Dear Editor:
The Big Chief Barbershop Chorus wishes to acknowledge the 63 years of service given by Sunrise Assisted Living resident Bill Pascher. Bill lived at Sunrise of Clarkston for the last 3 1/2 years.
Thank you, Bill, for being one of the founding members of the Pontiac Chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQA). It is now renamed the Barbershop Harmony Society. Thank you for being one of the men from General Motors Truck and Coach Engineering that had the enthusiasm to form the Merry Motormen Chorus, later renamed the Big Chief Chorus.
Thank you for presiding as president of the chapter in 1943-44, 1957 and 1984. Thank you for being our musical director for more than 15 years, our newsletter editor, and our representative to the International House of Delegates. Thank you for sharing your artistic talents, which included trophy designs, show programs, unique decorations and show sets for all of the Pontiac Chapter events.
You entertained us as you sang with four different quartets, and your works of charity with your quartet, ‘The Last Goodbye? topped the nation. You were honored at the National Convention of SPEBSQA on stage in 1991. The other members of that memorable quartet, Mel Parrish of Lake Orion, Len Barnes of Waterford, and Paul Lehmkuhle of Flint, were with you as you accepted the award for raising the most funds for the Society’s charity, at that time, the Institute of Logopedics.
Thank you for honoring the Pontiac Chapter by being elected to the Pioneer District’s Hall of Fame in 1974. We will miss your twinkling eyes and your mischievous wit at our Tuesday rehearsals. Your chair will be vacant but your but your spirit remains with us.
Bill Pascher, Feb. 10, 1915 – Nov. 19, 2006.
Always Keep America Singing.
Jack Teuber
Vice president, Pontiac-Waterford Chapter
Barbershop Harmony Society