Jeff Pabst, CRC
Update: When this article was originally published Spike’s name was listed incorrectly in parts of the post. This has been corrected, and the updated article is below. LAGERS apologizes for this error.
As former active members, many of you worked in positions that made our communities safer, cleaner and stronger. These roles were vital to ensure we have vibrant communities. Spike Huff was no different than many of you. He began his career as a road deputy sheriff for Franklin County and eventually transitioned into being a civil deputy and a bailiff in the county court house.
However, Spike’s second (or possible first) passion in life is music. Here’s what he had to say about his passion for music:
“My music career started when I was 12 years old, mainly singing and playing guitar. Through the years, I picked up several other instruments in addition to the guitar. The additional instruments include: fiddle, mountain dulcimer, banjo, mandol
in, dobro, harmonica, and an upright bass fiddle.”
Now that Spike is retired and receiving a LAGERS benefit, he and his wife have been able to devote the lion’s share of their time to their music. Spike Huff “My wife and I travel and perform at many types of events and venues, small and large. Since retirement, we have produced 2 CDs, the first in 2012, titled “Just Like Old Times”, and in 2014 a Christmas CD titled, “Merrily on High”. For the past 14 years I have ran an Acoustic Music House where we have acoustic jam sessions as well as occasional Special Concerts.”
In addition to traveling and performing, Spike and his wife pursued and completed a certification as healthcare musicians.“The music certification that my wife and I have recently completed took approximately two years to complete. The training was extensive; it included online training modules, book reports, hospice training with a local facility, 40 hours of face to face music playing at various facilities, an Independent Study Project, and a final. There was training in methods of playing clinical healthcare music for patients of any age or condition in hospitals, nursing homes, hospice and in home/clinic settings. Each situation is different and each person is different; their status may change during your visit. You have to be able to change the music, change the rhythm and style of your presentation as you watch the reaction of your patient.”
Doing something interesting in retirement? Would you like to share your story with us, maybe even be featured in Retiree Resource? Send your story and pictures to [email protected].
