Hi-Lites April 2019

Contents Three Generations of Youth Tours Youth Tour Edition In 1967, Woodlawn High Youth Tour stories with me all my • Three Generations...... 1-2 School Junior, Becky Eubank, life, and I knew that I wanted to • 2019 Youth Tour Winners...... 2 daughter of Carwin and Lura go on the trip too.” In 1989, Tisha • Head East on Youth Tour...3-4 Eubank, participated in the Tri- was one of Tri-County Electric County Electric Cooperative Cooperative’s Youth Tour winners. Youth Tour Essay Contest, offering Tisha reflected upon the awe P.O. Box 309 students a free trip to Washington she felt when the Youth Tour bus Mt. Vernon, IL 62864 D.C. let them off at Gettysburg. www.tricountycoop.com Eubank was chosen along Tisha is now a local 618.244.5151 with over 1,000 other students Kindergarten teacher. Her Youth Tour experience inspired her Toll Free 800.244.5151 around the country that visited the Nation’s Capitol that year. to create an annual Presidential Fax: 618.244.1496 Eubank recalled, “The Youth program that her students Pay by Phone: 855.385.9902 Tour trip was well-planned. We present to the school and their Office Hours were busy from the moment we community. She enjoys sharing 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. left until the time that we returned her trip memories of visiting Monday through Friday home. We were able to meet the Lincoln and Washington (Salem Office closed from President Lyndon B. Johnson, and Memorials, George Washington’s noon-1:00 p.m. each day) he let his dogs out on the White Home Mount Vernon, and the White House. Board of Directors House lawn for us to play with.” Continued Page 2 The students were President also addressed by Greg Vieira - Salem Billy Graham while Vice President they were on the tour. Donnie Laird - Waltonville Young Becky Secretary/Treasurer Eubank, now Becky Sam Phillips - Salem Willoughby, laid the Tom Beyers - Odin foundation for three generations of Youth Phil Carson - Oakdale Tour participants that Doug Knolhoff - Hoyleton would follow in her Larry Manning - Belle Rive footsteps. Rick Russell - Richview Tisha Willoughby, Kathy Withers - Mt. Vernon daughter of Ken Mission Statement and Becky (Eubank) To safely provide our member- Willoughby of owners with reliable electric Woodlawn, IL, grew service, superior customer service, up hearing about her and practical energy solutions, all mother’s Youth Tour 1967 Youth Tour Winner Becky Eubank at reasonable prices. experience. She said, (center) pictured with parents Lura (left) and “Mom had shared her Carwin (right) Eubank. Continued from Page 1 After spending to Washington winners, making him the third a week with their generation in his family to participate. peers on Youth Rhett is a High Honor Roll student at Tour, students Woodlawn High School, FFA (Future Farmers return with a better of America) President and Class Treasurer. He understanding of holds memberships in the National Honor Society our government and Expeditions Club, FCA (Fellowship of Christian cooperatives. They Athletes), FBLA (Future Business Leaders of also come home America) and Youth and Government. with newly gained Salem Community High School Student Dusk leadership skills and Donoho, daughter of Matt & Kendra Donoho, Cookiefriendships. Sheet has also been chosen as one of the 2019 Youth to Tisha stated, Washington winners. Dusk is a member of the “YouthCake Tour was National Honor Society, Peer Helpers, Student a life-changing Council, Yearbook and Theatre. experience. I made We know that Rhett, just as his family before, an abundance of life- and Dusk will represent your cooperative well in long friendships on Tisha (Willoughby) Ellis Springfield, IL and Washington D.C. the trip. One of them (left) 1989 Youth Tour was even a bridesmaid Winner 2019 Youth Tour Winners in my wedding.” On April 3rd, 2019, Youth Tour Win- After hearing the stories of his grandmother and mother, Rhett ners Rhett Ellis, Dusk Donoho, and Ellis, son of Rob and Tisha (Willoughby) Ellis (alternate) Brittany Phillips will attend of Woodlawn, IL, knew he wanted to carry on Youth Day in Springfield, IL, where the tradition. Rhett has been chosen as one of they will visit the Capitol and meet their Tri-County Electric Cooperative’s 2019 Youth legislators. In June, your cooperative’s Youth Tour Winners will travel to Wash- ington D.C. Rhett Ellis Woodlawn High School

