Kilgore resident to be inducted in Callers' Hall of Fame
By KATHRYN MARTINEZ news1@kilgorenewsherald.com

RED WARRICK

Next weekend, a long-time Kilgore resident will be inducted posthumously into the Texas Callers' Hall of Fame.

Red (Jessie Dee) Warrick lived in Kilgore since the 1940s, when he was enticed to the city from his home in Oklahoma by a family member working here who promised a bright future with a good job in the oilfield industry and an education from Kilgore College.

Back in Oklahoma, Warrick enjoyed square dances, but upon his arrival in Kilgore his interest was heightened and he began to learn calling.

Warrick completed a year of college before being called to serve in WWII.

When he returned to Kilgore and married his wife Gwynn (Mulanax) and the couple dosi do'ed and promenaded throughout the square-dance circuit for approximately 50 years and raised four daughters along the way: Dr. Darlene McLaughlin, of Elgin; Sharon Shaw, of Bellaire; Karen McGinney, of Arlington; and Cynthia Hackler, of Plano.

Lester Mulanax, brother-inlaw, said Warrick was the best man he knew.

"I don't know of a finer man who walked this Earth," Mulanax said. "...except for Jesus Christ."

Joe Holt, long-time friend, called Warrick an "easy-going guy."

"He made square dances fun for everybody," Holt said. "He would always throw in some old calls to mix things up a little or bring up a guest caller."

According to Holt, Warrick was considered the most patient of square dance teachers.

"He was an excellent human being and an excellent teacher. He never got upset or out of sorts," Holt said. "He loved square dancing and his personality came through in his calling."

Warrick's hobby produced more than fifty square dance records. He wrote and produced many square dance songs as well as creating original choreography. Albums include "Jessie Polka" and his signature closing song "Figure Eight" as well as party records such as "Let's Have An After-Party," two instrumentals he created for round dances, including "Serenade of the Bells," and a live album, "Live 60 Club Square Dance."

"Square That Number," which he described as "mathematical jingles for school kids" for numbers one through 20, offered young square-dance couples a tune to which they could dance up to the chalkboard and do a little math with a fun final answer.

Among the bands on his records were: the Longhorn Playboys, Melody Cowhands, Lone Star Ramblers and Tills Square Dance Band.

Warrick's works inspired at least one man, Tim Tyl of White Oak, to become a caller himself.

The induction ceremony takes place Saturday June 14, at Harvey Hall in conjunction with the forty-sixth annual state festival of the Texas State Feder- Ation of Square and Round Dancers. Red's Reflections, a square dance group headed by Red before his death in 2000, will perform at 6 p.m. Many square dance friends and his family will be on hand for this much-deserved induction at 6:30 p.m. Dancing resumes at 7 p.m..