InCider Press, May 2004, page 5

Experienced, enthusiastic, and loyal to barbershopping, family and country are but a few of the adjectives that describe one of our newest members, Sergeant Richard Jackson. Richard is an experienced, enthusiastic barbershop singer, a career soldier and a dedicated family man.

Richard's singing career began in high school where he was president of the high school choir. Since he was bitten by the barbershop bug, he has sung in three different choruses due to being relocated for Army duties: he has sung with the El Cajon Music Masters and the SunHarbor Choruses in California and the Tacoma

Totemaires in Tacoma, Washington. While stationed in Germany, although not a member of a barbershop chorus, he did maintain his harmonic skills by singing in a quartet with three other soldiers (two male and one female.) Richard learned about the Little Apple Chorus via the internet while he was in Germany. Richard's enthusiasm for singing has already earned him the respect and admiration of the board members who have recently elected him as our new VP for Music and Performance.

Richard has been in the service since he joined the reserves in 1984, a year after he graduated from high school. He was called to active duty and served overseas during the Gulf War. Since 1994, he has been on full-time active duty. He served in Germany from 1995 until 2001. He was then assigned to Fort Riley but was quickly sent on his way to Iraq. His served in Iraq from April 2003 to November 2003, when he was wounded and returned to Fort Riley. Richard's current duty is driving the Army's largest wheeled-vehicle, the HET (Heavy Equipment Transporter).

Richard and his wife, Emily, have four wonderful children. They thoroughly enjoy living in Kansas and look forward to staying here for a number of years.

Welcome, Richard. We, too, hope that your duties will allow you to be with us for a long time.

Gene Copeland hails from Clay Center where he also finished high school. Gene earned a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education in 1970 from Kansas State University. Since then, he has taught Instrumental and vocal music from 1970 to 2001 in several Northeastern Kansas Communities: Randolph, Clifton/Clyde, Osborne, Rock Creek, White City/Hope, and Frankfort.

Gene has been or is a member of the following clubs: Lions, Kansas National Education Association, International Jazz Educators, Music Educators National Convention, Phi Mu Alpha, and Kansas Quality Woodworkers Association.

His professional career was instrumental but he loved vocal evidenced by his membership in his high school chorus and men's quartet. He also sang in musical groups throughout his college career while majoring in instrumental music. Currently, Gene is doing construct-

ion, refinishing, painting and building furniture.

He and his wife, Sonda, were married in 1971 (33 years ago) and they have 3 children. Sonda is an art teacher at Manhattan High School. Daughter, Angie, graduated from KSU and is an architectural Engineer in Lenexa, Kansas. Son, Chad, graduated From KSU with a degree in MIS and works with a computer company in Manhattan. Son, Scott, is

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