Mike Huber Story

Just Another Runner’s Story February 2025 Written by Gale Fischer

Game Changer

“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.”

—Jimmy Dean

Capturing the stories of members of the running community for the last two decades has been a privilege. Each of us has a unique running story, but I have also discovered that a similar thread for each story is how running enhances life. I’m sure that reading each story in print can inspire, but what I have come to realize is that sitting down across the table to interview each runner whose story I have written is equally, if not more, uplifting. No one is immune to setbacks in life and adversity. Running has helped many to navigate these roadblocks. This month’s featured runner, Mike Huber, experienced a traumatic accident and injury as a young adult many years ago. He is grateful, despite being an amputee, to be able to enjoy running.

Mike began running back in the mid-eighties as a student athlete for Comstock High School. “I ran track my sophomore, junior, and senior years of high school,” Mike recalled, “participating in the open 400, the high jump, and in the 1600 meter relay. I also ran some local 10K races during my teenage years, but nothing serious. I often call this period of time my first running career.” Mike spent much of his time outside as a child and also enjoyed cycling.

Mike graduated from Comstock High School in 1989 and began a career in the military ten months later.  “I joined the Air Force almost a year after high school and continued to enjoy running to stay in shape and also participated in some races and triathlons,” Mike said. “I was stationed up by Marquette at KI Sawyer Air Force Base and also loved cross-country skiing during the winters there.”

Mike’s faith and patience would be tested after an auto accident. “I was involved in a minor car accident near Petoskey in December of 1993,” Mike explained. “While inspecting the damage to my car, I was hit by another car and jammed between the car and a tow truck. I remained conscious, and initially I thought maybe it was just a broken leg, but I quickly realized it was more serious when I noticed my foot turned the opposite direction. Doctors did some reconstruction surgery, but after less than a week, the left leg had to be amputated below the knee because of gangrene.”  

As you might imagine, the realization of losing a leg was a crushing blow for Mike. “Initially, it was tough to deal with,"  Mike recalled. “I went to my Air Force Base to continue my rehab. I had a support system there that helped. I eventually went from a woe is me attitude and why did this happen to what can I do now to live a quality life.” 

This transformation from self-pity to hope and gratitude didn’t occur without intervention from others. “I was surrounded by some amazing people at rehab who inspired and helped me,” Mike said.  “The chaplain at rehab helped to restore my faith.” Mike’s greatest source of positive influence came from an unlikely source. “There was also an 80-year-old double amputee polio patient there. She taught me a lesson about believing in myself. Her words of advice were to never be discouraged by those who try to tell me what I can’t do. She was at the rehab facility with me for only a few days, and I have never had contact with her after this, but her influence was huge. I still think about her to this day.”

Mike would eventually find the joy of running again after his accident, but this would take some time. There were many factors in play for Mike to run long distances again, consistently with advancements in medical technology being a part of this equation. He reflected on the process of a return to a normal life as an amputee. “I was twenty-three years old and still young at the time of the accident. My medical team helped me lay out a plan to eventually equip me with a prosthetic. Because mine was a traumatic accident, I started with a plaster cast, a metal pole called a pylon, and a simple, solid foot. This was the first step to build proprioception. I was restricted to very little weight-bearing during this time. It allowed my leg to heal while preventing flexion contracture.” 

Mike’s leg responded well to this initial stage, which lasted five weeks, and he was ready to continue the progression back to normal activity. “From there, I was given a plastic socket that was shaped for my leg. The foot remained simple, but this allowed me to bear weight on my left leg. For the next seven years, my socket remained the same material, but the foot technology would change. For the first five or ten years, I would have to be measured for a new socket a few times a year because of shifts in muscles and bone structure. Now I only have to have a new socket every two to five years. My body changes less than it once did.”

Mike worked his way through each stage of recovery and normalcy as an individual with a prosthetic leg, and a moment early on fueled his desire to keep progressing with steady patience. “I hiked five miles up the Vernal Falls Trail in Yosemite National Park with family six months after surgery,” Mike said. “I had not really trained for it, and it was definitely a huge challenge. There was a lot of blood and blisters at the base of my leg. Completing this was a defining moment. I realized that the sky was the limit for me.” 

