May 23, 2013
Where Are They Now
Photo Courtesy of David Bauman
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Bryan Adams alumna pioneers help for women in crisis
Since television series like the award-winning “Law & Order, Special Victims Unit” became mainstream in 1999, there has been a shift in public awareness of one of the world’s most violent crimes. With art imitating life, prime time television has become a vehicle for exposing a dark side of our culture: rape. Today, the crime is central to plotlines in countless fictional films and television scripts, including those “made for TV,” and many “...
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Photo courtesy of John Bender John Benda and his son, Parker Benda, work side-by-side in their 24/7 business, Fuel City.
Where Are They Now? Fuel City morphs from selling gas to being a gas
The State Fair of Texas has nothing on Fuel City, where there’s a fair every day. And it would be unfair to call the business a three-ring circus when it clearly has five or six rings, and we mean that in a good way. While it started out as a traditional Gulf service station and truck stop in 1999, Fuel City has become its own theme park. Oh, the gas is still available, and, according to owner John Benda, it’s at the lowest prices anywhere in ...
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Photo courtesy of RTGD A grateful homeowner, Cecil Metters, with RTGD volunteer, Pamela Peadon
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Peadon goes from ballet to Broadway to building hope
Having a reliable roof over our heads, working plumbing, a functional kitchen and heat when it’s 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and air conditioning when it’s 109 degrees Fahrenheit, are blessings most of us take for granted. How fortunate we are. For Dallasites who aren’t so fortunate, a cadre of volunteers is here to help. Rebuilding Together Greater Dallas (RTGD) is bringing hope to those disenfranchised in Dallas County, one house at a time. The o...
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Photo courtesy of NBCUNI Co-starring with Betty White in NBC’s “Off Their Rockers” is former White Rock neighbor, Ann Benson (left).
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Local comedienne loves being ‘off her rocker’
Earlier this year, NBC-TV premiered a pilot for a new entry in its spring line up, and the ratings were dizzying. Betty White’s “Off Their Rockers,” which will begin its regular season Wednesday, April 4, 7 p.m. (CST) on Channel 5, is a new reality show with an old twist – a la “Candid Camera,” “What Would You Do?” and that genre. Starring America’s most admired senior citizen, the show’s unique angle is that “mature” actors prank less mature ...
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Photos courtesy of Conchita Franco In January, the Joker Band members celebrated 50 years of entertaining Dallas.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? For this family, the ‘Joker is wild’ after five decades
It is hard to believe that the Franco/Cordova family has worked together for five decades, given the loving relationships and mutual respect that are evident. The combination may be unique among businesses whose parents, children and grandchildren are actively engaged. This family speaks volumes about positive marriage and parenting skills. The three-generation Joker Band celebrated its 50th anniversary of entertaining Dallas in January of thi...
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Miguel Cervantes
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Booker T. alumnus brings Texas authenticity to ‘Giant’
When the legendary, Texas-based film “Giant” erupted on screens nationwide in 1956, Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean became household names. But moviegoers may also remember swooning over the dreamy newcomer, Sal Mineo, in the role of Angel Oberon II. Dallas audiences have the opportunity to swoon over our own homegrown Angel, Miguel Cervantes, who portrays the role with humor and passion in “Giant,” a Dallas Theater Center product...
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Dallas native Michael Wood performs the solo, “Freedom,” in the February 7 and 8 production of “Riverdance” at the Music Hall at Fair Park.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: Local taps his way across Music Hall stage in “Riverdance”
When Music Hall at Fair Park patrons see “Riverdance” on stage Feb. 7 and 8, they will most likely be mesmerized by the intense baritone solo, “Freedom,” performed by Dallas’ own talent, Michael E. Wood. The song is central to the theme of the production. Its arrangement opens with a flute solo, which is prevalent in Irish traditional music, and is reminiscent of the haunting flute melody in the film, “Titanic.” “I’m so proud to have the oppo...
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Lake Highlands HS ’92 alumna, Richard Todd Adams, will perform in AT&T PAC’s “Les Miserable.”
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Lake Highlands leads to Les Mis for local actor/singer
Richard Todd Adams, LHHS ’92, will appear in “Les Miserables” at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. Adams received his Bachelors of Music from Trinity University in San Antonio, and earned a Masters in Music from Juilliard. The singer, dancer and actor won the 2008 Jeff Award, which is Chicago’s version of the Tonys, for his portrayal of Javert in “Les Mis.” When “Les Miserables” (Les Mis) opens Dec. 20 at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, audi...
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San Francisco’s Lisa Serebin, Bonnie Brown, Suzanne Greva, Miriam Hiser WW ’79 and Sylvia Marino swam the English Channel in relay in 15 hours, 24 minutes.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Woodrow Wilson Wildcat swims with the Nymphs
In 1926, 19-year-old New Yorker Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim the English Channel. Following in the pioneer’s breast strokes, Miriam Hiser, Woodrow Wilson ’79 alumna and her team, the San Francisco South End Sea Nymphs, challenged themselves to the July 2011 relay swim of the English Channel. The team included Hiser’s friends Bonnie Brown, Suzanne Greva, Lisa Serebin and Sylvia Marino. The Nymphs finished the 21-mile relay sw...
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BA ’71 alumnus, Paul Low, was inspired by Denise Neal to raise money in her honor in the Muscular Sclerosis Society’s bike-a-thon, “Bike MS.”
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Talented BA ’70 musician glows with optimism
In March of 1970, the Bryan Adams (BA) orchestra was recognized as the National High School Honors Orchestra and traveled to Chicago, where they were invited to play at the Music Educators National Convention. In the string section was a gifted violinist, Denise Neal, BA ’70, who had been playing the instrument since she was a seven-year-old. In August of this year, Neal arranged a reunion in Dallas of the acclaimed 1970 BA National Honors Or...
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