A second act for 81-year-old Elk Point mayor

After 19 years on the job, she is not only Elk Point's first female mayor but also the mayor with the longest consecutive service.

The sole female board member for East River Electric Power Cooperative (the electrical supplier for the town of about 2,000), Trobaugh is also an advocate for people with disabilities.

So, what hasn't the spry 81-year-old Sioux City native not yet accomplished? Release a CD of piano music, perhaps?

Well, Trobaugh has even done that.

With a mix of religious music ("Amazing Grace") as well as plenty of secular tunes ("Me and Bobby McGee"), the recently released "Isabel's Favorites" has even attracted the attention of the South Dakota Country Music Hall of Fame.

"I was inducted as a (Hall of Fame) member in Huron, South Dakota (on Sunday)," Trobaugh said, holding up her plaque. "It was a very nice honor."

The recognition also came quickly, since she started playing music professionally only two years ago.

"(Elk Point-based country gospel singer) Elaine Peacock asked me to play piano for her a while back," Trobaugh said. "Since then, I've been playing as many as three shows a week with Elaine's band."

"My mom told me I started playing piano when I was 3 1/2 years old," Trobaugh said, laughing at the memory. "My older sister was taking piano lessons at the time and I just copied everything she did."

With the exception of a handful of lessons at age 50, Trobaugh said she's strictly a self-taught musician.

"I don't even read music very well," she admitted. "I basically play everything by ear."

Roy Trobaugh can't help but smile whenever his wife of 60 years gets behind a keyboard.

"(Isabel) has always played the piano beautifully," he said. "Everything she's ever set her mind to do, she's done well."

That included raising the couple's two now-adult children, Steve and Kathy.

Still, a modest Trobaugh downplays her accomplishments, crediting them to a good work ethic.

"My parents told us we needed to work hard," she said. "Nothing will ever be handed to us on a silver platter."

Even today, Trobaugh remains active. She starts her day with at least one hour of exercise.

"Twenty minutes on the treadmill, 20 minutes on the stationary bike and 20 minutes doing floor exercises keeps me fit," she said, outlining her regimen. "That's my routine."

Trobaugh said her music also keeps her young.

Whether listening to such favorite musicians as Elvis Presley, Merle Haggard and Marty Robbins at home, or backing up Elaine Peacock for a show, she still considers her musical talent to be "a gift."

"I've fought hard for everything in my life, but music came naturally," Trobaugh said. "I never really 'earned' it because it was always just there."

However, that doesn't prevent Trobaugh from sharing her gift.

Getting up from her piano, Trobaugh said she'd like to put together another CD. That is, if she can find the time to go into a recording studio.

"For years, I told people I was 39 years old, but I've revised that down a bit," she said, smiling. "I feel as energetic as an 18-year-old."