Here we are together, after another Christmas show,
And it takes me back to when I joined some 20 years ago.
I think of all the faces of the guys who’ve come and gone,
Some who joined the chorus up there and some who’ve just moved on.
And the many things that indicate just how quick time passes,
Not least of which is the fact I’ve got to wear these stupid glasses.
In looking back these past few years, I think it’s not real hard
To understand we’re witnessing “The Changing of the Guard.”

Unfortunately, back when I joined, Ron Riegler was already gone,
Though much of his great legacy in Gateway still lives on.
And with Pat Iasillo, they wrote chorus shows galore,
Like “Robin Hood,” “Gateway to Hades” and “HMS Pinafore.”
In later shows, “Chuckles the Great” would do his magic spiel,
And there was no better villain than our departed Mike O’Neill.

It seems like only yesterday that 140 guys
Headed down to New Orleans with fire in their eyes.
Who could forget when we won that day in a chorus contest thriller
Behind the greatest of them all, our own dear Jimmy Miller.
These memories seem so vivid, but if you glance around your chair,
You’ll see the many faces of our folks that weren’t there.
And when you do, you’ll realize it isn’t very hard
To understand we’re witnessing “The Changing of the Guard.”

Now some of you may counter that what I say’s not true,
That when you look, so much of who we are comes into view.
Well, this is true, many long-time guys are here, and we know ‘em,
Like that one big jerk that yearly reads some stupid Christmas poem.
If we ever need a solo, Larry Findlay’s got it cold,
He’s truly “Old Man River”… with the emphasis on “old.”
And when it comes to making sets, we’ve got our own Bill Harnish,
Whose artistic flair provides us every nuance he can garnish.
Randy Goss still ensures the chorus portrays the proper mood
(But the only reason we keep him here is so his Mom will buy us food.)
And when it comes to costumes, we still have our long-time pals.
I speak of Bette Ramsey and, of course, the Gateway Gals.

Bob Mucha swears he’s coaching until everything is mastered,
So hopefully we’ve a few more years with that kinky headed baritone.
Jim Ramsey’s been a barbershopper most his stinkin’ life,
You can leave us anytime, just don’t take your wife.
There’s Brian Barford, Bob Moorehead and so many long-time coaches,
Who come crawling from the woodwork when we need them…a lot like roaches.
And, of course, there’s our arranger, the inimitable Don Gray,
And like a case of herpes he may never go away.
So, certainly you can make a case that things are still the same,
But other things have changed a lot, a few of which I’ll name.
Years ago, Ron Riegler got the chorus to start dancin’,
Now it’s Terry Healey, Jimmy Coates and Cindy Hanson.
And although Gateway’s always known just how to throw a party,
There’s something extra special in the ones arranged by Marty.
And every chorus member needs to try to attend these things,
‘Cause last night Marty paid for all our beer and chicken wings.
In many choruses, section leaders come from one quartet,
It was The 20’s, then Marquis, and now we’ve got YOU BET!
No quartet guys work as hard as Jason, Jeff and Paul,
Their leadership has helped make better singers of us all.
If the chorus just found 10 more Jasons, that would be fantastic,
‘Cause Bob says that we sure don’t need 10 Jasons at Crown Plastics.
Who, by the way, has been the greatest sponsor that we’ve had
(Bob: Remind we again why I keep you around?) ‘Cause you’re
my Dad.

Instead of Zelda, Stench and other folks we’ve come to know,
Santa Claus and Mino put some “Sole” into our show.
Traditions make us who we are, no matter how small or silly,
But for me, it isn’t Tuesday night without Rocky and his chili.
And though we’ve witnessed changes in our coaches and directors,
Few things have held the impact of the addition of Jeff Legters.
His vision and enthusiasm does so darn much for us
That he will join the ranks of those who helped define our chorus.
But in all the change around us, the greatest change of all
Comes, of course, directly from the heart and soul of Paul.
We thank you for your leadership and all you do so well,
And promise you, like always, that we’ll march with you through hell.
So when you consider all these things, it’s really not that hard
To understand we’re witnessing “The Changing of the Guard.”

But one thing you may notice, what separates us from the rest,
Is in looking back into our past, we truly have been blessed.
That because of all these people on whom our traditions fall
We have a soul, where other choruses have no past at all.
That in searching for direction, a standard rule of thumb
Is that it always helps to know from which direction you have come.
New choruses have arisen, and many of them thump us,
But we’ll always have the treasure of our own internal compass.
And if you look correctly, you’ll find it isn’t hard
To appreciate our special gift..”The Changing of the Guard.”

Gary Ellerhorst
SGC
12/14/03

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