Profile in Callers and Cuers

The Luttrells, Melton and his wife Sue, started square dance lessons in the Fall of 1949 in Eastland, Texas. Before the classes ended, Melton announced that he wanted to become a caller. In 1950, he started guest calling at clubs in his area, and in the summer of that year, the Luttrells attended Herb Greggerson's school for callers in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Returning home, he started calling in earnest and within the next year, he had regular calling dates in four neighboring cities. It soon became obvious that Melton enjoyed teaching as much as calling. Since his first classes, he has taught an estimated twelve thousand people to square dance. As a home-club caller he has created a spirit of friendliness and cooperation in his neighboring square dance activities. He has been club caller for all his clubs for more than twenty years, three of them for thirty-three years. Melton designed and managed Swingtime Center, one of the nation's finest square dance facilities, and he currently serves as president of the corporation that owns and manages the Center. As a recording artist (Square-L Records) he has produced a number of "hits". As a traveling caller he has covered a good part of North America as well as England, New Zealand, Australia. As a Charter member of CallerLab, Melton has served on its Board of Governors and been a member of the Executive Committee. In October, 1977, Melton was inducted into Bob Osgood's Sets In Order Square Dance Hall Of Fame. He has encouraged young callers coming into the field of square dancing, but he takes a realistic approach to the activity, believing that square dancing is not for everyone. He avoids pushing any dancer into club leadership or to a point beyond which he or she wishes to go. His theory is to let the dancer enjoy the activity.

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SIO Article: THE SETS IN ORDER AMERICAN SQUARE DANCE SOCIETY takes pride this month in announcing that Texas caller Melton Luttrell has been elected into the Square Dance Hall of Fame. At the ceremonies in the Society's headquarters in Los Angeles on September 15, an oil painting of Luttrell especially created by noted artist Gene Anthony was added to the growing collection that line the walls. Luttrell, a leader in the activity for a quarter of a century, has been identified with CALLERLAB — the International Association of Square Dance Callers, as a member of its Board of Governors and as chairman of its Halls for Square Dancing Committee. As a home-club caller, Melton has created a spirit of friendliness and cooperation in his neighboring square dance activities. As a traveling caller and a recording artist, he has contributed greatly to the world square dance scene. He has encouraged young callers coming into the field of square dancing and has instilled in them a spirit of cooperation and friendliness. It is estimated that no fewer than 9,000 dancers have attended the classes he conducts in the Fort Worth area. From these classes, which are held on a continuing basis — one starting as the previous one is completed — and which average between 50 and 85 couples in size, many are still dancing after 18 years or more. He takes a realistic approach to the activity, believing that square dancing is not for everyone. He avoids pushing any dancer into club leadership or to a point beyond which he or she wishes to go. Luttrell's theory is to let the dancer enjoy the activity. It is because of his attitude, his leadership and his many other accomplishments over the years that the American Square Dance Society Hall of Fame Selection Board has extended this honor to Melton. As in the past, in honoring an individual the Society also pays tribute to the caller's partner, in this case to Sue Luttrell. Congratulations!