Completing the Vernal Falls was a defining moment for Mike. It was a game-changer. “I wanted to become more active, and I began making goals,” he noted. “I started mountain biking because at the time, this was an activity that was more accessible and created less impact on my lower leg. I started running two years after my accident again, but nothing serious.” The foot that Mike had at that time allowed him to run on a limited basis. He wanted to run more but was grateful for the activities he was able to enjoy. He remained hopeful and patient. “At this time, I had a carbon fiber high-activity foot, but it wasn’t necessarily designed for long-distance running,” Mike explained. “It wasn’t the intensity or the higher mileage that I can participate in now, but when I started running again, even on a limited schedule, it was great. I had run before the accident and enjoyed it then, but this was extra special experiencing it again.”

The technology for running blades had already been developed at the time of Mike’s accident, but he would have to wait for his opportunity to get his blades. “Running blades were available to higher-level athletes, but it wasn’t until 2015 that technology made running blades accessible to most everyone,” Mike said. “At this time, I finally got a running blade. This is when I became a serious runner again. I started putting races on the calendar with an end goal of a half-marathon. I ran my first half-marathon, the Portage Winterblast Marathon, in 2016. My goal is to push myself today, to do my best, and to grow, but my mantra is to run tomorrow and into the future, so I am always careful. I am always paying attention to how my leg and socket feel.”

Mike felt blessed to be able to ride his bike, hike, and run on a limited basis, but having running blades transformed his life. One might think that going from running with two legs to returning to the sport years later with a prosthetic leg and running blade might take some time to adjust, but Mike said that there wasn’t that big of a learning curve. “I do have to pay attention to the running surface that I run on, but I’m not sure that I do this more than any other runner.” Mike noted, “I am always cautious on ice and snow and on trails with rocks and roots.” 

Mike understands that if his accident had occurred at a time when today’s prosthetic technology was not present, his life would be much different. Modern medicine has allowed him to live life as normal. “I think that the technology for myself and other amputees allows access and engagement as there has never been before,” Mike said. “I believe this is a good thing. Being able to be active keeps all aspects of my life functioning well, including physical health and wellness, mental health and wellness, and interacting with others in the community who are healthy. Being able to be active definitely helped to get me over that mental hump after losing my leg. The mental struggle that came into my life as an amputee is similar to the struggles in a run. Technology for running has not been restricted to amputees. We have seen technology with shoes, other running attire, and watches, and I feel technology for amputees has followed a similar trajectory.”

In the past, losing a leg would have drastically limited one’s mobility and independence in life, but in Mike’s mind, although his accident was very traumatic, his injury today is not necessarily more debilitating than many more common medical issues. “What makes my injury different from many injuries is that it is a visible injury,” Mike explained. “It is easily seen. There are many in our community and our run group who have dealt with other struggles, including cancer, broken bones, and other disabilities. Like these individuals, the running community has helped me through these struggles.” 

Mike’s accident may seem to others like a major life bump in the road to navigate before returning to normal. In essence, it was a blip in his life story. He has led a normal life for many years with a leg amputated, but this does not diminish the example he is to others. “I think seeing how I have been able to handle my disability has taught my kids some life lessons about not letting things get in your way,” Mike reflected. “It may not have been natural for me to lose a leg, but my life eventually circled back to normal.” Mike continues to provide this example for not only his kids, but for his peers in the running community, as well as others who know his story. “I’m not alone in dealing with life issues,” Mike added. “All of us need to make a mental shift when struggling to change the Why did this happen?  to the What can I do to make my situation better?”

Mike has enjoyed the support he has gained from the running community. He has stepped in this winter as a team leader for the Kalamazoo Area Runners Beyond Marathon and Half-Marathon training program, something that has enhanced his running experience. Although being an amputee does not limit his independence and ability to function as an athlete and a productive member of our society, his story still remains one of inspiration.

Everyone has a story.  Stay tuned next month for another runner’s story.

Do I Look Like a Runner

Just Another Runner’s Perspective February 2026 Written by Gale Fischer

Do I Look Like a Runner

“The benefits and opportunities of running are available to anyone. A life-shaping experience is there for the taking.”

