1, 2, 3. On Saturday afternoon they will have a "Watchmen Quartet Tribute" which Ann and I will attend.

I was the bass singer, historian, and treasurer for the group from September 1971 to November 1982. In 1983 the members of the quartet included our son, Rick Moore, moving from bass guitar to bass singer replacing his dad. During my time with The Watchmen, we made four vinyl records along with cassettes. Each record has 12 songs on them. CDs weren't out yet or DVDs and video recordings. I would estimate we sold 10,000 records. Not bad for a local group.
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In 1992, Rick formed the Crimson River Quartet which has been singing for 15 years now. They are having a 15th Anniversary Concert at Lake Hills Church in Laguna Hills, CA on Saturday night April 26th at 7 p.m. It will be a great night of music with guest artists. You can find the information by visiting http://www.crimsonriver.com/ .

It's A God-Thing -- Divine Appointment

This story was originally posted on HolyCoast.com in September 2007.
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Once a week I spend 3 or 4 hours on the golf course to clear the cobwebs out and to get some exercise honing my golf skills. On Thursday afternoon (9-13-07) I visited a favorite course, David L. Baker Executive Golf Course in Fountain Valley. I used to have a regular game with a friend of many years but we haven't been playing for a few weeks.

So I join anyone who is available or go out by myself if the course isn't too busy. It was really busy Thursday and I was teamed up with a grandfather and his grandson. We said our usual "hellos" and started play. The grandfather was from the San Francisco area and was visiting his daughter, son-in-law, and grandson. They decided to go out for a game of golf on a very nice day.
As we traveled around the various holes we had time to wait and engaged in conversation. I mentioned I have four grandchildren and one was in college. It was in his area of the state and he knows the college well. I mentioned she was involved in music and plays the flute, piccolo, and Irish Whistle. She is now learning the piano in college. The grandfather's name is Joe Linn and he has been in music all his life as a quartet member, church music arranger, and has a singing group called "The Joe Linn Trio". We were off and running on what each of us has been doing for our entire lives.

I mentioned I was a founding member of The Watchmen Gospel Quartet and sang with them for 11 years turning my bass singing part over to my son, Rick, who held it for 8 years before starting his own group - Crimson River Quartet. I've been involved in choral music for many years up to 1998 and have sung solos, duets, trios, quartets, ensembles, choirs, and was for eighteen months involved with a semi-professional chorale called Masterworks Chorale. Joe's involvement kind of followed the same pattern. He was 14 and I was 15 when each of us sang in our first quartet.

We started to find common ground and even people we both knew. Joe asked where I attend church and I menioned Saddleback Valley Community Church. Even though 20,000 attend there every weekend, he asked if I knew his son-in-law, Tim Davis. I know who Tim is and I have talked to him a couple of times but Tim wouldn't know who I was. Might recognize me if he saw me but not by name. Tim works with the music department of the church and specializes in vocal training for specials. He sometimes leads the singing. He has a great voice and does a fine job leading the contemporary songs that dominate the music program. The grandson I played golf with is Tim's son, Christian, age 10.

We found another connection with Bob Krogstad who arranged and produced a Christmas CD called "A Christmas Celebration". He knew Mr. Krogstad. I worked on the CD in a group called "Long Beach Festival Singers" that became "Masterworks Chorale" led by Ron Colvard.

I said the Watchmen Quartet started at the Garden Grove Church of the Nazarene. He said he has done a lot of church music arranging for Lillenas Publishing Company of Kansas City which is the music company sponsored by the Church of the Nazarene. Well, I asked if in his dealings with Lillenas he has met Harlan Moore who had a very responsible position with that company. Joe said he had been with Harlan many times and knew him very well. Harlan is my cousin. His dad was my "dad" for the last three years of high school in Kansas City.

I was able to share with Joe that Harlan's wife, Barbi, was having surgery the next day for a brain tumor that has returned after five years. Joe also knew Barbi and will keep her in his prayers for healing and recovery. Joe had cancer surgery two years ago and could understand what Barbi is going through.

Joe Linn was here to help his son-in-law arrange and produce a personal CD. Joe is an Executive Pastor in his community church in the Bay Area.

Small World - but connected.

UPDATE: I have Tim Davis' CD that Joe worked on and it is great. It is a Christmas solo album titled "Christmas Dreaming". You can check it out on http://www.timdavischristmas.com/ .