Monday, Aug. 23, 2010

Organizers of the first-ever Dowagiac Chieftain band reunion outdid themselves. Not only did they pull off this magical time-traveling event, but it filled Wounded Minnow to capacity, created a 15-page memory book as a souvenir to savor after socializing and lined the walls with a gallery of memories, from one of those Chieftain headdresses the baton-twirling majorettes wore to a photograph of the umbrella formation for the Mary Poppins halftime show.

They focused on the classes of 1960 through 1973 and invited directors from that period. “Hopefully, maybe in 2012, we could have another one and invite all years, past and current, to attend,” said Linda Matthews Gardner, Class of 1968.

She thanked Sharon Deal Harnden, 1960; Linda Hartman Nelson, 1967; Kathy Jerue McDonald, 1968; Linda Ely Alexander, 1968; Diane Barrett-Curtis, 1969; and Gary Weaver, 1970.

It was so noisy with everyone in close quarters, when Tom Stansifer blew a whistle, a startled look crossed many faces trying to remember if they should bring their horns to attention or mark time. A byproduct of the committee’s hard work is nailing down band history in danger of being lost, such as formation of the Band Boosters on Nov. 10, 1949.

Former band members would probably be glad to be enlisted by current third-year Director C.J. Brooks, who was a drum major at Western Michigan University, as a resource to the current musicians.

One idea for a future reunion is to listen to “real” Chieftain Band music with CDs that could be made with a seven-inch reel-to-reel player/recorder. Some find in band a calling such as Tennessee saxophone instructor Phil Barham or Phil Huff, who as assistant Lakeshore director helps mold perhaps the best instrumental music program in Michigan.

Most tuck their horns away after high school, but clearly never forgot those special times, like retired police officer and former tuba player Jim Mosier. Even host Kyle Belew started in music. Before coaching football he drummed in the band and learned saxophone. We were happy to encounter early 1970s trumpet player Jeff Ryder, whose involvement in music since high school is broadcasting it on the radio. But to a current band member he is father of the Snake Award, which lives on as a tradition in Brooks’ band.