Express and News from San Antonio, Texas • Page 128

0 ecision By LEONA PAPPAS TV Editor A i a excited young lady from San Antonio, who "enjoys a i i people more a a i in (be world" is in the midst of a i plans for her college a a i a i to Europe, and wrestling i Ihe decision of her Cynlliia Dee Clawson, a of the Rev. and Mrs. Tom Clawson, has had a taste of show business- i lights, Hollywood, television cameras a she liked it. she is also very seriously considering i i a and possibly the mission i A senior al Howard Payne College in lirovvnwood, Cynlbia will be a a i ibis spring wilh a degree in i a i in voice. ON 2 she will leave on a i which will lake her to I i a and other parts of Asia, Switzerland, Germany and a returning to the i Slates in late August.

Cynlliia will be a i wilh the Hilly a a i i A i a i i i i i i i colleges, TV stations, and city-wide crusades. In Ihc traveling evangelistic group will be two evangelists and a group of singers. i a opportunity to make (he (our with Ibis group camo about because of her appearance on the Lawrence Welk Show recently. The talented young lady of her television appearances as we a i a recent i home from school. She is a of the "Heritage Singers" at Howard Payne.

This musical group was invited to appear on "The All American College Show" in Hollywood last A i WHILE IN California appearing on Ihe show, a member of Ihe staff heard her sing and asked if she would like to Iry out as a solo. She i i much about it, she said, but told them she guessed so. In June she received a telephone call asking her if she would like to come back out and compete. She performed in July and won $1,000 first prize. The semifinals were held this past a a and again Cynthia was chosen a winner.

The following week she appeared in Ihc finals. Although she did not win Ihc lop prize, many things opened up for her. Lawrence Wclk, one of Ihe judges, was so impressed wilh her voice, he asked her to appear as a guest on bis Saturday night musical show. NOT ONLY did she appear on bis nationwide television show, but he also invited her to sing with his band at the Hollywood Palladium. Cynthia's eyes MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT Cynthia Clawson, home from school for the weekend, sits down at the piano to entertain her sister and brother, Patti and Tom, two of her biggest fans.

They are the children of the Rev. and Mrs. Tom Clawson. sparkled as she spoke of i experience. "It was fantastic," she said.

"It was very exciting to sing i the orchestra. There was no rehearsal. Mr. Welk just (old me to come out and sing. I i singing at the Palladium tike that was one of the most exciting things thai has ever happened to me." She said she sang four or five wilh the orchestra that night.

Hanks was al a i parly Ihe night she appeared on (ho Wclk TV show. He said be never watches Lawrence Welk, but someone happened to turn on Ihe TV a i He heard Cynthia sing, and through bis sister-in-law, who is also a student at Howard Payne, asked if i a was interested in going on (he lour this She accepted. CYNTHIA SAYS she has received letters from all over the since her television appearances. She got one letter from a woman in Pennsylvania whose name is also Cynthia Clawson. She said'many of the Idler writers wished her success and said how much they enjoyed her singing.

And, of course, there were some who were interested in meeting her. Cynthia was born in Houston and graduated from Milby High School there. The family has lived many places in Texas and in California. They moved to San Antonio about a year and a half ago. Her father is the minister of Hot Wells Baptist Church and her mother teaches in the school system here.

She has a sister, Patti, who will be graduating from Highlands High this year. Patti plans to enter Howard Payne next fall, and also plans to major in music. Her brother, Tom is a student at Connell Junior School. "I have been singing ever since I can remember," Cynlliia said. "I enjoy entertaining people more than a i in the world.

1 sang in church and anywhere I could. I remember when I was in Ihe third grade and had Ihe lead in a school program--I was a litllc shepherd girl." She also plays the piano and clarinet. Her hobbies are all musical and drama. She has appeared in Ihe productions of "West Side Story," "Music Man," and "Guy's and Dolls" at school. On April 4, she appeared in a musical variety show called "Happy Daze" to raise money for the senior class.

And she will be giving her senior recital Ibis SPEAKING IN a serious vain of Ihc young people of today, this college student had this to say, "I i the kids today are exciting--not bad like everyone says. I feel like there is more than one generation between parents and kids. Oh boy, when you talk about the generation gap! "They're weird (boy do some weird things--bur they are trying. Like the songs that arc written today--the songs say something--and the kids understand. The kids are listening to it.

"Things are going so fast--like the kids are being pushed by a force (hey can't stop." Cynthia's plans now are to graduate, spend the summer singing before audiences in Europe, and then return this fall to work on her master's degree in music at North Texas University. Then she will make up her mind where she goes from there. And with this very serious thinking young lady many things will be weighed before the decision is made. As she said, Ihe Lord has a plane for her and she will do her very best to fill it as He would want. Express-News Sunday One April 12, 1970 PAGE 27.