CONVENTION DEDICATION

The Far Western District Board of Directors and the district membership take great pride in dedicating this 2005 Fall Convention to Peter Neushul – the Renaissance Man of the Far Western District, the Coastliners and the South Bay Chapter!

Peter was born in Van Nuys, California. His dad was the Chief Mechanic at Lockheed Aircraft at the time. Later, the family moved to Palos Verdes where he was introduced to barbershop harmony, listening to quartet recordings at a friend’s home. Then he discovered there was a chapter in Lakewood that met on Friday nights. Wow! No school the next day!

Pete talked several high school buddies into attending a meeting. They joined in 1959 and every Friday night, his parents knew where he was…singing all night long with his high school pal, Bob Griffiths.

Renaissance Man is a term given to a person who can perform a myriad of tasks, all extremely well; much like Michelangelo. No, he won’t paint your house. Here’s a list of just a few of his accomplishments:

• Manufacturer – his Company is International Telemedical Services;

• Designer and Pilot – constructed and flew ultra-light airplanes;

• Built the Trans-Atlantic Balloon flown by Malcolm Forbes;

• Manufacturer for the Space Shuttle;

• Currently constructing a metal-clad blimp, first since 1926;

• Flew on world record distance and duration gas balloon flights – was fired upon, hit power lines and crashed in Death Valley. The Hopi call him “Lucky”.

• Raises Goldfish, Koi and California Tree Frogs;

• Was a surrogate parent to an abandoned baby crow;

• Planted coffee trees eight years ago and now has enough coffee beans for a half cup of coffee;

• Knows everything there is to know about goats;

• Has performed on national television in Cheers, Night Court, Nurses, Ferris Bueller and many commercials;

• On stage in The Mark Taper Forum and Babbitt;

• Two platinum albums with Neil Diamond;

• Has two children and four grand-daughters;

• He is poor, his wife is poor, the upstairs maid is poor and the gardeners are the poorest of all. Not to mention, the chauffeur can’t make ends meet either;

• He is owned by a dog named Max.

Without the continued efforts and total involvement of members like Peter Neushul on all Society levels, there would be no Far Western District, nor even a Barbershop Harmony Society. So, step up to Pete sometime this weekend, shake his hand and say: “but what have you done for me lately?”…or…”give my regards to Max!”