Band in Odessa

You just never know what they will remember 50 years from now.

.

As I age memories flail in and out of my mind with little regard to my position at the time. I can be sitting in my car, in church, on the back porch - no matter - wham !! like a meteor from space a memory flashes across the brain that has not surfaced for years and years. Some are good. Some not so good.

.

Just now, quietly sitting in front of my mindless computer game, I flashed back to the 5th grade. I attended Lamar Elementary in Odessa, TX for the entire 5th grade. An amazing thing since my father moved with the oil company regulary until that time. 5th grade had its ups and downs. I forget the downs.

.

We moved to Levelland in time for the 6th grade. During that summer I attended Summer Band at one of the Odessa Junior Highs. Frankly, I can't remember a great deal about that time. It was a band hall. Band directors waved in front of us. I sat and blew on my King cornet, happily, oblivious of anything around me.

.

I do remember one particular rehearsal. We were playing some stupid little song that future 6th graders muddle through, when suddenly the director stopped the band. I put my horn down and waited for his jewel of knowledge.

.

The director was J. R. McEntyre in his youth before he moved up to run Premium H.S. I just realized that spelling Permien is not in my spell check. Premium H.S. is funny enough though. I will look it up later. Spelling has not flashed across my mind this morning.

.

J. R. McEntyre slammed down his baton - Stopped the full band - and looked straight at me - It was "that" look - Nobody moved especially me. Loudly he barked out, "DO WANT TO COME UP HERE AND DIRECT THE BAND?" I was too stupid to understand what he really meant. Apparently I was showing great leadership in the future 6th grade cornet players, and they were following me.

.

Wisely I kept the mouth shut. I distinctly remember thinking, "Yeah, that would be fun." I froze, he glared, we all waited, J.R. restarted the band. To this day I have not the slightest idea what I did wrong. I don't want to know. I am sure J.R. doesn't remember the episode.

.

My folks were good friends with McEntyre...or maybe they thought they were. I don't know. Over the years I talked to him on several occassions. Is it Permian? Yeah that seems right. During one year, my band director, W.R. Wheeler packed me up and another couple of kids, and we drove down to Odessa for the marching contest. I believe we stopped off and picked up Gilligan from ?? ?? ?? Lamesa??

.

I was young at the time. I remember listening to Permian march and play. Never before had I seen a high school band so fine. They stopped in the middle of the show and played "Saints Go Marching In" featuring the trumpets. I was in Heaven. Side note - since Bill is reading this - I remember hearing him say at that contest - He remarked something about how good it was, but the piccolo was out of tune. I was in awe.

That's it.

Y'all enjoy the rest of the day.

M>Mtz