SUSAN E. FRON, 1979-82

Home: Smyrna, GA

Current occupation: Area Leasing Manager, Eastman Kodak Company with the responsibility of selling Kodak Digital Products nationwide utilizing a tailored leasing solution.

Past jobs/life situations that have contributed to the richness of my life: Twenty-two years with Kodak, a company whose values have more certainly contributed positively to my life. Also a mom and dad still together after 50 years, celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this year; a niece and nephew that I adore and who always keep me young; and lots of friends that I consider my "extended family."

Hobbies/passions that I enjoy: Working out, cooking and home entertaining.

What made/makes the Golden Girl position so special: It is rare that you can take talents you've developed in one area (whether it be football, basketball or baton twirling) and use the lessons you've learned, and the contacts you've made, towards new endeavors, namely your career. The "Golden Girl" position allows you to do that. It is truly a position that can be what you make of it. Just a baton twirler?!! No.a public speaker, a goodwill ambassador, an entertainer, a symbol of the university - and more!

How being Golden Girl has shaped/impacted my life beyond Purdue: Even at 43, my past position of "Purdue Golden Girl" still brings me attention where others don't In today's competitive business world, it easily sends a message of someone with experience in the public eye. The lessons I learned not only as a leader, but also as a follower (always being advised by the either the university, or watching others in the GG role when I was a freshman) are very applicable to the business world.

Favorite memories from being Golden Girl: Still, there are some less serious but unbelievably funny moments from my days at Golden Girl -- some worth mentioning here, others perhaps "unmentionable".

For one, I can remember the day that the Drum Majors, who were positioned directly behind me as we marched from the Hall of Music to the Drill Field everyday at afternoon practice, decided .unbeknown to me.to take a different route to the Drill Field. The result.well, one flustered Golden Girl.thinking most certainly that she was leading the Band.marching straight ahead with no one behind her at all. Yes, I was leading no one.while 350 Band Members took their block in a totally different direction! It didn't take me but a moment to "catch on".but it felt like an eternity of embarrassment.

Another moment of grandeur - weekly "weigh ins". Anyone that was a majorette or soloist through at least the mid-80's knew about weekly "weigh-ins".a truly humbling experience. Try once not making it! Yes, ye shall heed by the power of the "lettuce diet".at least until next weeks game anyway. (Not that I would ever know of course.)

To this day, it still makes me laugh to remember the amazing transition for everyone in the band - those in the block, auxiliaries, big bass drum guys, and soloists alike -- from INSIDE the bus (on our way to an "away" game) to OUTSIDE the bus. Back in those days, it was strictly enforced that no band member could be seen in anything but full dress once exiting the university bus for a performance. It was amazing how 350 people could change from street clothes to pressed jackets, shined shoes, polished buttons and all.in the course of just 15 minutes! Needless to say, we all learned how to be "quick-change" artists..be it with or without an occasional wandering eye.

During my time as Golden Girl, I had the pleasure of appearing with the All-American Band at the Peach Bowl, the Bluebonnet Bowl, and the Liberty Bowl, the adventure of performing in Venezuela with bands from all sorts of countries, the cultural experience of performing "center ring" at the Bull Fights in Mexico, the thrill of gracing the Toronto National Exhibition with the thundering Bag Pipes of the Scots Guard behind me, and the sheer joy of teaching some very hard-working children how to twirl baton in Japan.

But one of the most awesome experiences I can recall in my time at Purdue was a special stage performance we did with Doc Severson at a benefit show in Evansville, Indiana. I stood just six feet away from what I knew was a Musical Master on the trumpet. Such a talent.and such a perfectionist! I must admit - it was especially hard to concentrate on my portion of the show that day.

Finally, I had the privilege to work under the direction of some fine artists in their own right - Musical Directors George Moffitt, Dick Dunscomb, and most notably Professor Al G. Wright. Funny thing.back then as much as we hated to admit THEY were right, we messed up most when WE dared to presume that they weren't. Ah.those defiant college years!

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