|
 A
Family of IUP Alumni Celebrates Its Scottish Heritage
By Nicole Novak and Lori Lamberski
Photos by Richard Lamberski
The first of three
generations of IUP alumni in this family began with Nancy Tobin Truxal
’51 and her brothers, Edwin Tobin ’51 and Warner Tobin ’51,
who later became director of IUP’s University School. Nancy met her future
husband, Carl Truxal ’52, in the late 1940s at IUP. They were both
Music Education majors. After graduation, they both worked for the
Greensburg Salem School District. Carl became the principal, and Nancy
taught the high school choir program. They were married in 1952 and had
three children—David ’76, Steven, and Susan ’79. All three
children followed in their parents’ footsteps and were proud to attend
IUP.
Their only daughter,
Susan, reflects: “I had been going to IUP for Homecoming my whole life. I
liked the campus, and the school has an excellent Music Education
program.” As a result of her experiences and knowledge of the music
education program, Susan, at an early age, made IUP her college of choice,
with no persuasion from her parents.
As tradition goes,
Susan met her future husband, Dale McLeod ’82, at IUP in the Music
Education program. This second-generation couple married and also had
three children: Carly, twenty-one, Allison, nineteen, and
Ian, sixteen. Dale McLeod is the manager of the Claims Department at
Travelers Insurance in Pittsburgh, and Susan currently works for the Derry
Area School District and teaches music at Grandview Elementary School.
Members of the third
generation are following in their parents’ and grandparents’ footsteps.
Carly, a senior at IUP majoring in Communications Media, is actively
involved on campus as the station manager for WIUP-TV. She is producer of
the student-operated television show In a Nutshell and is president
of the IUP chapter of the National Broadcasting Society.
Alli is currently
attending IUP and is majoring in Child and Family Studies. She spends most
of her out-of-class time involved with the entire McLeod family, which
participates in a Scottish bagpipe band. Alli teaches private flourishing
tenor drumming lessons to prospective band members.
From left: Carly McLeod, brother Ian, mother
Susan, father Dale, sister Allison
Ian is a sophomore at
Franklin Regional High School and participates in the school’s drum line.
He has not thought about college but realizes he could share the same
opportunities that IUP created for his family. On the recommendation of an
elementary school music teacher, Ian joined a pipe band that was in need
of drummers. It was easy convincing his father to join the band, since his
father was chaperoning Ian each week to practice. At only sixteen, Ian is
the “lead stick” of the Balmoral Bagpipe Band and a highly accomplished
soloist. In addition to this band, Ian also plays with the Grade One Band,
based in Canada, which competed in Scotland at the World Pipe Band
Championships.
The McLeod men were the
first in the family to join the Balmoral Highlanders Pipe Band. Dale plays
the bass drum, and his son, Ian, plays the snare. Their gentle persuasion
convinced the McLeod women, who all play flourishing tenor, to become the
newest additions to the Balmoral Highlanders Pipe Band. As part of this
twenty-five-member band, they compete regionally in pipe band
competitions, including the Ligonier Highland Games, Ohio Scottish Games,
and the Capital District Scottish Games in Albany, New York. At the 2007
Ligonier Highland Games, the Balmoral Highlands Pipe Band won the
Forbesway Trophy for First Place in the Grade III competition, and it also
won the Lewis Davidson Trophy for the Best Local Band. The band’s members
are now in their second season of competing together.
According to Allison,
the McLeod family has always been united. “It has just always been like
this,” she said. “Growing up, we ended up doing everything together. Carly
played softball, so I signed up, and then Ian decided to sign up for
baseball. Carly sang in the choir along with Mom and Nana, so I joined the
choir, and now Ian sings also. With three generations attending the same
university it just seemed natural for us to all end up being in the same
pipe band together.”
Back to Web Extra |
|
