Lindsay Community Theater
The Biggest Little Theater in Central California
Memorial Page
Peggy Sanders 1934-2009
Longtime resident of Lindsay, Peggy Sanders passed away on March 2, 2009 at
French Hospital in San Luis Obispo surrounded by her loving family. Born
January 28, 1934 in Lindsay California she attended Lindsay schools
graduating from Lindsay High School. As a returning student she graduated cum
laude from Fresno State University with a degree in Speech Communications.
Her business affiliations were numerous and she was a licensed Real Estate
Broker and owned and operated her own business, Sanders and Company with
her husband Bill. She was active in community activities from an early age and
was a life member of PTA. She was a founding member and past president of
the Lindsay Community Theater, the Lindsay Mural Committee, past president of
the Porterville Toastmasters, past president of the Lindsay Cultural Arts
Association and member of AAUW. In addition she served for many years on
the Orange Blossom Festival Committee in many capacities including float
design and building. In 2000 she received the AAUW Community Service award.
Three times she was named Lindsay Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year
in 1974, 1987 and 2000. In 2004 she was named California State 34th
Assembly District Woman of the Year. Peggy served on the Lindsay City Council
from 1978 to 1986 and was Mayor of Lindsay 1984 to 1986. She loved her
community and the people in it.
Peggy was the driving force behind the movement to buy the Old Lindsay
Theater and to change it from a movie theater to a play house. From 1983
until her death in 2009, she was an avid supporter of the theater, even after
moving to Morro Bay. She appeared in many productions, most notably Music
Man, Arsenic and Old Lace, and You're a Good Man Charlie Brown.
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Hal Munter 1925-1012
Hal on far left with cast of Never Too Late
Harold “Hal” E. Munter was born March 6, 1925 in Madera to Harry and Belle Munter.
He was raised and attended school there graduating in 1942. He married Helen Joyce
Owen on May 22, 1949 in Carson City, Nev. Hal owned and operated Munter Music in
Madera and Vallejo with his sister for many years. In 1960, Hal and Helen moved to
Helen’s hometown of Lindsay where he worked for Perma Rain Irrigation. Helen went to
work at her alma mater and taught at Lindsay High School for 22 years before retiring
in 1984.
With Helen working at the high school and his love of football and baseball, Hal began
volunteering his time with Lindsay High School Boosters Club. As president in 1971, Hal
spearheaded the effort to move Lindsay’s home football games from the Olive Bowl Park
to the high school campus. He led the fund-raising effort to build the stadium, purchase
stadium lights and then helped construct the bleachers at Frank Skadan Stadium.
Hal retired from his own Agri-Mall Irrigation company in 1981. Yet in retirement, Hal
was often busier than when he was working.
Involved in theatre as a high school student, Hal became one of the founding members
of the Lindsay Community Theater (LCT) in 1983 and served as treasurer continuously
since its inception. Shortly after his passing, the theater’s website changed its home
page to an “In Loving Memory” tribute to Hal featuring a photograph of him and the
cast of “Never Too Late,” a play which Hal directed in October 1992. In all, Hal
directed 17 and co-directed two of the theater’s 139 plays, including productions
through Lindsay High School drama.
Jeff said his father was extremely dedicated to the success of the LCT, and in the
beginning, it was a struggle to keep it alive.
“He was a big part of holding the Lindsay Community Theater together,” Jeff said of his
father, who at times served as both manager and treasurer. “The very existence today
of the Lindsay Community Theater is very heavily attributed to his dedication.”