May 24, 2025
Local News

And his song plays on: Auditorium dedicated to former Dixon teacher, choral director

By BY ALI
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James Wiltz sits in the audience Wednesday during the dedication of the auditorium named after him at Dixon High School. The James A. Wiltz Auditorium honors the man who touched thousands of lives through his teaching and his music during his time at Dixon High.

James Wiltz sits in the audience Wednesday during the dedication of the auditorium named after him at Dixon High School. The James A. Wiltz Auditorium honors the man who touched thousands of lives through his teaching and his music during his time at Dixon High.

DIXON – The Dixon High School fight song has rung out on countless occasions to instill pride, but when a large gathering sang it Wednesday, that pride was directed toward one person: the man who wrote it.

More than 150 people came out to the newly named James A. Wiltz Auditorium at Dixon High School to honor the man who taught thousands of students and directed dozens of musical during his 33 years as a teacher and the school's choral director. He taught at the school from 1960 to 1993.

Wiltz, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and his wife, Sharon, were greeted by a standing crowd of friends, former students and community members.

“He inspired us to be better than we ever dreamed we could be,” said former student Whitni Hey, 55.

Many people referred to the couple as “the dynamic duo” for their work on school musicals through the years.

Heather Hartzell, 43, started doing shows with Wiltz when she was in the fourth grade.

The 1992 DHS graduate said the couple always treated the students like family.

“They were just so passionate and so incredibly talented,” Hartzell said.

About 50 alumni, many of whom played key roles in productions Wiltz directed, performed a list of songs he picked out beforehand during the hour-long event, including “Getting to Know You” from "The King and I" and “Tomorrow” from "Annie."

The Dixon School Board approved a resolution naming the James A. Wiltz Auditorium at a special board meeting last week.

The board, the Wiltz family and former DHS teachers Marilyn and Ted Trulock organized Wednesday’s event.

Board member Linda Wegner read the resolution naming of the auditorium and said Jeanie Linders, one of Wiltz's former students and the writer and producer of "Menopause: The Musical," paid for the auditorium plaque.

Hey said the Wiltz family made a lasting impact on the students.

“Every individual that’s here to pay this tribute to him is a better person because we know both of them,” Hey said.

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Find A Tribute to James Wiltz on Facebook to read or post memories of the longtime educator.

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