 The
center was launched in the spring of 2003 with a major $3.5 million
gift from local businessman and Jeff alum, Bob Rohrman,
and Jefferson High School was challenged to raise the remaining funds
to complete the $7 million complex.
Jaeger,
who helped shape Jefferson’s present facilities, served as head
of Jefferson High School’s choral music program for 25 years,
from 1955to 1980. A committee composed of his former students, and others
representing various aspects of the Greater Lafayette arts community,
has come together to assist with the fundraising and honor the man who
created a musical legacy at Jefferson with his polished choirs and high
quality musical theater productions.
Jaeger
established a reputation for excellence at Jefferson High School that
drew respect statewide for his contributions to arts education. The
challenge of maintaining that reputation, passed down to such capable
directors as John Clark, Gary Branson, Jean Branson Miller, Lynn Lupold,
Kevin Butler, Eric Van Cleave, Debbie Miller and now John Satterfield
and Jeff Vallier, continues to result in high-profile award-winning
choral groups at Jefferson such as First Edition Show Choir.
A
recipient of the Indiana Governor’s Sagamore of the Wabash
Award and honored with the Chamber of Commerce Grand
Marquis Award, Jaeger directly touched the lives of more than
2,300 students during his 25 years at Jefferson. An enthusiastic volunteer
throughout his professional career and retirement, Jaeger has directed,
written or performed in shows for virtually every performing arts group
in Greater Lafayette including the Civic Theatre, Purdue Repertory
Theatre, Bach Chorale Singers, Opera de Lafayette, the Lafayette Symphony
Orchestra, the Freedom Singers at July 4 Stars and Stripes shows, and
numerous church choirs. He most recently served as director
of music at First United Methodist Church in West Lafayette.
For
more than a decade, Jaeger’s reviews of theater and classical
music have appeared in the Lafayette Journal and Courier
and previously in the Lafayette Leader. He and has
served as host for Going Like 60 on cable TV, and as
a vocal music consultant with the Purdue-based Midwest Program on Airborne
Television Instruction before cable came into being. He also briefly
worked with Miss Francis of Ding Dong School.
His
talent and organizational skills have touched many other groups from
Purdue University Bands to the Tippecanoe Country Historical
Association and the Tippecanoe County Millennium Committee.
Jaeger spearheaded fundraising efforts for renovation of the Long
Center. For 14 years, he also served the United Way
as communications and marketing director.
He
composed the “Lafayette Hymn” which has
been sung at the Stars and Stripes concerts, and the “Jefferson
Hymn” which is sung each year at Jefferson High School’s
graduation ceremonies. |
