Did you know?
Sturgis was home to some very interesting people. They were born in Sturgis and grew up to do extraordinary things.
Lego Masters
Rich Kim graduated from Sturgis High School in 1990 and has been very successful in the entertainment industry. He has directed more than 60 TV series including Lego Masters, Master Chef, Master Chef Jr., Making It, Project Runway, America’s Next Top Model, Simple Life, Road Rules and Real World.
Kim continues to direct shows that are on NBC, ABC, CBS, TBS, MTV, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple, FOX, Disney+, Bravo, VH1, and YouTube Originals.
Motel 6
Tom Bodett, was a 1973 SHS graduate went on to a major career in broadcasting, writing, and acting. He’s best known as the spokesman for Motel 6 with his tag line, “We’ll leave the light on for you.”
According to an interview in 2023 CBS Sunday Morning interview “We’ll leave the light on for you” is what Bodett’s mom said when he was coming home. Now he’s a little tired of the line but added in spite of all his success in radio, acting and writing, he would be happy being a woodworker the rest of his life.
“I’m a pretty good writer. I’m an ok radio guy. I’m a really good woodworker,” he said.
C.O.V.I.D.
The pandemic of 2020 was a boost for the career of Susan LaRoque Davis, PharmD. The 1996 SHS graduate and daughter of Gib and Vicki LeRoque of Sturgis, she was one of six pharmacists on Dr. Anthony Fauci’s panel.
Davis represented the Society of Infections Disease Pharmacist on the panel and was an expert in antimicrobial stewardship and antibiotic resistance. Before the vaccine was ready for the public, in a newspaper interview Davis said to hold on to hope, there would soon be a vaccine.
Musicians
Sturgis musicians, probably better known elsewhere include:
- Frances Clark, a 1923 Sturgis High School graduate, eventually created a highly acclaimed piano pedagogy curriculum for teaching piano.
- Deborah Mayer, a 1986 SHS graduate, daughter of John and Caralee Mayer, is now an opera soprano. She has been on the Metropolitan Opera stage and many others around the world and is now an adjunct assistant professor of voice at the University Notre Dame.
- Jamie Thompson Drake, a 1998 SHS graduate, has made it in the recording industry. You can hear her pop music on Spotify.
Artists
Bill Shinn, a 1943 SHS graduate and World War II veteran, trained as an artist but to provide for his family he cut hair at a little shop on Prairie Street near the industrial park. Repeat, long standing customers got their hair cut after work. In the downtime Shinn created carvings, drawings, fine art paintings, signs and sets for the Miss Sturgis pageant. He also created sculptures using mediums such as apples and snow. He didn’t go far from home but he always used his talent for his family, the community and his own enjoyment.
To honor Bill Shinn’s artistic talent, at 2 p.m. on Aug. 16 the Sturgis Historical Society will host an open house.
