1963 Senior Band
"'Champions are made on the
practice field,' is a proven fact for this hardworking group
which spends about forty-five minutes each morning before school perfecting its
art.
Additional practice sessions are also held at night during football season and
prior to concerts.
Industrious attempts to sell calendars to raise funds for the yearly trip to
Winchester are also part of the activities."
Band Names Sweetheart
"Traditionally, the students of
Newport News High School anxiously await the naming of the Band Sweetheart.
Preparations for the half-time ceremony are made by the band members who
nominate and elect,
by secret ballot, one of their own senior girls as Sweetheart.
Congratulations were given as Miss Norma Helmick was crowned by Mr. Robert
Maidment, principal.
Accompanying the sweetheart was her attendant, Miss Vicki Hankins.
Chuck Lilly, band Drum Major, acted as escort.
Crowning of the 14th Annual Band Sweetheart will be a cherished memory in the
life of '62-'63."
I, as many of you, have some wonderful memories of being part of the null Typhoon Marching Senior Band - and some that aren't so wonderful. I was in senior band for only my 9th and 10th grade years. Carol, your latest news letter has brought to mind a memory associated with "Stranger on the Shore". It was after either the '62 Williamsburg Christmas parade or the '63 Winchester parade. After the parade, as you will remember, everyone had to load their instruments into the luggage compartment of the Greyhound-type buses the band always used for travel. In this one case however a honor was bestowed, or at least that is the way I remember , as I was saying -a honor was bestowed on the first chair clarinet player to bring his/her instrument on the bus. It was dark, there was the usual joking and horse-play followed by an unplanned, unrehearsed quiet pause as the day, what we had once again accomplished sank in. Gradually, during that lull there were the soft, beautiful notes of "Stranger" flowing from mid-way the bus. It was the most beautiful rendition I have ever heard. Everyone, I mean everyone - the obnoxious percussion section, the boisterous brass --- everyone was reverently silent. It was at that moment that I realized that I was part of a wonderful, very special group that had no equal. I've said it before - at that time I didn't like JP and he didn't like me - but my God, Mr. Wilson made us produce music like no other HS band on the east coast, and for that I thank him. That bus ride has always been a very special memory to me - now will someone that was part of the Winchester Incomparable All-around Band please tell me that you too remember that moment and perhaps the name of the person playing. Carol, thanks for hanging in there and keeping the TYPHOON alive. |
- Jim Dossett ('66) of FL - 02/18/08 |
If I had to guess, (Donald) Wayne Gilman ('63 - of IN) could most surely
have done it, and I'm reasonably certain that he was the We always had three Greyhound buses on those band trips. I cannot recall who drove the third bus, but one was driven by Bob Smith, father of the late Robert Smith ('65). Another (I think it was known as Bus #2) was driven by Mr. Young. I believe the percussion section members always elected to ride in this bus. I know I did, and I know Buster Vest ('63 - of VA), Kenny Lipscomb ('63 - of VA), and the late Rose Woodard ('65) did. When the percussionists were not regaling us with, um, interesting songs, Kenny would often conduct us in "pah-pah-pah-pah-ing" our various parts, thus rehearsing and entertaining us at the same time. And at given intervals throughout any and all trips, Buster could be heard doing his impersonation of an incident on the bus from a past year: "Mr. Young. Mr. Young, I'm sick. Blahttt!" This was a phrase I diligently taught each of my seven children (as any good mother would!) to provide humor whenever anyone was sick. A very useful phrase, that, and they all know it to this day. I just cannot quite remember. It's but another of my fragmented memories, so think we'll turn this question over to the class, Jim.
"Anyone? Anyone?" |
- Carol Buckley Harty ('65) of NC - 02/20/08 |
|
- Eugene
"Buz" Groshong ('63) of Northern VA - 05/05/08 |