9th CALLERLAB Convention
Milestone Award
For year after year, dance after dance, consistent pleasure giving, Johnny LeClair would have to be high on the list. The LeClairs, Johnny and Marge, have been dedicated square dance enthusiasts since they started dancing in 1950 in Burris, Wyoming. After four months, their caller moved away and Johnny was recruited to do the calling. He continued his calling until his retirement in 1986.
To gain knowledge and experience, the LeClairs attended Lloyd “Pappy” Shaw’s summer caller-leadership classes in 1952 and that same year enrolled in the summer session at Asilomar. This progressed rapidly for Johnny and the years that followed saw him hilling calling dates in 49 of the 50 states, in nine Canadian Provinces, and conducting 21 tours to 61 countries overseas. For a good portion of this time, he also continued a healthy, on-going club and class program.
In the fall of 1971, they were invited to Mesa, Arizona, to head up the square dance program at Trailer Village. The LeClairs are credited with being among the first to start this type of resort area square and round dancing.
Ove the years Johnny has appeared on the roster of many outstanding festivals and conventions, as well as on the staff of major square dance vacation institutes. In March 1970, Johnny became a member of the Square Dance Hall of Fame, and his portrait is on display in the Lloyd Shaw Archives Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
A charter member of CALLERLAB, he has served on the Board Of Governors and on the Executive Committee. He was Chairman of Mainstream Basics Committee for three years and was instrumental in developing the program we know today,
Now retired, Johnny and Marge still return annually to their native Wyoming where they continue to home their Dance ‘n Fun weekend. They spend the summer months in the Northwest and winters in Mesa, Arizona, where they now dance six times a week.
I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.