Ace takes his place in spotlight at Rehab show; new Abilene campus plans announced
The event is the West Texas Rehabilitation Center Summer Dinner show.
Although it was Thursday night, before the third game of the football season, instead of August, it still was summer (fall arrives Sept 22). And it was quite a 44th annual show.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, founded in 1965, was the main attraction and entertained the large crowd with its style of country rock that included fiddle, harmonic, accordion and mandolin. Fans thrilled at hearing their classics "Mr. Bojangles" and "Will the Circle Be Unbroken."
Leading the way was original member Jeff Hanna on lead vocals.
It was announced the band was donating all merchandise sales at the show to the Rehab Center to help with event fundraising.
But perhaps the star of the show was the spotlight youngster served by the Rehab Center. This year it was Ace Matthew Gleason, who was there with his parents, Matt and Sheridan. The animated 6-year-old immediately endeared himself to the crowd with his laugh and gap-toothed smile.
He was presented a box of Crumbl cookies by a cowboy, so he got "cowboy cookies." He was not immediately seen sharing.
Ace's visit to the main stage underscored what WTRC president and CEO Steve Martin said previously Thursday, that "everything we do is about our patients. We count on donors and our communities."
And soon that effort will include building a new Abilene facility.
After showing upgrades to Rehab Centers in San Angelo and Ozona, Martin announced that 36 acres in far southwest Abilene, near the Sam's location and off Memorial Drive, were purchased in July.
The site will be near Hendrick South hospital and other medical offices and facilities.
Details on construction plans and a fundraiser campaign will be announced in January, when Rehab 2023 is staged at the Abilene Convention Center.
When built, the facility will take the place of the 67-year-old campus on Hartford Street, north of Woodhaven Shopping Center. It opened in 1953 to served youngsters with cerebral palsy.
Those services, through the years, have expanded to other disabilities − both permanent and temporary. Patients included adults.
50th anniversary:West Texas Rehab Telethon and Auction a show 50 years in the making
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Ace takes his place at Rehab show; new Abilene campus plans announced