—Donald Buraglio

10/19/1997: Feelings of amazement, inspiration and disbelief consumed me as I stood along the streets of Chicago watching runner after runner pass by. I had never been part of a marathon as a participant or as a spectator and I knew very little about covering a distance of this length or running in general. My wife Kathy and I had traveled to Chicago on this mid October weekend to watch Clay, a friend of ours run his second marathon on this chilly Autumn morning. With each checkpoint I noticed the same runners clustered in a small pack with Clay. I kept anticipating that  some would fade, but they remained on pace mile after mile. In my mind I had envisioned what a runner looked like but what I saw contradicted this image. Some were tall, others were short. There were skinny runners and stocky runners. Different generations were represented from young adults to middle aged and also senior citizens. I was awestruck that anyone could run 26.2 miles but what stunned me more than anything else was the different sizes, shapes and ages of these individuals. I learned that day that in the world of running a book cannot be judged by its cover. I have observed this concept thousands of times over the last three decades as a member of the running community. There may be physical traits or genetic factors that heighten one's potential in our sport, but what truly defines a runner is not what appears on the outside. It is what lies deep inside one’s soul that defines each of us as a runner.

In this my 25th year as a teacher at the school that I call my work home, I am one of the few runners on our staff. Over the years I have remained consistent with my craft. There have been some of my peers at my workplace who have tried running for shorter periods of time but not leaned on it as a go to activity over the long haul. They don’t understand running the same way that I do. My routine during this time has involved an hour run a few days a week after work through the neighborhoods surrounding our school. My co-workers have observed me running on their commute home many times and understand that it is a big part of my life. Some admire my running routine, others are impartial, and I feel most find it difficult to understand my motivation. I typically refrain from bringing up running but periodically this topic will come up in general day to day dialogue. 

A few weeks ago a conversation with some of my co-workers centered on this concept of the perceived physical make-up of a runner. Two of my peers had noticed me running on the roads a few days prior on a frigid February afternoon. Our conversation included inquiries that are common from a nonrunner to a runner. “How can you breathe when running outside in the cold air? Aren’t you frightened that you might slip and fall on a patch of ice or snow?” I offered plausible explanations but still it was difficult for my co-workers to understand. Although most of these non-runners still had no desire to try running, the dialogue sparked curiosity. “Could you see yourself giving running a try?” One teacher asked another. “Have you ever tried running?” another teacher asked the others. One sarcastic reply to this question caught my attention instantly. “Do I look like a runner?” one of my co-workers replied. Her comment summoned an immediate response from me. “You will find many runners who look like you on any marathon course, in any pack of runners on a training run, or on occasion a solo runner out on the road logging miles by themselves,” I interjected. 

My body type has experienced changes since becoming a runner nearly thirty years ago, but this just tips the surface of how my life is different now than it was then. Running has transformed my life mentally and emotionally leaving a far bigger impact than how my body type has evolved. I feel blessed to be a part of the running community. I love being around people who share a common interest and passion with me. Perhaps what I like most about the running community is the diversity of its members. We come from different careers, religions, political affiliations, age brackets, and we represent many body types. The nonrunner may perceive that some of us look more like runners than others but one’s physical appearance does not determine if they are a runner. 

For the nonrunner who possesses a curiosity to join the running movement, we welcome you. I have heard the same story from many experienced runners that fear and embarrassment made it difficult for them to start running. Concern of being observed by others when running and not having the appearance of a runner is common. These runners eventually tried running and in time this embarrassment and fear faded away.  There are many reasons to begin a running routine. Running will improve physical, emotional, and mental health. It will provide a network of peers, some becoming lifelong friends. What running can do more than anything is provide one with confidence to become comfortable in their own body, whether or not that body is perceived by others as a runner’s body. Brian Schneider, a local runner and good friend of mine has often mentioned to me that his level of fitness and his physical makeup provide the perfect scenario for a bar bet. He can walk into a bar and challenge a patron of his choice to a 10K race. I would agree with Brian that he has a good chance of winning this challenge.

Until next time, this has been just another runner’s perspective.

Des Case Story

Just Another Runner’s Story February 2025 Written by Gale Fischer

Finding Your Sweet Spot

“The obsession with running is really an obsession with the potential for more than life.”

