When Dane Newlove was interviewed to be the Director of the St. Marys City Schools Band program, then-Superintendent Richard Burke shared some advice that Dane remembered throughout his tenure - the three most important positions in the St. Marys community were the Roughrider football coach, the School Superintendent, and the Band Director, and not necessarily in that order. Despite this advice, Dane accepted the position of Band Director for St. Marys City Schools in 1986. Over the next 27 years, he transformed the program in significant, lasting ways, creating new traditions at a school where tradition is revered, and inspired generations of new musical talent and teachers.

Dane was born on February 17, 1961, the only son of Clyde and Jeanne Newlove. Inspired by his Band Director, Patrick Santelli, Dane played percussion and knew he wanted to be a Band Director. He was active in Band, Choir, and school musicals and played on the golf team at North Baltimore High School. A year before he graduated, Dane toured Europe with the All-American Band and was selected to play in the All-Ohio State Fair Band. He graduated in 1979 and attended Bowling Green State University. He received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education in 1983 and a Master of Educational Leadership from Wright State University in 2002.

Dane was the Music Director for three years at Edgerton Local Schools when long-time St. Marys Band Director, Fred Loyer, retired in 1986. Dane was hired that summer and quickly learned how to manage an All-Brass Band during football season and a Symphonic Band for the rest of the school year. In 1987, he brought the band to their first Ohio State Buckeye Invitational in Columbus, expanded the percussion section, and changed the marching band’s music to more popular and contemporary pieces with themed shows. Over the next several years, Dane and his Assistant Band Director, Becky Anderson, implemented a program that remains popular today – traveling across the United States to march in parades. During his tenure, they brought the band to a parade at the Kentucky Derby, Thanksgiving Day parades in Chicago and Philadelphia, a parade at the Smoky Mountain Music Festival in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and the Citrus Bowl Parade where they also performed on New Year’s Eve at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. He arranged for the St. Marys All Brass Band to perform at the Ohio State Skull Session before a football game and for the St. Marys MHS Pep Band to play at Ohio State University Men’s and Women’s Basketball games. 

Dane also reinstituted the Drum Major program. In 1990, he and then-student, Bryan Lynch, created script Riders for SMABB to perform at football games. Dane also chaired the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) District 3 Solo & Ensemble Contests that are held annually at St. Marys. He also had a dramatic influence on many students in the band program whom he mentored, inspired, and nurtured. Dane estimates between 12-15 former students are Band Directors and Music Educators, including current St. Marys Band Directors, Maddy Frankenhauser and Howard Spencer.

Following his retirement in 2013, Dane has remained an active behind-the-scenes force in the St. Marys Band program as well as an active volunteer in the St. Marys community. He established the St. Marys Community Band in 2014, where it has grown to include 80 members from 20 different communities. In 2026, he is celebrating his 40th year playing percussion in the Lima Symphony, his 13th year as the Director of Materials and Awards for the OMEA, and over 35 years as an Adjudicator for OMEA. Dane also established the St. Marys All Brass Alumni Band in 2013.

Dane and his wife, Karen, have been married 40 years and are the parents of Lindsey (Bryan) Moore, Amanda (Ravi Reddi) Newlove, and Troy (Lyssa), as well as grandparents of Parker and Hazel Moore and Fulton and Cabrini Newlove.



For transforming the St. Marys City Schools Band program over 27 years as its Band Director, creating script Riders with then-student Bryan Lynch, inspiring generations of new students with a love for music, and for his tireless work directing the St. Marys Community Band and his work with the Ohio Music Education Association, Dane Newlove is inducted into the St. Marys Memorial High School Alumni Foundation’s Hall of Fame for Service to St. Marys City Schools.