Friday, August 25, 2006

God's Own Suburban Success Story

This is Dan Konopka. The picture is from his sophomore Yearbook at York Community High School in Elmhurst.

Some of you might remember Dan in Art Staff at York.

You may not know it, but Dan isn't just a former resident and York Alum, he's one of our most high profile former resident and York Alum.

See, aside from living in Elmhurst for part of his life, Dan also plays the drums. Some of you might remember Dan playing drums at shows in Elmhurst. Some of you might remember Dan playing drums in your band at shows in Elmhurst.

Dan continues to make us here in Elmhurst proud. Dan is in a band called O.K. Go. The bands status has been on a steady rise due in large part to their impossibly hip videos. Their frontman was a recent guest on The Colbert Report.

I remember Dan. Elmhurst remembers Dan. And Dan remembers us both.

I have a friend at Capitol Records. While attending an O.K. Go concert she got to go backstage afterwards.

Approaching former Elmhurst resident Dan, "My friend Phil Hendricks says he went to High School with you? Do you really know him?"

Pausing and maybe smiling abit at some distant, humorous memory of a time the two of us undoubtedly once shared.

"Yeah... Sure... Phil. Cool. How is he."

I'm well Dan. So is Elmhurst. Well and happy at seeing your success.

8 comments:

Moderator said...

I hate it when my friends become successful.

Phil said...

WE hate it when...

dirty said...

As far as I know, no one I knew in high school became a success...

Phil said...

What is "Success" really? I think it's living in my parents house at 32.

Some Guy said...

Phil, don't know if you saw it, but I posted a funny Dan Konopka story on my blog: http://andsomeguysblog.blogspot.com/2006/08/clerks-moment.html

Frank Sirmarco said...

I played in a band with Dan. We never did choreographed dances on treadmills, but it was fun none the less.

Unknown said...

hey all. phil, did you know dan is my cousin?? i was surprised when i was flipping through the channels and saw him and treadmill schtick on the MTV awards. anyhoo--good to see you tonight, though i wish it was under better circumstances. i'm enjoying the blog...

Phil said...

I did not know that.

It was good to see people tonight.

My email is in my profile, drop me a line. We'll hang.