Herb Sprowls began his membership in Thespians as a junior in high school and has never been able to get out of the theatre. He followed his life-time Thespian membership, begun on the stage as an actor, with college backstage crews and a part or two, which earned him a membership in the college/university theatre fraternity - Alpha Psi Omega.

These credits earned him high school directing jobs in the very first two years of teaching. In those days, the principal simply said to a teacher "You WILL direct the following shows."

When he changed schools, he could not keep his construction skills a secret, and he was soon right hand man to an experienced and talented director who immediately knew that his tech person understood the difference between a set bridge that was functional, not just set decoration, and would build one that would not collapse with people on it, as had happened in a nearby school.

By the end of those years, he turned into the chief babysitter for his wife, the high school director, as well as the scenery builder who stepped in in a pinch. Then, being a fine typist, came the programs and the proof reading. Why not, when you are an English major as well as a math major?

Soon The International Thespian Society called again. "The wife" organized a local Thespian Troupe in her high school, and then became active in the State Thespian organization. More programs, more proof reading, (curriculum proofing as well) and new "children" to care for, worry about, and DRIVE to conferences - conferences all over Ohio, and eventually in Indiana, Michigan, and Nebraska!

As the husband of a state Thespian Director, additional jobs were miraculously created. Assigning seats to a thousand delegates in Princeton High School's auditorium, assisting with other chores of registration, more proof reading, more taking kids to conference, more help with scenery, more phone calls, and more driving to conferences, more driving to screen shows for conferences.

Retirement offered the freedom to travel to regional conferences: New York, Chicago, that Virginia resort where the movie "Dirty Dancing" was filmed, Las Vegas. And we must not forget travel to the national conventions: San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Indianapolis, San Diego, New York, Minneapolis, Chicago, and so on. What? No students to drive in the car? New passengers appeared. Guest speakers, famous authors and workshop presenters who needed to get from the airport to the conference and back.

This award was first instituted to honor those "Friends of Thespians" who have made the work of sponsors easier, and who thereby have made the life of students richer. For over 50 years, Herb has been a Friend to The International Thespian Society, Ohio Thespians and OEdTA.