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poM THE EDITOR An honor well-deserved 0 ver half a century ago a man named Lou Dunis made a decision that he would happily live with the rest of his life. He made the coin-op industry his career and never regretted that move. His devotion to the industry made him an overwhelming choice to be honored by his peers along with his friend, partner, and protege Ray Galante. Looking forward to the honor, Lou Dunis died in mid-January, only two months before ACME '91. It's always tragic when the industry loses a member of its family, but in this case the loss was magnified because he didn't live to be a part of the celebration planned by the American Amusement Manufacturers Charitable Foundation in conjunction with ACME. Although Lou's heal th had been deteriorating for some time, his devotion to the industry did not. His trips to his office had become fewer and farther between, but his thoughts were there even if he was not. He wasn't on the phone quite as often, but there were still those phone calls from friends that he talked of up to the end. I have been privileged the last several years to be asked to coordinate the booklet for the banquet. This involves digging into the lives of the honorees and writing their life story. When I made arrangements to meet with Lou Dunis, I.was a little in awe of meeting a man that I had heard many stories about . Although he was in the hospital on the day I had arranged to meet him, his daughter Nancy insisted that I go ahead with my plans. After having lunch with Nancy , another 10 PLAY METER/March 1991 daughter Elaine and Lou's nurse, we went to the hospital where I was able to spend some time with Lou and meet his son Stuart, who was by his side. As I asked him questions about his past, his face would light up as he recalled some of his pals or a special machine that seemed to have etched a spot in his memory. Admittedly, he was hazy over some aspects of the past, but his recollections were crisp on others. He recalled meeting Ray Galante, whom he obviously admired. He chuckled when he thought of friends like Bob Breither and Paul Calamari, who held service schools at his distributorship. "We called them the bedsheet boys," he quipped, recalling the large sheets put up to demonstrate a machine's schematics. The years he spent active in the industry he loved were all too short, but the stories his friends have to share will live on. Those who knew him remember the good times and the dedication of Lou Dunis. Ray will stand proud for both of them at the dinner, proud that he has carried on the ideals set down by his partner. Ray has a great many friends in the industry and will be an example to the younger generation just as Lou was to Ray's generation. Lou was looking forward to the banquet; he said over and over that he would have to get better to make it to Las Vegas. He promised to dredge up some stories about his early days in the industry and find some old pictures to put life into the fading past. I had even promised to send him interviews I did with Bob Breither and Paul Calamari. As I left, he told me not to forget to send the articles. · His daughter assured me she would read them to him. I'm sorry he never saw them. Lou won't be in Las Vegas , but those who knew him best will be commemorating the life of a man worthy of the honor and the man following in his footsteps. What could be more fitting than to be remembered by the industry they have devoted their lives to? Maybe this is what it is all about-being honored by those who know how you have felt about your work, and appreciate the highs and lows. Ray and Lou had agreed to veer from the norm with the designated charity that will benefit from the proceeds of the money raised. Instead of forwarding the total amount (last year and the year before this amounted to about $100,000) they decided to set up the Galante/Dunis Northwest Children's Endowment Fund under the auspices of the AAMCF. This endowment fund will provide money each year to a variety of charities in the Pacific Northwest. Their generosity will last long past the year in which the industry pays them tribute . The industry lost a faithful friend, a dedicated hero, and a generous, caring man when Lou left this world, but coin-op generations for years to come will long remember the man we will pay tribute to in March. Valerie Cognevich Editor