Knees Lifted High and Toes Pointed

“What a read, what a story! Dave writes in an invitational style. . . . If you have never been a part of a marching band or lived in a depressed farming community during the dirty thirties, read on! You will join the band, have lived in St. John, Kansas, and have a new adoptive dad, a man named Jake. This is a journey you do not want to miss!”


—Bruce Blake, former President, Southwestern College





“Passion, decency, joy, delight, pleasure—David’s writing took me back to growing up in St. John! My mom and my aunt were students of Jake Dalke . . . . I feel like Mr. Dalke’s passion for teaching music instilled a love of music education in his students which would last for a lifetime. . . . Reading about the band warmed my heart and brought a tear to my eye.”


—Marcia Suiter, lifelong volunteer and band member’s daughter





“In Knees Lifted High and Toes Pointed, David has brought to life moments in a small town’s history of a national event. His father, Jacob Dalke, band director at St. John High School, had the vision to promote and orchestrate this musical undertaking. All who read this will marvel at the success his father had and realize that to dream and then see that dream become a reality is only a thought and hard work away.”


—John Paulin, former Professor of Psychology, Southwestern College