—-George Sheehan

Running offers its participants an array of  emotions with thrills, misery, and feelings that fall somewhere on the spectrum between these two extremes. Agony and adventure can occur simultaneously  but also at times in isolation. Each runner experiences the runner’s high with varied elements of the sport. Locking into a fast pace is what works for some. Others find the ultimate joy completing a slow pace for a longer distance. Running bliss can come from a certain pace, a given distance, or preferred weather conditions and terrain for running. Some experience running euphoria traversing a sunny beach on a  warm summer day while others find this sensation on a wooded trail with a fresh blanket of snow. Running can provide positive vibes under all circumstances. Each of us finds a sweet spot with specific scenarios, which can offer the biggest source of individual satisfaction. Coldwater runner, Des Case has found her sweet spot in running as an ultra-marathon runner.

Running has become the sport of choice for Des, but other activities satisfied her athletic palette as a child. “Growing up I came from an athletic family,” Des said. “My siblings and I all participated in sports at a young age, and our mom and dad coached the little league teams we were a part of.” Des excelled as an athlete in high school but not as a runner. “I played varsity basketball and softball for Coldwater High School,” Des added. “The cross-country and track coaches always wanted me to run, but I wasn’t interested in doing this. I graduated from high school in 2008 and went on to play college softball for two years at Glen Oaks Community College. I continued with rec slow pitch softball after college.”

Des gave running a try nearly five years after graduating from high school. “I started running some local 5ks starting in 2012,” explained Des. “Initially I never trained much but just liked to go out and participate in local races.” Des started without any expectations of where running would take her or how it might fit into her life. “Not long after starting, however, running began to grow on her,” Des recalled. “I became a vegetarian and also was going through a breakup.These two things triggered a surge in my running. Running became my me time. I always feel so much better after a run.”

Des enjoyed what running was doing for her mentally and physically. She wanted to build on the momentum and run longer and more often. “In 2013 I ran my first half-marathon,” Des said. “I hit my goal, finishing in just under two hours.” The half-marathon distance seemed to keep Des satisfied for a few years, but eventually she would take on the next logical step as a runner. “My first marathon was the Kalamazoo Marathon in 2016,” she explained. “At this time I still wasn’t following a training plan, but I was still able to hit my goal, crossing the finish line in just under four hours. Finishing a marathon was fatiguing but also gave me an adrenaline rush.” 

The marathon distance was a new type of high for Des and something that satisfied her running fix for a few years, but eventually another type of racing experience presented a fork in the road for her running journey. “I ran the Yankee Springs Half-Marathon, a trail race, in June 2021,” Des recalled. “After completing this race I was hooked on trail racing.” Becoming a part of the trail racing scene also introduced Des to ultra distances, something that seems more common in the world of trail runners. She wanted to run farther. “In October of 2021 I completed the Pinkney Trail Weekend 50K, finishing first among females,” Des noted. “I was sore but the entire experience gave me an adrenaline rush. It made me feel like I could accomplish anything that I wanted. After running the 50K with a first place finish I became more serious about making goals. I wanted to race on trails and continue to increase the distance that I could run at one time, and I also wanted to increase my speed on the road for the marathon distance. I wanted to qualify for the Boston Marathon.”

Des had experienced some success as a runner prior to her first place finish at the Pinkney Trail Weekend without following a scripted training plan but with the goals she had made for herself it was time to change this. “I started getting more serious about training and hired Lorretta Toboskie Horn as my running coach,” Des said. “I qualified for Boston with a finish time of 3:24 in April of 2024 at the Carmel Marathon. I ran Boston in April of 2025. Running Boston was amazing. The weather was perfect and there were so many runners and spectators. To date I have completed four marathons.”

In the midst of qualifying for and running the Boston Marathon, Des was also gaining more experience as an ultra marathon runner. “In September of 2022, I ran the Woodstock 50 miler and finished as second overall female," Des noted. “I felt great after this and felt like I could have run 100 miles. I bumped up to 100 miles in June of 2023 at the Kettle Moraine 100 Mile race in Wisconsin. I was third overall female. To date I have completed two 50 milers and just one 100 miler. I would like to run another 100 miler, a 200 mile race and a Backyard Ultra.” A Backyard Ultra is a last man standing race in which participants must cover a 4.2 mile loop on the hour every hour. Participants keep going with the winner being the final runner who has met the cut-off each hour. 

