In addition to the 700 dancers at the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon this weekend, there was one unofficial dancer that has been rocking the floor for 30 years.

Larry Moore, of Larry Moore Productions and the disc jockey for Thon, danced for the marathon in 1977 when it was held in the HUB-Robeson Center.

He said that in all following years, he has contributed to or supported Thon. He DJs at fraternities, different bars and works with a local radio station.

This is the 16th consecutive year that overalls have asked Moore to take care of the 2,280 minutes of Thon.

"I take responsibility of everything so students can have an outrageously 'funtastic' time," he said.

Moore and his 12-member crew take care of activities such as dancer events, information and line dances.

He said he has an emotional attachment to Thon because when he was in high school, his girlfriend was diagnosed with cancer.

"In the '70's, if you were a child with that, it was basically a death warrant and that's what happened," he said.

Moore said it was hard to watch his girlfriend's family endure the financial problems.

"They don't forgive the bills if your child gets their 'angel wings early,' " he said.

Moore said he didn't want to see any family go through that ever again.

"Ever since, I've been attached to every family, every Penn State student I encounter," he said. "So it's a big family."

Moore said Thon is what the students make it.

"I never tell students 'no,' I only say how can we make it happen because it's always their Thon," he said.

He said he always empowers the students to make all the decisions, even whether or not he will be the DJ.

Jim Lauckhardt (senior-psychology), Thon morale captain, said he gained respect for Moore by seeing how he DJs and stays awake.

He said he had a lot of contact with Moore when he became morale captain and Moore showed them that anything is possible by helping them realize their ideas.

"I've never had a student leader like that before," he said. "Without Larry, Thon doesn't happen."

Lauckhardt said he has no doubt the new morale overall will want Larry to DJ as long as there is Thon.

Moore said his wife, Jodi, is also very much involved with the dance marathon.

"She's in charge," he said. "She tells me what to do and where to go."

Moore has two sons, Alex, 18, and Steve, 16, who are also very active in Thon.

He said Alex has always been involved and Steve performs juggling and magic acts throughout the 48 hours.

Andrew Brault (junior-accounting) said Moore chooses great music that energizes the dancers.

"Being a dancer is so hard because you're so sleep deprived and he chooses music to keep you pumped," he said.

Elisabeth Lenthe (sophomore-industrial engineering) said he does much more than just DJ.

"He can help with any problem," she said. "He helps us with anything on a daily basis."

This past weekend, Moore was prepared to DJ for his final time in Rec Hall.

"We're gonna blow the roof off of Rec Hall, and we're not coming back so this is a 'We're Outta Here' party," he said.