Wade Lawson 

Tom Lawson

Rick Doran

Michael Ankney

Clint Smith

Tony Rankin 

JB King 

Brian Dershem 

Wade Lawson and his father, Wilse, along with Fred Terrell and Elmo Johnson, formed The Dayton Ambassadors southern gospel quartet in 1967.  Wade is the lead singer and the only original member of the Dayton Ambassadors actively singing with the quartet today. 

Wade and his wife, Sharon, attend the United Baptist Church in Miamisburg, Ohio.  Wade is retired from the Dayton Police Department and the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office.

Tom Lawson joined The Dayton Ambassadors in 1969, upon returning home from service in the US Army. Tom sings bass with the quartet.  Tom and Sharon, his wife, also attend church in Miamisburg, Ohio at the United Baptist Church. 

Tom is a retired Dayton Police detective and is now employed as a death investigator at the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office in Dayton, Ohio.

Rick Doran joined The Dayton Ambassadors in 1977, as the baritone singer.  Rick is a talented songwriter and, in addition to writing songs, he also arranges much of the quartet's music. 

Rick and his wife, Rita, reside in Vandalia.  Rick is employed by the Miami Conservancy District in Dayton.  Rick also has a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and works at the Montgomery County Juvenile Detention Center as a counselor of troubled youth.

Michael Ankney joined The Dayton Ambassadors in 1993.  Michael sings the tenor part for the quartet. 

Michael and his wife, Victoria, have one daughter, Elizabeth.  Michael is employed as a computer specialist and works at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. 

Clinton Smith joined The Dayton Ambassadors in 1979, as the piano player. 

Clint, his wife Lois, and son Chad, attend the United Baptist Church in Miamisburg, where Clint is very active in the churches music ministry.  Clint is retired from the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office as the Pathology Supervisor.

Tony Rankin began playing the pedal steel guitar for The Dayton Ambassadors in 1998. 

Tony and his wife, Denise, attend the First Church of God in Miamisburg.   Denise, also travels with the quartet and, in addition to running the sound system, takes care of scheduling the quartet and distributing the quartet’s CD’s and tapes.  Tony is retired from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office in Dayton.

JB King joined The Dayton Ambassadors in 1980, to play rhythm guitar. 

Although he has not played any other instrument with the quartet, JB is a gifted lead and bass guitarist and mandolin player.  JB is also a gospel singer and is occasionally called upon to sing with the quartet.  JB and his wife, Virginia, attend the Grace Baptist Church in Trotwood, Ohio.  JB is retired from General Motors. 

Brian Dershem joined The Dayton Ambassadors in 1999, as the bass guitarist for the quartet. 

Brian and his wife, Pam, have one daughter and they attend the Vandalia Nazarene Church.  Brian is a Captain at the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office in Dayton.