COAI Past President: A proud title held by seven joeys since the
organization was formed in 1984.

Where are our Past Presidents today? What are they doing? How have they
fared? Here's a report on our five living Past Presidents and the two who
have made their last walkarounds.

ARNIE S. "GIGGLES" FIRINE, 1984-86.
Arnie, of New Haven, Conn., was named to the presidency of the old
Clowns of America in 1982, on the resignation of the incumbent president.
When financial disaster sank COA, Arnie led a handful of dedicated clowns
in the formation of Clowns of America International, and became its first
president.

He was a professional clown for 41 years, and in 1994 was named COAI
Clown of the Year. He made his last walkaround June 17, 2004, losing a long
and courageous battle with lung cancer. He is survived by a son and two
daughters.

HUNTER "MR. BOOTS" STEVENS, JR. 1986-1988
Hunter became active in clowning circles when he helped organize the
Midwest Clown Association in October 1974. "I helped form the organization
because we members of (the old) COA had very poor communications and
inter-action with the officers and board," he later wrote. "Maybe, if some
day I could be president of COA, I could make it a truly national
organization...I have worked toward these goals ever since."

These days Hunter and his wife Eleanor ("Babe"), spend their summers in
Wisconsin and winters in Rockledge, Fl. While he formally announced his
retirement from clowning a couple of years ago, Hunter still puts on
makeup, "but only in the seniors (over 55) complexes in Florida."

The Hunters have three sons, Hunter III, Randall and Rodney.

DENNIS "DUSTY" PHELPS, 1988-1990
Dennis says he ran for the COAI presidency because "I was asked by
several officers, since I had been serving as Executive Vice President and
knew of the workings of COAI."

His biggest problem, he says, "was making the organization stronger by
getting it financially in order." A second challenge: getting the membership
involved and fulfilling their requests and needs through education.

His biggest satisfaction in the office? "Having the membership double
in two years. The New Calliope was a big help, but most of all was the
advice given to me by Hunter Stevens, Executive Vice President Betty Cash,
and then-business Manager David Barnett."

He says health problems have caused him to slow down a bit in
clowning, but he still teaches in the Lincoln, Neb., area, and has performed
and taught in England, Holland and the Azores. He and his wife, Judy,
have a daughter, Jody, who is married and living in Omaha, Neb.

DONALD "SKI" BERKOSKI, 1990-1992
Don made his last walkaround Jan.19, 2001, in Indianapolis, Ind. He
was 62.

In addition to his COAI presidency, Don was founder of Smiles Unlimited
Universal Clowns Ministry. In this capacity, he trained more than 5,000
clowns to reach hurting people.

Don's funeral was attended by mourners who came in clown costume and
makeup. He is survived by his wife Ruby (clown "TA DA!"), and seven
children.

JACK "FRECKLES" ANDERSON, 1992-1994.
Jack, a Jacksonville, Fl, native, is the only person who has served as
president of the three major clown organizations: COAI, the World Clown
Association, and the International Shrine Clown Association.

He recalls that when he joined the old COA, "the meetings were all held
in Baltimore, Md., and you had to live in the area to hold office. When
COAI was founded this stopped and every one had the opportunity to hold
office."

His biggest problem as COAI President was the fact that the club "was
flooded with talented people, and it was difficult to find jobs for all the
folks who had a desire to help COAI."

The biggest satisfaction in the job, he says, was reaching a membership
of 7,000.

With his wife, Adrienne, Jack owns Freckles Theatrical and Clown
Supply, a 5,000 square foot store in a Jacksonville shopping center. Jack
has a son, Craig; a stepson, Keith Glidden, and a stepdaughter, Anissa
Wagley.

He formally retired from active clowning two years ago, although he
continues to lecture and judge at clown conventions.

BRENDA "FLOWER" MARSHALL, 1994-1998.
Brenda, of North Richland Hills, Tex., was the first woman to be
elected COAI president, and the first to serve more than one term.

"I initially ran for COAI Secretary because I made a comment about how
I thought that the job should be done, and then President Dennis Phelps
challenged me to run for the job," she says. "I was surprised as anyone when
I was actually elected. After serving with the Board for four years, I felt
I had something to offer as President. When I found out that Jack Anderson
was going to run for a second term, I was very nervous about my chances. And
when the ballots were counted, there were only 11 votes that separated us."

Her biggest problem as president? " There weren't many problems that we
didn't work through pretty quickly. I guess the most frustrating thing for
me was the lack of Board unity during my second term."

Biggest satisfaction? "Programs that took their baby steps during our
time in office. Judy Quest, who served as President following my terms, is
truly a visionary and she introduced several programs to enhance what COAI
offers to its members. Watching those programs take shape during our time
in office was great fun."

Brenda is still involved in clowning full time. She performs regularly
around the country, and teaches at conferences with One Way Street, Bring
Them In Children's Ministry, and TNT on the road..

She's been married to husband Pat for 32 years. They have two
daughters, Lacy and Laura; two sons-in-law, Trey and Lance, and two
grandsons, Eli, 4,and Micah, 2.


JUDY "DEAR HEART" QUEST, 1998-2000
Judy, of Omaha, Neb., says she ran for COAI President after eight
years as the club's Treasurer, because she felt she "could provide
leadership, especially in the area of education."

Her biggest problem in the office? "People with good will on the Board
had very different agendas as to what needed to be done."

Biggest satisfaction? "When I was able to give the President's award
for beautiful clown hearts."

Judy is still and definitely involved in clowning. She performed more
than 100 times in the past year, and teaches both junior joeys and adults.

"My greatest satisfaction comes from watching a First of May get her
first affirmation as a clown," she says."There's nothing like it, because it
spreads the joy so much further by teaching others.

Judy and her husband, Tom, have two daughters, Melanie and Laura.