Dan E. Inducted as Honorary Campus Player at Southwestern College

On October 16 during Southwestern College's Homecoming show High Jinx (which Dan was emceeing), Dan was surprised following his performance of The Moon And Me (from The Addams Family) by longtime friend Roger Moon with the announcement that he was being made an honorary member of Southwestern's theatre fraternity, The Campus Players.  Only a handful of people have ever been given an honorary membership in this august organization and Dan was incredibly moved and grateful to be added to that small group.  What follows is the text of the speech that Roger gave as he inducted Dan into the group.

Southwestern College CAMPUS PLAYERS      October 16, 2015

Dan E. Campbell's induction as Honorary Member at the HIGH JINX performance by Roger Moon as constitutional mentor, with Allyson Moon presenting the rose.

In the summer of 1975, the drama teacher at Wichita West High School, Gina Austin, an original member of the Horsefeathers and Applesauce Summer Dinner Theatre company, recommended three of her high school seniors to be members of the Horsefeathers company.  This was a first; almost all of the company were college graduates, teachers, or young theatre professionals, working along with experienced Southwestern College students.

Well, Dan E. Campbell along with Dee Ann Wills and Randy Morris joined us, and were assigned to my crew.  Can you imagine how obnoxious Dan was as a high school student?  And how fun? Those three were here to have fun...and work, I'm sure. They were fun, and I worked them so hard it's a wonder they survived, let alone ever came back.   Dee Ann came here to SC and became a Campus Player. Dan and Randy became WSU "Shockers", but we forgave them, and Dan came back to SC for summer theatre - season after season.

After college Dan went off for a life in the theatre in New York and LA, stage, film, television, improv comedy, and cabarets.  But he kept coming back to Horsefeathers. In our years, Dan and I have done - oh, a couple of shows together.  "We have, we have, we really have!"

In 2011 Dan returned to SC's Summer Theatre Festival for a recap of the three TUNA shows and then moved home to Wichita, where he is now frequently acting. For the last four years Dan has blessed us as he has worked with our students, becoming not only a friend, but a mentor.  Whether working with the students as an actor or in the shops, Dan is always encouraging them to be their best.

We have a tradition at SC of recognizing SC student's talents, commitment, and leadership by honoring them as Campus Players.  They become part of the Southwestern College producing organization responsible for all theatrical productions, are honored with a title in front of their name in the program for all productions, and have their caricature hung in the Campus Player gallery when they graduate.  I would like to add that on the evening when they are inducted as full members, each is presented a rose.

Campus Players is a student organization, but through the 96 year history of Campus Players there have been a handful of extraordinary individuals who were not SC Students who have been recognized as honorary members.  Dan, a number of Campus Player alumni have nominated you for this honor, so....Mr. Dan E. Campbell, Allyson Moon proudly has a rose for you.  We are pleased to induct you now, and forever, as an official Southwestern College honorary Campus Player!