Although Des is working with a coach and following a script, her weekly training runs are not ideal for trail racing. She would prefer to log the bulk of her miles on trails, but circumstances make this a challenge. “There aren't any trail running options near Coldwater,” Des explained. “My schedule does not allow time to travel to a trail system to run. I am a single mom with four children, a twelve-year old, a nine-year old, a six-year old, and a two-year old, all of whom I have adopted. I also home school my children and work nights and weekends as a nurse. Much of my running is done on a treadmill with some miles completed at a local cemetery.”  Des loves the trails and would love nothing more than to run more on trails, but she has made due with her circumstances and excelled in the world of ultra trail running despite not training on trails. She is a great role model for her children with her dedication to her sport and flexibility in getting her running in while being a mom first.

Des has learned from other ultra runners, especially her coach on how to prepare for races. “For my long races and long training runs I have implemented walking intervals with most of my walk breaks on inclines,” Des added. “I have struggled with nutrition for these long runs, but am starting to figure out what works for me. I take an energy gel every thirty minutes. I hit the aid stations for races using the nutrition offered. Watermelon and pop sicles have become my go to. I also carry a handheld water bottle with an electrolyte drink. When training for an ultra I typically complete a double day long run each week.” 

Running requires a strong mental resolve. Ultra distance puts this mental resolve on high alert. Des relies on her mental focus to get her through the rough patches. “Being an ultra runner has shown me that I can do more than what I think I can,” Des shared. “As endurance athletes we experience physical pain but our minds quit long before our bodies. We can accomplish so much more by remaining physically tough.Whenever I think of quitting, I break things down mentally into manageable segments. I tell myself that I can run another mile and repeat this process for each mile.”

Des’ current sweet spot in her running journey centers around the trail racing ultra marathon scene. The allure of nature that comes from a wooded trail, the confidence that comes from completing distances of 50K to 100 miles and beyond provides her with that thrill. Locking into the mental focus required to run for hours at a time is a task that she craves. 

Everyone has a story.  Stay tuned next month for another runner’s story.

Dennis McKeen Story

 Unretired

“Substitute teaching: where flexibility meets purpose and chaos meets growth.”

Many of the members of our staff spend much of their working years in the education field, starting in their early to mid twenties and continuing through retirement thirty to forty years later. Not all team members have followed this common path, however. Some have enjoyed a career in another field and retired, only to realize that they are not quite ready for what retirement has to offer. These individuals have signed on to work for Harper Creek, to stay busy, and add structure to their day.  Although their experience does not include educating children, the skills they have honed in their previous careers add value to what they can bring to our district. Harper Creek district sub, Dennis McKeen, spent much of his life working in the theater industry. An innocent comment from his five-year-old granddaughter made to him a few years after retiring had him searching for a job working in a school setting. 

Dennis was raised here in Battle Creek. “I was born in April of 1962 at Community Hospital in Battle Creek to David and Gloria McKeen,” Dennis noted. “I am the youngest of seven, with three brothers and three sisters.”  Dennis’ childhood years were in an era where spending time outside and being active was the norm. “I enjoyed playing all sports starting in elementary school,” Dennis explained.  “Baseball was my favorite. I was sure I was going to be a professional athlete. When I was in middle school, I went to football tryouts at Northwestern Middle School. I took a hard hit during these tryouts and decided that football wasn’t for me.”

Organized sports weren’t the only thing that kept Dennis busy as a child. “While not at school, we would play games outside with the neighborhood kids,” Dennis recalled. “My dad would flood the side yard every winter to make an ice rink for my siblings and our friends. Our yard was the neighborhood playground.”

The family unit was an important part of Dennis’ childhood. He reflected on this. “My mom stayed at home when I was growing up, and my dad worked as an electrician for Post,” Dennis recalled. “My brothers and sisters were in charge of watching me when we were outside, and when they grew tired of me, they would put me in an oak tree in our backyard. I was unable to climb down myself, but loved being in the tree.” 

