Texas Bandmasters Association
Bandmasters Review • September 2012
18
The overall marching style remained as before, with a
less pronounced knee lift. Much of the movement
was sideline to sideline, complimenting the north and
south movement.
I must say that straight-line formations and diagonals
in these early films were pretty darned good!!
During the late 70s the WTSU Band began utilizing
the new corps style techniques. My recollection is that
as those of us at WT graduated and went on to teach
in the Panhandle schools, corps style techniques were
introduced into the region’s high school marching
bands. Of course, for a time the techniques were an
end unto themselves rather than a means to creating
desired effect. Stock arrangement shows of the 80s
gave way to arranged music for each band. And
director-designed drills largely gave way to drills by
specialized writers during the mid 90s.
One huge factor in Panhandle marching band is
the travel distance required to attend football games
and marching contest. Bands have routinely traveled
100 miles or more to attend district football games.
Even now, Tascosa High School travels in excess of
300 miles to compete in district football games in
San Angelo and Abilene. (Tascosa’s closest district
game is in Lubbock, about 130 miles). A number of
bands exceed 100 miles to Amarillo for UIL Marching
Contest. Booker tops that list at about 138 miles.
Honor Bands
The Texas Panhandle has been home to over 30
finalists for TMEA Honor Band through the years.
Those of us from the Panhandle point to these quality
programs with pride, as bands and directors which
stood alongside those setting the bar high for all Texas
Bands during their era.
Honor Bands from the Texas Panhandle
Memphis High School Ronnie Wells 1A 1966
Hereford High School Ben Gollehon 3A 1968
Canyon High School Gary Zook 3A 1970
Canyon High School Mike Sheffield 3A 2005
Canadian High School Will Brewer 1A 2011
It is an interesting fact that Amarillo High School
was named the very first TMEA Honor Band for Texas
in 1959. Director Wayne Muller moved to the newly-
opened Tascosa High School that summer, however.
Due to his move the Amarillo High School band
forfeited the “Honor Band” title. Edinburg High School
was named the TMEA Honor Band in their absence
and went on to perform for the upcoming TMEA
convention.
Reflecting upon the early bands among this collection
presents the reality of achievement directors and
students realized with skeletal staffs, compared with
more recent honor bands. Ben Gollehon remembers
events leading to the Hereford High School Band’s
designation as the 1968 TMEA
Honor Band.
Ben Gollehon began teaching
in Hereford as the lone director
in 1960. By 1966 he had added
two directors to assist with the
high school and direct the two
junior highs in Hereford. Then,
1n 1967, according to Gollehon,
“We decided to bite the bullet. We
played the
Hindemith Symphony,
Panhandle Band History: A Ref lect ion