There she was, floating down Jefferson Street with a handful of vibrant orange, green, and purple balloons and a smile wide enough to light up all of downtown. It could only be Debbie Dyer, beaming with excitement for another event dedicated to showcasing Huntington’s artists and their works. The enthusiasm she shows is part of her enduring passion for cultivating an arts culture within the community.

Debbie’s dedication is matched by her engaging personality, making her a lifelong advocate and caretaker. She derives immense satisfaction from witnessing others’ successes, especially young people.

She was born in 1953 in Valdosta, Georgia, to James and Norma Jean Miller. Her father was an Air Force veteran, and after his service the family relocated to Chicago, where James became a captain with the Chicago Fire Department. Debbie, the eldest of three sisters, naturally embraced a caretaker role, a trait that has continued throughout her life. Music was a constant in their home, with her father enjoying Perry Como and Neil Diamond. Even today, the sound of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” can bring Debbie to her feet to sing along.

In 1972, while a student at Moraine Valley Community College, Debbie met David Dyer, a department store security guard who invited her for a pitcher of beer. They married in 1973 and soon welcomed their son, David. After the elder Dyer earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 1979, the family moved to Huntington to take over a chiropractic practice. Debbie assisted in running the office, and their second son, Derek, was born in 1980.

The Dyers quickly integrated into the community, joining various organizations. Debbie became involved with the Tri Kappa philanthropic sorority, the LaFontaine Arts Council, and volunteered for Junior Achievement, Arts United, and the Froebel Club. She and David were actively involved in their sons’ activities, from sports to marching band. Debbie ensured her children were immersed in the arts from an early age, attending concerts, operas, plays, and musicals. Both Derek and David took piano lessons, and arts were given as much emphasis as sports.

Each Halloween, Debbie showcased her creativity with handmade costumes for her boys — Derek as a pumpkin and David, albeit reluctantly, in a purple bunny costume. Later, when the first Dyer grandchildren came along, she created Cousin Camp, featuring movies, music, artwork, and outings to Fort Wayne Tin Caps baseball games.

In 1988, Debbie began working in the guidance office at Huntington North High School, helping students find scholarship opportunities and access college education that might otherwise have been out of reach.

Debbie served as Tri Kappa’s president, organizing events like the Red Stocking Follies variety show and the annual Housewalk, which highlighted Huntington’s finest home designs. Her 20-year tenure as executive director of the LaFontaine Arts Council was marked by her commitment to promoting the arts. She particularly cherished bringing the Fort Wayne Philharmonic to fourth-grade students in Huntington, hoping to inspire a lasting love for music.

Debbie delighted in seeing children take pride in their art and building a love for the arts from a young age. The LaFontaine Arts Council recognized students with Artist of the Month awards, and state band contest winners performed at community concerts. Many students who joined high school art and music programs, including the Varsity Singers, trace their inspiration back to their early exposure through LaFontaine Arts Council events.

Under Debbie’s leadership, the arts council launched several community events, including the annual Regional Arts Show, featuring local artists. Programs ranged from Fashion for the Arts, highlighting clothing design, to Violins in the Vineyard, which combined social gatherings with performances by the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. JeFFFest, created as a closing event for Huntington Heritage Days, is a festival of art, music, and food, inviting the public to create, display, and auction their art while enjoying regional music and local culinary delights.

Debbie has devoted her heart and soul to nurturing an arts culture in Huntington, fostering public art and promoting community events. Her impact over 40 years is immeasurable, and her efforts have left a lasting legacy on the community and its cultural fabric.