LHS seniors surprise Dennis with special gift

Damon Dennis, owner of Louisburg Chiropractic, shows off his new mini bass guitar with a Wildcat logo on it. The guitar was given to him as a gift from several Louisburg High School seniors and their families for his years of service to the LHS athletic programs.

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Damon Dennis is a busy man.

If owning and running your own business isn’t taxing enough, Dennis has spent the last 24 years running back and forth to Louisburg High School serving as the school’s athletic trainer – something he does at no charge.

“I do it because I enjoy being around the kids,” Dennis said. “I just want to help in any way that I can.”

Lauren Dunn, and some of the other seniors at LHS, thought he deserved a little bit more.

Dunn, who has paid numerous visits to Dennis’ Louisburg Chiropractic office and has had several ankles taped by the good doctor, wanted to get him something special.

So with the help of her parents Janie and Donnie, and twin brother Alex, Lauren started collecting donations since the beginning of the year and they found the perfect gift – a mini bass guitar.

It wasn’t just any guitar as the group had it custom made to have the Wildcat logo put on it.

“This community is blessed with some of the best people and Doc D is a selfless person and always puts the kids before him, even if some of them might get on his nerves,” Lauren said. “But he means the world to me and I am going to be sad next year without Doc D by my side while I am playing volleyball at Pittsburg State.”

So, what would a chiropractor and team doctor need with a bass guitar? Well, music is also a big part of Dennis’ life.

In his down time, he is a member of the local band 68 Overpass and they play several gigs throughout the year.

To complete the surprise, the group of LHS seniors paid a visit to his gig at Timbercreek earlier this month. It was there that several seniors got up to speak and thank him for his service.

Lauren, Alex, Anders Vance and Jarod Woodward all made little speeches before they, and seniors Sierra Reinhart, Tristan Shrock and Cassidy Hink presented him with the guitar.

“I didn’t know or think anything about it because a lot of the people that were there usually come to the shows anyway,” Dennis said. “Then Donnie (Dunn) got up and said something and then I knew something was going on.”

Lauren also presented Dennis with a commemorative plaque along with some gift cards for all his help over the years.

The present took a little work to get to put together. The Dunn family corresponded with Damon’s wife, Karla, to keep it a secret.

Other senior families quickly became involved in different ways, whether it was with donations or helping pick out the perfect gift.

“We started collecting money during football season and wanted to present it to him at graduation but Doc wasn’t going to be in town,” Janie Dunn said. “Donnie mentioned to do it when 68 overpass was playing at Timbercreek and so that worked. I’m surprised we kept it quiet this long. We had a lot of donors and I tried to spread the word to all sports and keep it a secret. I think he was surprised.”

Needless to say he was a little shocked.

“Apparently it was the quite the undertaking,” Dennis said. “For them to do it and for me to not hear about it is pretty significant because I usually hear about everything that is going on. But for them to go to that much trouble for me…it is just really nice. I just love the kids and being around them.”

The effort to put the surprise together was well worth it to everyone involved as it was their way to say “Thank you” to the man who was always there for them when they needed it.

“Doc is a huge part of this community and he takes the time every day after school to come tape us or help us with injuries, for free,” Alex said. “He has a big impact on the athletic programs here.

“For me personally, it was a heartfelt moment because Doc and I have a great friendship and he deserved this.”