“In 1956, Dad was an instructor at an elementary school teacher’s college in India. In 1957, he continued his education in America, choosing Iowa State Teachers College (University of Northern Iowa) in Cedar Falls. In 1967 he brought our family to the U.S., and began teaching psychology and statistics at ICCC, Fort Dodge. In 1972, he took a PhD from Iowa State. He retired about 1985.”

An affluent, generous man, Sahai eventually gave millions — some to Eagle Grove High School, some to the University of Iowa. He was instrumental in raising funds for the Hindu Temple in Madrid, which opened in 2005. Today, 12 of his grandchildren are medical doctors. For a man with an unshakable belief in the power of education, there could be no finer legacy.

In retirement, Sahai was elected to the Webster City Community Schools Board of Education.

A major issue then before the board was the derelict condition of the auditorium at WCHS.

-Messenger photo by Robert E. Oliver
Dave Parrott works on the sound console in Prem Sahai Auditorium, Webster City High School, during the school's Christmas vocal concert in December. Using a lifetime of accumulated talent and experience, he might be found anywhere in Webster City, the adopted hometown he loves. He has a simple objective: make things sound as good as they possibly can.

The estimated cost of renovation was $1 million.

Subash Sahai recalled, “Prem donated $500,000 for it and the board named it Prem Sahai Auditorium, but he never asked for that.”

As Prem Sahai wished, most of the work done on the auditorium was by Webster City firms — Jaycox Construction, Peterson Construction and K&H Electrical.

Joel Peterson remembered “the seats were shot. They were removed, sent away and completely rebuilt and reupholstered.”

Designed by John Harvey, a 1982 WCHS graduate who is today architect and project manager for athletics facilities at Iowa State, the acoustics were a notable feature of the auditorium renovation.

Harvey said: “It was just a big box when we started. We had to break up the flat ceiling and flat walls. We added insulation in the ceiling too.”

Dave Parrott, who you will remember from part one of this story helped to rescue terrific sound equipment from Asbury Methodist Church in Webster City, said, “Acoustically, Prem Sahai is one of the finest-sounding rooms I’ve ever worked in. The design is brilliant; the effect is stunning.”

Beginning with this foundation, Parrott set out to make Prem Sahai an even better place for a concert, play or simple school assembly.

Parrott and his son, Johnathan, moved Asbury’s old console into Prem Sahai and began tuning it to the space.

“It’s working well now, but more can be done,” Parrott said. A modest man, he asked that the many who helped in the project be credited.

WCHS Vocal Music Director Greta Nelson remembered: “We had three microphones on stage previously. None worked. The vastly improved sound system Dave’s given us has improved the morale of our students; it’s noticeable.”

Alondra Johnson Santana, a senior at WCHS, agreed. “The changes in vocal music in the last two years are huge. We have new headsets, new overhead microphones; we’re catching up on basic maintenance that’s been needed for years.”

Hank Christeson, also a WCHS senior, concurred. “I’ve been in theater since freshman year. We never (until ‘High School Musical’) used headsets in a show. Our old overhead mikes were touch and go. Our lighting’s better; the panel matches up with the lights now.”

Parrott was involved in all of these upgrades.

The lighting upgrades were largely the work of Candace Ruby, a professional electrician and mother of Gabe Ruby, who is a regular in WCHS vocal and theatrical productions. She was a super volunteer behind the roaring success of last spring’s “High School Musical.”

Finally, Nelson is full of praise for WCHS maintenance staff members John McKnight and Jeff Pagel, “who never fail to be there for us, when we need them most.”

Now Parrott dreams of the day Asbury’s large JBL speakers can be installed at Prem Sahai.

“We have both line array and sub woofers. They were state-of-the-art when new, were little-used at Asbury, and well-maintained.”

The very large speakers must be installed near the auditorium ceiling; that will require a boom lift and hours of staff time to do it right.

Likewise, lovingly describing Asbury’s six Crown amplifiers, another part of the donation mentioned in part one of this story, Parrott said, “You never hear any hum or hiss from these amplifiers. They’re among the best ever made.”

Some fine day, if he has his way, they’ll wow the crowds at Prem Sahai.

Parrott can look back with satisfaction at the upgrades he’s overseen since last spring’s Variety Show.

“Our new console has improved the production value of everything we’ve put on here since that show. We’re exponentially better, whether it’s a single speaker or a full orchestra.”

After volunteering to upgrade the sound system at Ballard High School in Huxley, Parrott was bowled over when, in gratitude, the school gave him a dozen “really nice Shure wireless microphones” they no longer needed. These are in regular use at WCHS today. Parrott would love to have another dozen or so for use in big, Broadway-style musicals he and Nelson envision for the future.

On a cold Monday night in early December, Parrott was at his usual station running the sound mixing console for WCHS’s Christmas concert. With nearly every seat taken, even those seated at the back of the auditorium could hear every voice and every instrument in every number.

He did the same work for the annual Community Christmas Concert at Trinity Lutheran Church.

So impressed with the vocal and instrumental talent on display at the two concerts, Parrott has spent hours on a console in his home, mixing and editing the songs from both. He’s releasing them on Facebook under the title “12 Gifts of Sound.” One song has been posted each day, beginning with “White Christmas” on December 13. The final release, fittingly, will be “Christmastime is Here” on Christmas Day.

So far, the series has been viewed more than 2,600 times.

And so, the gift of sound, generously given by Asbury United Methodist Church, has, in a few short months, echoed across Webster City, enriching the lives of student musicians, vocalists, actors, orators and faculty. Perhaps the most grateful of all recipients, though, are the proud parents, grandparents and others in Prem Sahai Auditorium, listening to their students in great comfort, surrounded, at last, by truly great sound.

It is a merry gift that will keep on giving.

Editor’s note: The “12 Gifts of Sound” are also posted to the Daily Freeman-Journal Facebook page.