In the 1990s, David was one of the Area Representatives in Area 3 (Southwest Ohio). During that time, Area 3 grew from 100 to over 650 delegates, becoming too big for Sinclair College’s ability to host the Area Conference. Along with Jhon Marshall and Johnothon Sauer, David tripled the number of adults from that part of the state involved in statewide service. To this day, Southwest Area remains a large presence in Ohio Thespians, largely because of David’s leadership and friendship.

David was a major force in the creation and early growth of Ohio’s Junior Thespian troupes. In fact, everywhere David taught, if the school had a Thespian troupe, he made it bigger and stronger; if the school did not have a troupe, he chartered one there. Mr. Leist has been a great ambassador for the educating of students in the art of theatre.

When then Chapter Director Gloria McIntyre asked for increased Board presence at Thespian functions, David was among the first of a group of OhEdTA Board members to travel to all of the Area Conferences to present workshops and show Board support. Those other traveling Board members, it bears noting, are already members of the Hall of Fame.

During David’s time on the Board, he filled several positions: one of the All-Ohio coordinators, Registration coordinator, Workshop coordinator, Boutique coordinator, and State/Chapter Director. He was Area Representative for South Area in the short time that it existed as an official Area. He assisted the Southeast Area Representative when a work-stoppage in her school system threatened to cripple that Area’s EdTA activities. At the request of Director McIntyre, David even served as Northeast Area Representative (quite a drive from his home in Southwest) for one year.

David was instrumental in accomplishing the creation of the Individual Events packet and its debut on the internet. In fact, David was OhEdTA’s first web-master, initializing the quest for paperless communication and registration processes.

David continues to serve the arts in Ohio as a student advocate trainer for OAAE. He visits schools to role-play with students as a method of helping them prepare to speak with legislators.

Teacher, leader, arts advocate, friend of theatre: David Leist deserves a place in the Ohio Educational Theatre Association Hall of Fame.