Dennis was named after his uncle, who is a war hero. “My uncle was killed in action during World War II,” Dennis explained. “He was a paratrooper and went MIA on his first assignment when his plane went down, and he was assumed dead. Years later, it was revealed that he survived the plane crash. An ally jeep picked him up to take him to a hospital, but the Nazi’s hijacked the jeep, and he was thrown off to the side of the road because he was in such bad shape. He didn’t survive long after this.” 

Dennis started school in Kindergarten at Urbandale Elementary School, continuing with Battle Creek Public Schools at Northwestern Middle School, and then attending and graduating from Battle Creek Central High School. It was at this time that his focus for a future career began to switch from professional sports to another sector of the entertainment industry. “Much of my extra time was spent working in theater starting in high school,” said Dennis. “There was a girl that I liked who was in theater, so I decided to pursue theatre so that I could spend time with her. We eventually started dating.” Dennis has been involved in all aspects of theater, starting as a teenager and continuing through a long career, including acting, directing, and writing, with his first passion in performance going back to movement and physical activity as a young child. “I fell in love with dancing in high school,” Dennis explained. “I remember watching Fred Astaire movies as a teenager and being captivated with tap dancing. I acted, danced, and sang. I also choreographed while participating in high school theater. I became interested in every aspect of theater, including acting, set design, and props.”

Dennis invested much of his time working in theater while at Battle Creek Central. It became more than an extracurricular activity for him. He hoped that in the future he could earn a living as an adult in the industry. “After graduating from Battle Creek Central in 1980, I went to KCC to get my associate's degree in Theater Arts,” Dennis noted. “I became very involved in theater productions while attending KCC and also began directing.” 

Dennis finished up his associate's degree at KCC in the spring of 1982, then followed his girlfriend to Central Michigan University. Their relationship would end, causing a temporary glitch in Dennis’ pursuit of a career in theatre. “I enrolled at Central Michigan to work on my BA in theater,” Dennis said. “The girl that I had dated in high school also enrolled at Central. She eventually decided that she didn’t want to be with someone who was going to be an actor. I then decided to switch my major to elementary education in an attempt to salvage our relationship, but the two of us ended up parting ways.”

A career change to education didn’t last long for Dennis. He was presented with an unexpected job opportunity in the spring of 1983, and he decided to drop out of school. “I was offered a job as an actor for the musical The Chorus Line, at True Gist Theater,  a little theatre in Homer, Michigan,” Dennis explained. “The Chorus Line gig was a three-month commitment for True Gist’s summer season. I met my first wife, Cindy, who was also working on the Chorus Line, and we started dating.” Fortunately, a plan would evolve following the summer at True Gist.  “One of the directors at the True Gist Theater was also a teacher in the theater department at Western Michigan,” Dennis noted. “He convinced me to go back to school to get my BA in theater.” Dennis enrolled at Western that fall and was back on track. “As I got into my classes at Western, it felt like this was where I belonged,” said Dennis. “ I continued to hone my skills by participating in theater during my time as a student at Western. I finished up the spring of 1987 with my BA degree.”

Dennis and Cindy found employment as actors during the summer of 1987. “Cindy and I worked at Amish Acres, a theater in Northern Indiana, during the summer of 1987 for one season, approximately seven months,” Dennis explained. “We also got married that summer and then moved together to southern Florida to work at Naples Dinner Theatre, after finishing the show season at Amish Acres.” After a year and a half in Florida, Dennis and Cindy were ready to come back to Michigan. “We came back home in the summer of 1989 to work at Tibbits Theatre in Coldwater, for one summer,” Dennis recalled. “We also were working in a comedy group with some friends during our time at Tibbits.”

Dennis spent about two years at Tibbits and was also working in the comedy group. The comedy group eventually led to a more stable job. Dennis reflected on this. “My agent secured an audition for my comedy group with an organization looking to start up a comedy murder mystery show to go on tour around the country,” Dennis shared. “We got the job, and I was able to work as an actor, writer, and director. Our home base was Battle Creek. We named our company Top Hat Productions and performed at college venues throughout the country.” Top Hat Productions was in business for twelve years, performing in every state except Alaska. “At our peak, we had three different crews performing at one time," Dennis explained. “We had an agent who helped us book shows. Eventually, the whole murder mystery thing began to burn out, so it wasn’t lucrative for us to continue doing this.”

