"My greatest memory is going to the auditorium as a little girl and watching my sister's class serenade Miss D with the song, "Nobody Does it Better." Every time I hear this song, I think fondly of her."

Jennifer (Hannaman) Campbell

"What I remember most is how upset everyone was when she retired when I was in High School..how everyone said it wouldn't be the same..how 1/3 of the band left because she wasn't going to be there..how it was never quite the same after she left. There can be no better measure of an impact than that.."

Rewa Boldrey

"I remember going to my brother's (Ben Stanley '92) football games. We had a great football team but I think most everyone went for the half time show. The band competitions were even more thrilling because half the football team was in the marching band. I can still see Miss D getting excited when the band did well."

"It was 1984 Aneheim California, The Tournament of Roses. What an Awsome feeling to be a freshman in highschool and have the best band director. Unforfuntaltely I didnt march because I was the lucky one that got the flu, but the pride and joy that I had watching the band that I was in, marching in this big parade. Thank You so much Miss D for being you, your one of our finest and one of the best neighbors a person could have. But we can't leave out Mrs. Nichols, or Bruce Balding and Jerry Denoyer, thank you all so much for being our leaders. A special thanks goes out to Bruce, thank you for taking care of our Miss D."

"My most fond memory of my television career was going to California with the marching eagles. Miss D made a profound impression on me which I've never forgotten. My thanks to all of you for putting together this website. What a great person and role model she's been for so many people."

"Miss D was one of the few people who believed in me when I didn't. As a teacher she seemed more like an older friend who shared her wisdom and knew how to get young people to follow because she understood. She could command respect by her very presence. Many are the times we were rowdy and out of control, and she stepped up to the podium and with hardly any words, not only quieted us, but brought everyone to attention, and most with a smile, ready to play their part. Drummers, tuba players, trombone & trumpet players...only wild animals could have been harder to tame!
I have never known anyone who balanced so well the ability to relate and direct at the same time. What a role model! I only hope my own kids get to experience the same spirit in some of their own teachers."

I played such a "small" part in such a vast group of standouts in the late 80's, yet 25 years later as "Miss D" was marching alongside St. Thomas Band here in Effingham (one of her last performances), she literally turned to me and with great delight exclaimed "Heather!!" and hugged me. HOW could a woman have SO MUCH LOVE and grace (and one unbelievable memory)! She had a way to make EVERYONE feel special, no matter their status or even their true abilities. What a great blessing she has been to me on a personal level

Heather MD (Parker) Mumma
NCHS Class of '90 (King Orange Parade!!)

As a teacher, Miss D had the gift of connecting with all students.....such a blessing to those of us that attended NCHS. What a contagious SPIRIT! She expected the best, and she had a way of getting the best out of us! When she was PLEASED.....we were PROUD! Many life lessons were learned from her! Memories: I'll never forget the "Power Wedge".....and as one of the "rifle girls", being part of the Iwo Jima salute during Battle Hymn of the Republic....DAMN we were good!

Melanie Weber Davidson (1983)

One of my first memories of high school was band. We started the first field show my freshman year. We went to band camp and learned so much with Miss D right there with us. She inspired all of us to be better than we ever thought we could be. We all gave our blood, sweat, and tears for her.

In turn, she gave the same for us. She took a bunch of kids who had no idea what we were doing and put together a show that blew the socks off of everyone. We were so proud to be a part of something so special.
Miss D will live in our hearts forever.
Thank you Miss D.

Rhonda Bowen Curtis
1st Clarinet Class of 1982

I was an 8th grader when Miss D arrived at Newton Grade School to be the Band Director. We had a good band when she arrived, but she transformed that band into a music powerhouse very quickly. A couple of years later, she moved over to NCHS and did the same thing with us there. So, I had the pleasure of having her as my band director in both, grade school and high school. A person can look at her career and see the many years of success, but I've always found it striking and inspirational to look back on how dramatically she transformed the programs and people she touched.

I really enjoyed playing for her. She kept us in the popular tunes and was eager to challenge us with complex movements and music. She was a great motivator and task master, but she was also very charming and warm. She cared deeply for her students.

I have many great recollections of her and the band - the other students, the music, the performances, the practices, and just sitting around talking and cutting up. When I hear those songs we used to play on the radio today, it takes me back. When I decided to graduate mid-term and enlist in the Marines, she surprised me with a very nice going away party. That was an amazing and totally unnecessary gesture, but it sure bared her generosity and love for her students.

For years, when I returned to Newton, one of my first stops was to see Miss D; she always seemed happy to see me. She was also a patriot. She often staged moving tributes to our military, even during a time when doing so wasnt the "in" thing to do. I came home from leave one time and she asked me if I'd participate in the halftime show with some local veterans from each branch of the service. The band played the service hymns as we marched onto the field in a patriotic halftime show. Again, it was such a great thing for her to do. Obviously, it has stuck with me.
I'd love to run through it all again, but they're memories now. Such great and fond memories.

Rob Doss
NCHS '75

"WOW!!!!!!! Where do I start? Miss D. is such an AMAZING person. I was in band all 4 years of high school and was so lucky to have Miss D. I came in as a freshman and we went to Wisconsin, 'what a wonderful experience.' We also went to Philadelphia and many other band competitions. Then my senior year we were in the Tournament of Roses Parade, 'what a time of my life.' Miss D. was the GREATEST. She was not only our band director but she was also an amazing friend and role model. Miss D. was one person that EVERYONE respected. She always had a way of getting 100% out of all of us. Everyone wanted to do their very best for her. I will never forget all the memories I have of Miss D....What a Lady."

