The original vision for the NASC started with just one guy,
An instigator who proposed that cities recruiting events could be better if they organized.
But in making his initial pitch in Orlando in 1989,
The fact that only three people attended his presentation was not a good sign.
Yet the idea gained traction, interested parties got more numerous.
Still many around that time found it simply to be humorous.
Proselytizing continued and during the very next year,
In Raleigh he was able to gather a larger group of his peers.
The association was gaining momentum. You could feel it in the air.
The ’91 Olympic Congress showed that NASC was soon to be there.
In the Springs, Matt Scheckner, the NYC media mogul became the very first chair.
His big city creds gave the new organization some genuine flair.
The following year, Hill Carrow, the instigator took Matt’s place.
By that time it was getting obvious NASC was off to the races.
Mike Millay ascended to the throne and stayed an extra year.
That’s when he said, “Either I get some staff help, or I’m outta here!”
After a brief fling with an association management gang,
He brought in Don and Lori to help ease his aches and pains.
Fortunately Millay’s replacement was way better by a mile.
As Diane McGraw led the way with her Philly/Orlando/LA smile.
Then arrived Michael Campbell from the Pacific Northwest.
He believed among all events that powerboating was the best.
Our next leader, Denny Gann, was the guy with whom all women loved to flirt
‘Cause he sports the world’s largest collection of unforgettable shirts.
Denny was succeeded by Pam Gerig, another woman of action.
She made Palm Beach famous long before Trump became the main attraction.
Suzanne Stewart was from Tulsa, land of all that oil and gas wealth.
I understand after retiring from NASC, she had to focus on mental health.
For our lone Olympian, Jon Lugbill, leadership is a very natural role.
Of course he wanted to make sure the NASC always brings home the Gold.
Our second lawyer, John Kiernan, made the association a meritocracy.
But his legal touch might also have been the start of today’s NASC bureaucracy.
Merrill Eckstein’s stint as Chair was anything but a flop,
Except at our banquet that time where he proceeded to remove his top!
Then there’s Rick Hatcher who hailed from Lexington as he started his reign.
An old baseball guy, he pitched the NASC to a perfect game.
Linda Logan then took over with her smooth Ohio style.
It looked like clear sailing for the NASC for quite a while.
But then Biz, John Biz, stepped in and all he was ever heard to say,
“Wide World of Sports is the place to be, and Have a Magical Day!”
Bill Hanson was next. San Antonio is where he is from.
He loved NASC ‘cause it was so much easier to direct than Modern Pentathlon.
Jack Hughes, he of the two Gainesvilles, next took on the task.
We pay our respects to Jack tonight as our only leader who’s passed.
Then came Jon Schmieder of Tulsa, Denver, and Phoenix, too.
Thanks to Regina Zara, he had the only other term lasting into year two.
Tara Green, a fellow Tar Heel, then was put in charge.
Her business skills and professional approach helped NASC continue to enlarge.
For the next Chairman’s term, Gary Alexander stepped right up.
Now he and Jon together encourage all of us to Huddle Up.
At that point it was Terry Hasseltine who moved into leadership lane.
He who has the entire Great State of Maryland under his domain.
Kevin Smith returned our leadership to our southernmost eastern state.
He led our organization’s charity drives, about that there’s no debate.
Next to last on the list of 25 years of illustrious chairs,
Is our 2015-16 leader from Kalamazoo, Greg Ayres.
And last, but not least, is our current Chairman of the Board.
With Ralph Morton as our Big Cheese, all our markets have truly soared.
As we conclude our leadership list, hard to believe that 25 years have passed,
But surely all will refer to this time as the Golden Age of NASC!