Emporia, Kans. — To those who knew him, Dean Marsh was “The Leader.” No other name seemed to fit as well.
Marsh, who founded the Topeka Arab Shrine Temple’s Mini-T unit in 1971, died Tuesday at age 93. He continued to drive with the unit as recently as the Emporia St. Patrick’s Day parade, even though it took four men to help him in and out of the small car.
“He was quite a Shriner,” said Larry Gamblian, who was recruited into the Shrine Temple by Marsh in 1981. “He had a lot of respect for the Shrine and what it represented and what it did for children.”
He could also be something of a drill sergeant. Those who knew him knew he demanded nothing less than perfection from the unit, and from himself. It brought results. Since its creation, the unit has brought home more than 30 trophies.
“He was a tremendous guy and he had a way of making you do your best,” Gamblian said.
In recent years, Marsh was weakened by Parkinson’s disease and prostate cancer. He received hospice care, allowing him to remain home until the end.
“He was a very loving person,” said his wife Imegene “Ime” Marsh. They would have celebrated 60 years of marriage in December. “There wasn’t a day that went by that he didn’t tell me he loved me.
“His life was my life. And we did it together.”
The two first met at an Emporia restaurant in 1946 when the power went out. Marsh went back to the kitchen to get some candles for the tables. At one of the tables sat Imegene, who was then Imegene Hammer. From there, it was kismit.
Born and raised in Chanute, Marsh served in the Army in World War II and later came to Emporia while working for the Santa Fe Railroad. He had been involved with the Masons and the Scottish Rite before joining the Shrine. He soon knew he had a home and over the years recruited many others to join him, at one point being named “Chief Camel Herder” for his success at bringing in new members.
In 1967, he asked the railroad to help bring children to the Shrine Circus in Topeka. Marsh got his wish (though the railroad asked for 97 cents per child to cover insurance) and drove the train himself for eight years. At its peak, as many as 1,500 children traveled on the train until Amtrak took over in the mid-1970s and discontinued the trip.
Marsh was asked to organize the Mini-T unit in 1971. He started with a donated car that Citizens Bank used in parades, then encouraged other members to join — if they could supply a vehicle. Armed with six members and some advice from a friend — “The main thing is, go slow” — Marsh and his team went to a Commerce City competition and took second place. From there, he was hooked.
The Marshes had no children, but the team members soon filled the role. Imegene Marsh even served as an occasional substitute driver, giving Marsh one more way to egg his members on: “If Imegene can do it, you can do it!”
“He was the nicest guy in the world, but he could be tough as nails,” said Mike Turnbull, a Mini-T member. “He could fix anything. He could do anything. He was just an amazing individual.”
And if he asked a lot from his cohorts, he gave it back in loyalty. Turnbull still remembers forgetting etiquette at one Shriners gathering and getting up to be served before the Topeka potentate. The potentate took Turnbull to task. When Marsh heard about it, he nearly returned the favor.
“He said ‘By God, nobody treats one of my boys like that!,’” Turnbull said. “Finally, I got him cooled down. But he was fiercely loyal.”
He also made an impression on people. When New Jersey teacher James Quinlan was inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in 2001, Turnbull introduced him to “The Leader” and the two quickly became fast friends. Quinlan repeatedly wrote back afterward asking how “The Leader and Ime” were doing.
About four months ago, Quinlan wrote to say how deeply he had gotten into a mutual passion — model trains.
“He said ‘Be sure to tell the Leader that I’ve got an antique train set going all through my den, under books, and I’ve used books as bridges. I’m sure the Leader will be proud,’” Turnbull said. “I told the Leader and he just beamed from ear to ear.”
Marsh finally retired as director of the Mini-T unit after 30 years, passing the torch to Gamblian and to Bill Hunt, who served as co-directors.
Services for Marsh will be 1 p.m. Saturday at First Christian Church. Burial will be at Memorial Lawn Cemetery.
Next weekend, the Mini-Ts compete in St. Charles. As they gather to practice, it will be the first time that Marsh hasn’t been there watching and commenting.
“We’ll miss his persistent ‘You’ve gotta get it right!’” Gamblian said.