Ron & Pat Jackson
Newton, Kansas
While on the Police Force in Kansas City, Ron and Pat started Square Dancing and joined a KC Club in 1980. They served their club as Treasurer and President.
In 1990, they moved to Newton, KS to take the job as Police Chief. They joined Circle 8 Square Dance Club and have served in all officer positions several times. They have been 'angels' at most of their club student lessons since joining. They took Round Dance Lessons from Bill and Virginia Tracy and joined the Trace Arounds Club. To improve their dancing skills, they took lessons from Pat and Jack Logan of Emporia. They recruited many of the Circle 8 and Hesston Shoe Scuffers dancers.
He is still associated with Homeland Security in various capacities. He referees at middle and senior high school athletic events. The players say he is strict, but fair, to both sides.
Ron and Pat served The South-Central League of Square and Round Dance Clubs as Secretary/Treasurer for two terms. They followed with a year as the League Representatives for Circle 8. They served as Presidents for three years. They advocated for the change to the League boundaries. The South Central became the South District. To support the clubs in their District Ron and Pat joined several groups traveling to Chanute to dance at their regular scheduled dances.
The Jacksons served as Service Chairmen of the 57th National Convention in 2008 in Wichita. When several members of the Services Committee could not cover their jobs due to health Ron and Pat showed their team spirit by covering for them. Their 57th job kept them so busy they only danced three times at this convention. General Chairmen David and Sherry Hubbard paid them a high complement when they said that much of the success of the 57th was due to their Committee’s diligence.
They are avid horse riders, riding their own horses. They take trail rides in surrounding states several times a year. While traveling they search out Square Dance clubs. Ron once formed up a square to demonstrate to the other riders what fun the activity was. He called two or three movements for the assembled group along a dusty trail. Maybe we should honor him as a caller as well.