Jeff Sacktig Nomination Letter

February 26, 2017

Dear Committee Members,

It is with great pleasure that I nominate Michelle Owens posthumously to the Crossmen Hall of Fame Class of 2017. Michelle had a rich 13 year history with the Crossmen dating back to 1990. Michelle was a member of the guard for 5 years from 1990-1994. She was a talented performer who led by example. She was in the weapon line all 5 years and, at times, was a featured performer. She was always helpful to others and cared a great deal for her fellow members both on and off the field. Michelle was the guard captain her last 2 years. After Michelle aged out in 1994 she went on to teach the guard from 1995-2000. Through the years she worked as a tech, a writer/choreographer and a Caption-Supervisor. Michelle was part of a team that produced some of the best guards the Crossmen ever had. Michelle was loved by all because of the way she taught. Always demanding but with a warmth and a charm that was inviting to all. I can't tell you the countless people through the years who have said Michelle was their favorite instructor. She got the best out of her students because she supported them. Michelle would take the time to individually help those that needed it. She learned every count of the show so she could first hand understand the issues the performers were having so she could be very specific on how to make her student’s better performers. Aside from building great performers, Michelle also believed her role was to mold these young people into strong, independent, caring human beings. Michelle was an all-around great educator and an asset to the Crossmen.Michelle went on to teach other groups such as the Magic of Orlando, The Cadets and the Troopers but she came back home to teach the Crossmen in 2015-2016. She was caught off-guard at the emotion she felt when she got back in front of the group in 2015. Michelle spoke about what a great feeling it was to be back home where she started. I also think it was a special year for that drum corps to have someone teaching them that connected them to the corps of the past. Michelle was giving of herself not only to the guard but members of the whole corps who were interested in stories from the 90's. I also think it caused members she marched with and taught, 15 to 25 years earlier to take an interest in the corps again.

Outside of the pageantry arts, Michelle continued to care for others as a Massage Therapist specializing in sports massage. She excelled in this field as well working with professional sports team such as the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. Through her contacts in sports she also worked privately with musicians and actors, like country artist Luke Bryan and film actor Robert Downey Jr to name a few. She loved the anatomy of the body and enjoyed helping her clients.

In September of 2015 Michelle was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She lost that battle a year later in September of 2016. Michelle’s personality was one that was always giving to others. She was always more concerned with how you were doing and what was going on in your life than herself. It is with this simple character that she was loved by all who met her. Michelle had a smile that could light up a room and made people feel good. I speak of this because Michelle’s love, support and kindness to others, came back tenfold to her from her Crossmen/Drum Corps/Band/Winterguard/Massage family as she battled cancer. So many people from Michelle’s past reached out to her. It was a testament to the lives she touched through the years. It was also a true awakening for both of us that if you lead a good life and care for others, you will truly be remembered. Michelle’s was a life cut short but a life well lived.

I know there are many great candidates for the Crossmen Hall of Fame but I believe Michelle Owens represents the spirit of the Crossmen and would be an exceptional choice for its 2017 Hall of Fame.

Thank you for your consideration,

Jeff Sacktig Crossmen, Member 1982

Crossmen, Visual Designer 1997-1998

The Cadets, Member, Instructor, Visual Designer 1986-2015

Carolina Crown, Visual Designer 2017

DCI Hall of Fame 2015

Above picture from the Crossmen guard 2015.