Well, this is a little awkward. I was asked to feature myself for this edition of "Getting to Note You..." I'll try to keep this as brief as I can. 

My name is Byron Lee Dial, but my friends call me Lee. I sing bass in chorus. I first joined Barbershop in 1973-1978 with the old S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A. Kingsman Chorus in Hanford. Before they existed, I was invited to audition with the Gold Note Chorus in Fresno by Tank Waldrum, my next-door neighbor. It was determined that I was best suited to sing bass. It was the first time I could feel a chord, and I was hooked completely. I loved the Barbershop harmonies from the first exposure. I love quartet singing too, although I never sang in a registered quartet. I did participate in Polecat Jamborees back in the day. One of the quartets was the "Pop and Son Tunes": James and Jim Hoekstra, my son Byron Jr., and myself. We did show tunes and polecats. Later, when some of the Visalia men started coming over, we met Ron Dial. Someone thought it would be novel to have all four Dials in the chapter to form a quartet: Ron Dial on bari, Byron on lead, James on tenor, and myself singing bass. "The Dial Tones" had a unique way of pitching our songs. I sang with "pick up" quartets for Polecat jamboree contests. There was one I sang with Bob Peden, Fred Rader, and John Reiland. We scored some ribbons that I carry in my music binder: a participant (4th), third place, then second. It was fun. We enjoyed the time together in Sacramento. 

My favorite moment in Barbershop was FWD Long Beach. Our little chorus won the stage presence part of the show, and though it got us disqualified, the deafening thunderous audience response was so amazing that I think we all teared up a little bit. 

As for my music background, nothing official. I can't remember a time when I didn't sing. My mom told me that when I was three, we lived in Oakland during the Second World War. She said I would stand on the piano seat and sing solos at church, always a cappella because I would stylize the song however, I felt it. The piano player or even Dad with his guitar didn't get it right. 

We were a family of seven; I had two brothers and two sisters. We sang around the house all the time; there was no TV. We sang many songs in church with Dad playing guitar. I sang publicly in church until 1959 when I joined the Army. I served in the Corps of Engineers in Missouri, Ft Benning, Georgia, and the remainder of my time in Germany. I served in Germany for more than two years in the 293rd Construction Engineer Battalion. I learned various trades while there. I really loved living in Germany; I feel that is where I grew up in many ways. 

My brothers were several years older and were veterans of the Korean War. The eldest was a Navy Seabee attached to the 1st Marine Division. My other brother served on three different mine sweepers; two were blown up and sunk by shore batteries. I don't know how or why, but he was never seriously injured. 

I loved barbershopping, but in 1977 I had an opportunity to minister in a small church on 3rd Street in Hanford. I hung in with barbershop as long as I could, but there were just too many conflicts with my time, so I dropped out in 1977 or 1978. During this time, I was also working at Armstrong/Pirelli Rubber Company. I worked there from 1962-1987. During the time I was working at the 3rd Street church, the church was a group of mixed races. My time there was a wonderful and rewarding ministry. Boy, oh boy, could we sing! We sang a cappella in church. We found some sweet ways to sing old hymns and new ones. In 1987, I accepted full-time work with the Hanford Church of Christ as an associate minister/elder with a focus on Deaf ministry and youth programs. I was fortunate to get a Deaf Mission started in Ghana, West Africa, in 1984. It was fully organized by 1985. I plan to go back in December to celebrate the 40th anniversary. I have participated in 18 journeys to Ghana for mission work. 

I retired from the church around 2014; it's hard to remember because I was still doing the same work but without pay. ? 

I had a Honda CB750 motorcycle that I loved. My wife and I put a lot of miles on that bike all over California. It was such fun for a few years, my shoulder-length hair flowing in the breeze. ? 

The golfing years: For several years, my wife Letitia was a golfing widow. I was on the course every time I could get the time to play a few holes. Armstrong had a golf league that my partner and I won. Lots of fun and camaraderie. Those were some great days for sure. 

And now, most of that is fond memories of an old man... 83 until September. 

Last year in March, I was clearing out my garage when I came across some Barbershop sheet music in a file box. I tossed it, thinking I would never again sing Barbershop. But as fate would have it, just a few days later, Bob Peden came by and wanted to know if I would drive him to chapter meetings due to his not seeing well at night from behind the wheel. So, here I am! And I am so excited to be back singing those minor chords and good close harmonies. I'm having a wonderful time singing in the "198 Express" quartet with Don Laursen, Bob Peden, and Rod Robinson. 

On a final note, I have four children (counting adopted). I have three daughters-in-law and one son-in-law. I have eleven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. I am very blessed. I hope this was not TMI. Thanks for reading. 

Living and Singing in Harmony, Lee