5th CALLERLAB Convention 
Milestone Award
Presented by Cal Golden
I would like to thank the CALLERLAB membership, the CALLERLAB Board Of Governors, and the CALLERLAB Executive Committee for this opportunity to present this Milestone Award.
This Milestone Award is presented to this individual for his contribution to CALLERLAB, to square dance callers in many parts of the world, and to the overall square dance activity as we know it today.
It would take several hours to narrowly touch upon the accomplishments of this man. However, he has many outstanding achievements that I would like to share with you this evening.
He started dancing and calling in 1938; that’s over 40 years ago. He pursued this as a hobby during WWII and by 1946 he was very heavily involved and attended leadership courses of Pappy Shaw with Herb Greggerson. Also in 1946, he became one of the early pioneers in being a traveling caller and remained active as a traveling caller until 1960 and has called in more than 40 states and 17 foreign countries.
He began caller training programs in 1949 and would always make himself available to others whenever he was making trips across the country and around the world. Other words that describe this individual are Editor, Publisher, Historian, Aviator, Good will Ambassador, Author, Leader, Advisor, Dedicated and a friend to all.
He served as square dance technical director for a number of Hollywood motion pictures:
“Cowboy” “Pardners” with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, “Summer Stock” with Judy Garland and Gene Kelly, and “Giant” with Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson.
He produced, managed the Santa Monica Diamond Jubilee (July 1950), the largest single square dance attended by 15,200 dancers, 36,000 spectators and ran head on 36 square dance callers.
He started the Asilomar Vacation Institutes and also included caller training as a regular part of that program.
He started the American Square Dance Workshop Tours in 1960 and has supported more than 30 of them since that time.
As a publisher, he started “Sets in Order” (I gave it away) now called “Square Dancing” in 1948. Since that time, he has published many booklets, brochures, training manuals, textbooks, and other aids for the promotion of this activity. He is in the process of putting together a caller training manual textbook. This manual is now in the final stages of publication.
He started the Sets in Order record label in 1960. He released over 200 records, and he currently produces 3 annual L.P. records featuring many of the prominent callers from all over the world.
He started the Golden Ribbon Committee in 1968 which led to the Sets In Order American Square Dance Society.
In 1963 he got several of the Square Dance Hall of Fame members together and started the seed of CALLERLAB. He was the first Executive Secretary to CALLERLAB and was largely responsible for the First International Square Dance Convention in 1974.
In 1973, he and Charlie Baldwin and Stan Burdick formed LEGACY, a group of many dedicated leaders representing all facets of the square dance activity.
He formed the Hall of Fame to recognize outstanding leaders and callers for the contribution to square dancing.
He established the coveted Silver Spur Award in recognition of dedicated and talented leaders for their contribution to this activity over the years.
I would like to add some personal notes if I may, at this time. I met this man 29 years ago and he’s been a friend for a long time. If I can get my composure back, I’d like to say what I really think of this man in my own words.
Usually are looking for three things in life—happiness, success, and security. Most of the time when people achieve these goals, they don’t know how to enjoy them. Nor do they share them with their neighbors or friends. This man has achieved all of these and has certainly demonstrated his capability in sharing his success with others. This man has had a full life of happiness by devoting himself to helping others. In life you can only enrich yourself through the enrichment of others. This man has enriched thousands of people in his walk of life. We often say the greatest gift of mankind is giving. Giving of oneself, giving of one’s time, giving on one’s income in life to help others. This man has given most of his life to the betterment of his fellow man.
He is married to the lovely, charming, and talented Becky. They have two daughters and one granddaughter. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He served in the Navy in World War II.
It is my great honor and privilege to present this Milestone Award. Won’t you join me in offering our congratulations and heartfelt thanks for all that this man has done for callers, for square dance all over the world. Bob Osgood!