dawn holliday and sherry sternberg. the four of us had lunch. he said we would start a festival.t was the genesis. it was not anything more complicated than that. in my own defense, and was not yet playing the banjo -- i was not yet played the banjo. the ulterior motive i was accused of did not exist yet. >> i would have thought it was because of your interest in the music and the instrument of the banjo that you play with a lot of love and enthusiasm. i would have thought that would lead to the founding of the festival. >> i have loved the music. much of my life. i really love the old time music. >> you mentioned dawn holliday. she works with you collecting the older music. >> she basically organizes the whole thing'. she decides who is going to be on. they have incredibly great bands opposite each other. i always worry about that, but she tells me not to. >> this has really grown in the number of participants. >> she kept asking what i would do about it and i kept saying nothing. i do not want to change anything. i love it the way it is. i know it creates traffic jams, but so w

performing arts center and ross' generosity made possible the construction of the nationally renowned sternberg museum of natural history. the museum of art on the campus of kansas state university bears the name of mrs. beach which was named for her in commemoration of their 50th wedding anniversary. my wife robin and i have been honored to serve on the board of visitors for the art museum that bears the beach name and we're able to witness firsthand the passion and commitment ross and mariana had for culture and the arts in kansas. on the campus of the university of kansas, ross assisted in the formation of the beach center on disability where kansans with disabilities and their families are helped to find healthier and more productive lives. kansans from all walks of life have been benefited from ross' compassion to others and his service to community. he was recognized in many, many occasions, including his designation of kansan of the year in 2002, the president's award from kansas state university in 1989 and aa citation for distinguished service from both university of kansas and forthoo