Gene L. Pflug's Obituary
PFLUG, GENE L. age 84, died December 12, 2012 born in Springfield, Illinois, lived in Dallas most of his life. Known as the “Boy with the Flying Feet” began his career at age 7 appearing with Allan Jones in a Dallas Summer Musical Production of “The Firefly”. He turned professional tap dancer at the age of 14, appearing in 33 Dallas Summer Musicals. Selected for a 4 year college scholarship at North Texas State College to travel with “Fessor Graham’s Variety Show”, staging shows & performing weekends with the “Aces of Collegeland”. He served his country in the Special Services Unit staging, performing & dancing in 190 military shows, and named Outstanding Entertainer at Ft. Meade. After the military, Gene worked in TV, nightclubs & stage productions in Hollywood & New York. As Hollywood musicals declined, he hung up his shoes at age 28 spending the next 30 years in commercial insurance. By a chance meeting with a prior dance Instructor, Gene agreed to train an advanced tap class. He found teaching his greatest joy and passion. Gene taught 12 years at Gingham Girls, 25 plus at Calico Kids & 5 at Stars for Tomorrow. His students & productions earned 110 gold medals. Highlights include Calico Kids exhibition numbers at the 2000 Olympics. Gene created dances for the 1999 and 2000 National Tap Dance Day. Personal awards include the 1999 National Tap Dance Committee for Outstanding Contribution in Teaching Tap Dancing and the 2011 Texas Tap Legend by the Dance Council of North Texas. He gave countless hours to help students showcase their unique talents, often for no charge. Gene became a Mason while in college (Stanfield Lodge, Denton), being most active with the Dallas Hella Temple Clown & Greeter Units. As an avid showman, he shared his joy and zest for life through his charitable service to others, delighting all with his sense of humor and antics. Survived by his wife, Suzanne; sons, John, Garry and fiance, Leslie; daughters, Janet and husband, Richard Jensen and Gayle and husband, Mark Sackett; step daughters, Robin Nelson, Julie Mathews; grandchildren, Rev. John R Pflug Jr and wife, Brittany, Michael & Kimberly, Jack, Kyle & Taylor Pflug, Richard Jr & Mathew Jensen, Katie & husband, Stephen Barbieri, Clayton & Grant Sackett, & great-granddaughter, Emma Pflug. Memorial service December 28, 2012 at 2:30 pm at Restland. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Shriners Hospitals preferred.
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