Top Hat Productions may have run its course, but Dennis had gained plenty of valuable experience building his resume, which allowed him to quickly find another job in the industry. “I ended up working at the dinner theater at Cornwell's Dinner Theater, acting, writing, and directing traditional plays and musicals,” Dennis said. “I worked there for twenty years, doing 187 different shows, 27 of which I wrote. We were shut down during the pandemic and eventually reopened, but by then, I was ready to scale back.” 

Dennis semi-retired after more than twenty-five years of pouring his soul into his passion for writing, acting, and directing. He has kept his hat in the ring on a part-time basis, spending a few summers working at the summer season at the Barn Theatre in Augusta, building and putting together sets for their shows. 

Dennis and Cindy have one child together, Kenneth, who was born in 1989. Dennis and Cindy divorced in  1992, and Cindy and Kenneth now live in Boston. Dennis remarried in 2000. “My wife Holly and I have one child together, Bailey, who was born in 1996,” Dennis noted. “I have one step-son, Greg, who was born in 1993. Greg and Bailey each have two children, giving Holly and me a total of four grandchildren. Holly became disabled in 2018. When Cornwell’s shut down during the pandemic a few years later, I decided it was time to retire from full-time theatre work so that I could have more free time to spend with Holly, which has enabled me to take care of her more consistently.”

Dennis and Holly were also business owners in Marshall for a few years. “We owned Marshall Carriage Company from 2017 to 2022,” explained Dennis, “offering horse-drawn carriage rides through downtown Marshall. These carriage rides consisted of a guided historical tour of Marshall, including ghost tours.” 

After retiring from the theater industry, Dennis didn’t intend to go back to work. A conversation with his granddaughter a few years ago set the wheels in motion for him to join our staff at Harper Creek. “In 2021, my granddaughter, who was in Kindergarten at the time, was talking about her school one day, " said Dennis. “She told me that I should be a substitute teacher. Our conversation got me thinking. I thought that this would be a flexible job, allowing me to work and also be able to take care of Holly.”

Dennis signed on to substitute teach not long after the conversation with his granddaughter in 2021.  He spent a few years taking job assignments at schools in and around Battle Creek. “I started substitute teaching in 2021 throughout the Battle Creek area,” Dennis recalled. “I began a long-term sub job at Harper Creek Middle School in 2023, and then became a district sub in 2024.” Since joining Harper Creek as a district sub, Dennis has spent most of his time at Wattles Park. He enjoyed working with middle school students and wasn’t quite sure of what his comfort level would be at the elementary level, but it has grown on him. He filled in for a few months to begin the 2024/25 school year, teaching Spanish. This fall, he has spent most of his time helping out in a Kindergarten classroom. 

Dennis reflected on the satisfaction that has come from substitute teaching. “I feel I have some history in teaching. My grandmother was a teacher. Also, my experience in directing shows is similar to teaching. I have enjoyed the day-to-day experience of being in a school. I enjoy watching children grow and learn. It is neat to see when a kid gets a concept after struggling to master it. I have been in Mrs. Shipley’s Kindergarten classroom this fall and have been happy with my comfort level in working with Kindergarten students. My grandkids and the kids I work with bring me a great deal of joy. I have been at Wattles Park primarily for the past two years and appreciate the sense of community and family.”

Dennis has a unique perspective, having spent a career acting, writing, and directing. Pursuing a career in this industry required a leap of faith from him, with long-term financial security not always being guaranteed. “I would encourage others to live the life you want to live,” Dennis shared. “Making lots of money is not always the most important thing. Enjoying your job is important.”

When Dennis originally signed up to substitute teach, he thought it might be nice to work a few days a week, but this plan has changed, and as a district substitute, he has committed to working full-time for our district. Our district subs provide an invaluable service every day. They have committed to subbing exclusively in our district, even when the need for substitute teachers is high for all schools in and around Battle Creek. They don’t know what they will do from day to day, but come in ready to help out wherever they are needed.