International Brotherhood  of Magicians   Ring 129           "The Heart of America Ring"  Kansas City, Missouri

    Last year at this time, a group of us got together at V's Restaurant to roast a long-time member Duane Fields.  This year, on November 6, it was David Sandy's turn.  

     Of course, it's difficult to think of bad things to say about David, but that didn't keep some of the speakers from trying.  More than insults, however, the speakers preferred to focus on some humorous things which have happened during the several years that have passed since a teen-ager named David Sandy came right from the farm to one of our meetings at the Downtown Executive Inn.  (Amazingly, David still looks like that teen-ager).  The presenters were mostly from our Ring: Alan Goodheart (m.c.), L.C. Collier (event chairman), Duane Fields, Larry Warshaw, Roger Miller and Dave Buttram.  They were joined on the dais by International past president Don Wiberg, who had flown in from Chicago for the event.

    Among the incidents recounted were David's memories of a treacherous trip he had taken to a Board meeting in St. Louis, with Dave Buttram behind the wheel, and Don Wiberg's recollections of a number of practical jokes he and David had played on each other during their long acquaintance.  There were some clever gags involving David's obsessive planning and his making a simple napkin tear--Dan Harlan's "Starcle"--into a feature act.  Larry Warshaw remarked that David had planned one Workshop tightly enough that people would have to leave for the restrooms just when Mr. Harlan was teaching that routine, so no one would be able to steal his act.

    On the more serious side, there were tributes to David's tireless work on behalf of the magic fraternity, especially those in our Ring.  L. C. read a message from Tom Mullica, thanking David for reviving his career.  Roger Miller thanked David for getting him involved on the International Board and spoke warmly of the many trips they had taken together.  Dave Buttram said that if he had been blessed with a son, he would have wanted him to turn out like David.

    All in all, it was a wonderful tribute to this young man who has not only given so much to the world of magic in general but has helped put Ring 129 on the map.

--Stu Lewis, ring reporter

L.C. Collier, Larry Warshaw, Dave Buttram, Alan Goodheart, David Sandy, Don Weber, Roger Miller, Duane Fields.

David Sandy with his wife Kristi. 

Roger Miller takes his turn.

Dave Buttram makes his delivery.

Larry Warshaw gets ready.

Don Weber has a lot to say.

Duane Fields does his own paper tear.

 L. C. Collier was the referee.