M.A. Mueller

Conrad Hartz hangs out with dummies.

His passion for ventriloquism started back with The Howdy Doody Show and continues to inspire this modern day Geppetto as he handcrafts puppets and marionettes the old-fashioned way. “I use only a mallet, chisel and knife and spend about a hundred hours on each one.”

The Ridgeland native performs on weekends and spends the work week as the head of reception at USCB, but in 1970 he admits to dropping out of college to join Ringling Bros. circus. “I was a sad clown – but the audience was always on my side.”

A former Marine, he promised himself while on tour in Vietnam that “if I get out of here alive I’m going to do what I want to do.” Revered for his humor and warmth by coworkers and students, the single dad was recently voted USCB’s “Father of the Year.”

What’s the best thing about readingskirt!? I like the way it portrays real women – not the plastic kind.

What’s the best thing about wearing a skirt? The breeze. And I like the way it brings out Rascal’s feminine side.