Bassist strikes right chord after student loses guitar in dorm fire

WACO, TX -- The 1970's band America has a new fan.

And Isaiah Ornelaz has a new guitar.

Ornelaz, an automotive technology student at Texas State Technical College in Sweetwater, lost his guitar along with the rest of his possessions in a campus dorm fire  last week.

On Monday he was given a guitar that belonged to the late David Dickey, bassist for the band known for its hits that included "A Horse with No Name," "Sister Golden Hair," and "Ventura Highway."

"I played it all last night. It's awesome," Ornelaz is quoted as saying in a news release. "I looked up some songs (by America.) They're pretty good. I'll listen to them quite a bit now."

Ornelaz was one of 28 students who lost all their possessions in the fire.

When Rene Ralston, TSTC's director of dual enrollment programs, learned of Ornelaz's request for a guitar, she posted on her personal Facebook page, asking if anyone might have a guitar they could donate.

She soon had a response.

Maggie Dickey, owner of Sweetwater Performing Arts Center and widow of David Dickey, told Ralston she might have a guitar, according to the news release.

"When we asked Maggie if she was sure she wanted to do this, her answer was, 'electric or acoustic?'" Ralston said. "Maggie took the guitar to Abilene on Saturday, had new strings put on it, had it tuned and bought Isaiah a new guitar case."

The guitar was presented to Ornelaz at a gathering Monday, which TSTC Chancellor Mike Reeser held to speak to the students affected by the fire.

"I'm a guitar player, too, and I want you to know that if I lost one of my guitars in a fire, I would really be upset," Reeser told Ornelaz. "I happened to hear this morning that there are some employees trying to make sure you get your guitar. I knew David Dickey, and he's quite literally a rock star. He's the real deal."

Dickey, who was with the band from 1972 to 1980, moved to Sweetwater in 1996. He died in 2016.

Following the fire, the Sweetwater and surrounding communities have rallied to support of the students. At Monday's meeting, gift cards were presented to students, and TSTC has replaced books and tools.

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