TYRONE — There are many notable people from Blair County who have gone on to accomplish great things, said Altoona author Eric Shields, the guest speaker at the Tyrone Area Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting Thursday.

In fact, there are so many, Shields decided to write a book about them, a process that took nearly two years to complete. “They Came From Blair County” was published in November 2020 and features stories of former UFC fighter Charlie Brenneman, musician and balloon artist Dennie Huber, Jimmy Mowery — a 2019 contestant on NBC’s “The Voice” — and many others.

Shields interviewed all of the people who are still alive, either in person or over the phone, and made connections with family members of the deceased people referenced in the book, including Janet Blair, an actress who’s most noted for her role in the 1942 film, “My Sister Eileen.” She was born in Altoona and visited the area often, Shields said in his book.

For that particular story, Shields talked with Andrew Mayo, Blair’s son, who said Japan’s Emperor Hirohito was a big fan of her work, but nowhere in the world was his mother more beloved than in Blair County.

“He said every time she came back to Altoona, they would have a parade for her. They gave her the key to the city, and she was treated like a queen,” Shields recalled of his conversation with Mayo.

The book was such a success that Shields received enough suggestions for a second volume. He is currently in the process of writing a third volume, which is due to be published later this year, he said.

Shields said he has collected autographs from Bill and Hillary Clinton, Michael J. Fox, Chevy Chase and the “hundreds” of celebrities he’s met at conventions. He was inspired to write the book after realizing there are many notable people who, at one point in their lives, called Blair County their home.

Steve Caldwell, a musician who lives in the Juniata section of Altoona and was included in Shields’ first book, attended the chamber’s breakfast meeting at the Bull Pen restaurant. He met Shields in the 1990s, after joining a talent agency operated by Shields.

Through the agency, Caldwell met his wife, Apryl. He and Apryl’s daughter were mannequin models, posing for several hours together in stores and malls.

Caldwell said he quit smoking and drinking in 1973 and accepted God as his savior. He wanted to proclaim his love for the Lord through music, so he started a music ministry and convinced his wife to join him.

Since then, they’ve performed for churches, salvation armies, nursing homes and a variety of festivals. Next week, the couple will travel to Florida to perform together.

“I love singing different styles of music, so I recreate the (Gospel) songs on my keyboard to country or bluegrass or rock, even Latin,” Caldwell said, adding they’ve done over 1,200 shows and travel on donations.

“We’ve done as many as four shows in four cities in one day,” he said. “Now the most we do is two in one day.”

Shields said he asks everyone he interviews for his books, “Has being from a small town in Pennsylvania hurt or helped your career?”

“The answer I get most of the time is that it’s helped because there’s a lot of people that are there to support you and push you forward instead of holding you back,” he said.

State Sen. Judy Ward, R-Blair, who will be featured in Shields’ third book, said one of the reasons she’s proud to call Blair County home is because of the family atmosphere that exists among the people.

“I always love coming back into Blair County if I’ve been away,” Ward said. “To me, it’s just a very special place where people care about one another and we help each other.”

Chamber President Diane Irwin purchased copies of Shields’ two books. She said she knew of several people mentioned in the presentation and wanted to learn more about others who “were before my time.”

“It was a great presentation,” she said. “You get to know a little more about your area and the people from the area that some of us don’t get an opportunity to see.”

At the May 16 chamber breakfast, Reclamere founder and President Joe Harford will discuss cyber security, Irwin said.