As I Was Saying
By DONNA BUNCE
(October, 2005 - Coast Magazine)
There he was – the king of cool – ’50s and ’60s cool, that is. The one, the only, Pat Boone, singing “Love Letters in the Sand,” one of his many hits, at Concordia University’s A Gala of Stars benefit dinner, musical and auction. Along with Boone, who received the university’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his acclaimed singing career and his dedication to Christian ministry, Helen Steinkamp was awarded the Servant Leadership Award for her work co-founding Marketplace Women, a successful network of Christian businesswomen. Reverend Ronald Rall, pastor of Timothy Lutheran Church in St. Louis, Missouri, was presented the Great Commission Award for his exemplary work with missionary and evangelistic activities.
The gala’s 1950s and 60s musical revue, arranged by alumni Kris Huston,
’96 and Rob Blaney, ’92 and performed by students, was
45 minutes of rock ‘n’ roll. The Grease high school days format was a
perfect backdrop for such oldies as “Mr. Sandman,” “Splish Splash,” “Love
Potion # 9,” “All Shook Up” by Elvis imitator Danny Santamarina, and Peggy
Lee’s “Fever,” sung seductively by Sarah O’Conner.
The gala, which drew 470 guests and was co-chaired by Concordia’s new board of trustees chairman John Friend and his wife Linda, netted $100,000 for student scholarships.