Laura French Songer (1984)

"Oh boy, where to start? I was one of the lucky ones who had Carolyn from 4th grade through 7th grade, then 4 more years in high school. Band was so much fun in a school environment that at times could be very tough. Carolyn always made it fun. She could be one of us at one instance and then a tough disciplinarian the next. However, she knew how to do it in away to motivate average, even underachievers into being something greater than they ever thought they could be. I find myself to this day thinking "what would Miss D do in this instance?" These people come along once in our lifetime's and we should learn from them. They have an uncanny ability to motivate others to achieve beyond their wildest dreams because they are great leaders. They have everyone's respect not because they demand it, but because they have earned it over and over again. One thing that Carolyn always did was she would break you down when you were not performing well. Then she would always, without missing a beat, build you back up again to a higher elevation.

I'll tell you one story as an example. We were on chartered buses going to (I think Knoxville TN.) to march in a big parade. This was maybe 1976/77? Anyway, two friends and I were smoking cigarettes on the bus because we thought it was ok...oops. All the sudden the busses stopped on the interstate and Miss D climbed on board our bus and named us by name to come to the front of the bus. We were shaking uncontrollably as we moved forward and out onto the shoulder of the road. Boy we got a chewing. She said if she caught us smoking on the bus again, she would kick our @#%es all the way back to Jasper County. We believed her. However, at the next stop she was joking around with us like nothing had happened. We knew however not to ever cross her again. I, like others remember when we would get close to the judges stand and she would walk methodically back beside the band and clench her fist and have that look on her face like "give itall you got!" and we would.

Thanks for this website and thanks to Carolyn who dedicated her life to making Newton IL known nation wide as being a powerhouse high school band. She is in my prayers and so are you Bruce for watching over her as you do."

Lawrence Quick "1979"

"Describing Miss D's influence on my life is a bit of an overwhelming task. For now, I'd just like to submit a poem I wrote in 1997, at the request of Audrey (Hood) Dhom for the Class of '87 reunion."

Tom Oakley, Class of '88

Miss D,

Because of your guidence I had faith in myself to go to college and then graduate school. I am dow a Doctor teaching children with neurological injuries and illness. You told me you were proud of me. I will always treasure those words.

With love, Wanda

Wanda L. Rieman, PH.D.
Lebanon, NH

I too, was privileged to have Miss D. as my band director in junior high and then again in high school during the 1970's. She, along with music teachers, Mr. Hardwick, Mrs. Nichols, Mrs. Sunderland, and Mrs. Gleason helped give me experiences that shaped who I am today. Miss D. is a phenomenal woman who gave her life to help create a passionate environment for students to learn and grow as musicians as well as leaders. If I had to pick one word that best describes what Miss D. taught us most, it wouldn'tbe be what people might think, such as talented, over achiever, perfectionist, or committed. She DID have a gift for selecting awesome pieces, pondering over them for hours on end before picking. She DID dedicate an unbelievable amount of time to the programs and concerts and gave each student lessons on how to read music (not just the notes on the page). The word that best describes her teaching style would be"disciplined." It helped members of the band create friendships and it kept us from running or getting into mischief because we didn't hav eanything to do. She expected us to do what was right whether we were nearher in the band room or out of her sight. We had a reputation to unhold. Discipline helped the Marching Eagles win competitions throughout the district, state, and nation. It helped put our tiny community on the map. Discipline also helped us understand the importance of teamwork and caring for each other. Most of all, discipline helped each of us grow into adults that understand the importance of practice, consistency, patience, cooperation, love, and success.

Many wonderful memories flood by mind when I think of Miss D., especially of how elated she would be when the Marching Eagles won competitions. The memory that is most vivid in my mind, and has stayed with me as a music teacher, occurred, I believe in the fall of 1978, when we were practicing anew piece for the field show. We had recently rehearsed the music in theband room and knew how to play it, next we took it to the field to learn the formations. She was disappointed with us because all that we had learned inthe band room went south when we started marching to it. The marching directions were yet new to us and most confusing to the newbies in band that fall. We worked it, and worked it, but didn't seem to be making progress. With each stop, Miss D. shouted out directions on how to improve, with acrescendo in her voice at each stop. After about 4-5 attempts of trying toget the section correct, out of sheer desperation, she yelled a few chosen words that teachers aren't necessarily suppose to use but can certainly get your attention, and then stormed off enraged at us for not only messing up the formations but also for forgetting what she had taught us about playing the music correctly. I'll never forget the dead silence that fell upon the entire band as she stormed off into the night, leaving us on the big field alone. That silence seemed to last forever, none dared talk or move. After the shock of her leaving, we quietly decided to go ahead and keep working to perfect the part. We didn't leave, choose a different song, get angry with her, or break formation and goof off, we showed discipline and moved forward (shaking in our boots). Well, as you would expect, a few minutes later, Miss D. came back onto the field wiping away tears with the palm of herhands and continued. We were elated that she didn't give up on us or quit. One can only imagine what she first thought when she heard us begin to practice without her while she was in the band room too upset to think. It was probably a very proud moment for her because the discipline that she had been so passionate about was being practiced without her. She had taught us well.

As a music teacher, I completely understand her breakdown that night. She was working on the band performing at their potential and knew that we "had it in us." She was a perfectionist with the band because she believed in us and loved us unconditionally, whether you were musically inclined or not. She knew she had the ability to get us to find our talent and to believe in ourselves. I think of her often when I prepare for programs, shows, festivals, and contests. Some may call this kind of discipline too tough, but we know it as tough love. As adults, we will remember her dedication and discipline so that we can teach the next generation the same. We love you Miss D.! Thanks for helping us become disciplined and caring! We need more leaders like you!

Dennis Hattermann, Class Of 1980