Parents: Rob & Tisha Ellis

Dusk Donoho Salem Community High School

Parents: Matt & Kendra Donoho

Front Left: 1967 Youth Tour Winner Becky (Eubank) Willoughby; Front Right: 1989 Youth Cooperative offices will be closed on Friday, Tour Winner Tisha (Willoughby) Ellis, and April 19th in observance of Good Friday. (back) 2019 Youth Tour Winner Rhett Ellis Head East on “Youth” Tour fans alike remember Head East, in Washington D.C., that night on a hill by the famous for their chart topping hits, “Never Been river,” referring to their time on the Youth Tour Any Reason” and “Love Me Tonight”, but few trip. know that before they toured the nation, they A must-read for Head East fans, Head East: A headed East to tour Washington D.C. on the Labor of Love is a collection of stories that high- National Rural Electric Cooperative Association light life as a member of a successful American (NRECA) Youth Tour. rock band in the 1970s, life on the road, and In 1966, a bright gentleman from Woodlawn the love of music that drove local musicians to High School named Steve Huston was selected success. His book can be purchased at bookstores as the Youth to Washington Trip winner to rep- resent Tri-County Electric Cooperative. That 1966 Tri-County Electric Cooperative Winner June, Huston joined 50 other students on a road Steve Huston, trip from Southern to Washington D.C. Original drummer/ for the experience of a lifetime. vocals for Head East During the twelve hour bus ride, Huston (left) pictured with made friends with Clinton County Electric Co- TCEC Director of operative’s Youth Tour student, Roger Boyd. Member Services On the trip, Boyd and Huston talked about Andy Bird their passion for playing music and their mutual dream of one day being signed by their favorite 1966 Clinton Co. Electric Cooperative Winner recording label, A&M Records, which had signed artists such as .38 Special, Cat Stevens, The Car- Roger Boyd, penters, and Peter Frampton. Original keyboard/ The two remained friends and started a band vocals for Head East originally known as TimeAtions, now Head East. (right) pictured After high school, the band moved to Cham- with Tom Moore, paign, IL, which embodied a vibrant music scene, Association of Illinois ideal for a thriving band. At the time, band Electric Cooperatives members consisted of brothers Roger and Larry Boyd, Steve Huston, , and Dan Piper. 1967 Clinton Co. Electric Cooperative Winner Larry Boyd also attended Youth Tour in 1968 for Clinton County Electric Cooperative, making Larry Boyd, Road Manager for a total of three Head East, Youth Tour students. Head East (right) Larry played for the band in their earlier years, pictured with Jerry and later returned as Road Manager. L. Campbell from the In Huston’s recently released book Head Association of Illinois East: A Labor of Love, he stated, “Roger and Electric Cooperatives I have both said many times that Head East was basically born under the cherry blossoms everywhere, or online at the Apple iBooks Store, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble. More in- formation about Huston and his latest release can be found online at: www.headeast-stevehuston.com. In 1974, Head East released their first album “” on their own label, Pyramid Records. Their music gained traction across radio stations and sold Summer Jam ‘77 at Busch Stadium - Being the enough albums to catch “favorite sons of St. Louis” they were allowed to the attention of - you use the Cardinals locker room for a guessed it - A&M Re- dressing room. cords. A&M Records rereleased “Flat As a state of the art recording studio for over 20 Pancake” on their label in 1975. years. During Huston’s time as an original member Huston returned to school once more to of Head East, they were signed to A&M Re- acquire a Master’s Degree in Audio Production cords of Los Angeles, awarded gold records, from Goddard College in Vermont. toured across North America, and played for Huston is a captivating storyteller with sold out Major League Baseball and NFL a humble, yet humorous personality. As Football stadiums. genuine as they come, he tips his hat to the After retiring from the band in the 80’s, Midwest stating, “I grew up out in the country Huston worked in a recording studio owned by in Southern Illinois and am grateful that I did; a good friend, and was later named Chief En- living among good people taught me how to be gineer. a good person.” Huston finished his Roger Boyd is the sole re- undergraduate degree at maining original band member Thomas Edison State Uni- still playing for Head East. The versity in Trenton, New band’s official website states that, Jersey. He further con- “he will continue to rock as long tinued his education and as he can lift his synthesizer over completed his graduate his head and play.” Roger Boyd degree at the University of lives on a farm outside of Sparta, London in England. IL, and Larry Boyd resides in While working as Carlyle, IL. Chief Engineer in a re- To celebrate their 50th Anni- cording studio in Houston, versary, Head East fans will have Texas where he relocated the opportunity to see original and now resides, he was band members John Schlitt, offered and accepted a Steve Huston, Mike Somerville, position in a highly re- and Roger Boyd, who are per- spected private college forming together for the first known as the Art Institute time since 1980. For a list of of Houston, where he taught L to R: Mike Somerville, John Schlitt, Roger tour dates, visit: Audio Production in their Boyd. Steve Huston, and Dan Birney www.head-east.com.