FHS Reminiscing

FHS Reminiscing
[ FHS Reminiscing ]

Two things

Posted by Robert '62 on March 4, 2019, 4:57 pm

1) I just saw the mention of Coach Bramlett's being inducted into the Coaches Hall of Fame. That made me wonder - is there a Band Directors Hall of Fame? If not, there should be.

2) Today was mama's 110th birthday. Or perhaps I should have said it would have been.

Re: Two things

Posted by Hal Polk on March 4, 2019, 7:41 pm, in reply to "Two things"

Thing 1. Yes there is a Miss. High School
Band Directors Hall of Fame.
Thing 2). I have such fun memeories of working with your Mother. Not only was she a great, great English teacher but her choirs and small ensembles were outstanding as well. She had limited access to rehearsal time due to the scheduling, one could only wonder how good her choirs would have been with a full period scheduling.

Re: Two things

Posted by Robert '62 on March 4, 2019, 8:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Two things"

I am glad there is a Band Directors Hall of Fame. You in it? /// Re mama, she also paid for a whole lot of that music program out of her own pocket. I think I distinctly remember (let that sink in!) one time when Mr. Atkins would not authorize any expenses for her to take kids to Choral Festival. It cost her out of pocket to take us there. If I am not mistaken, I ALMOST remember her saying that it cost her a day's salary since she had to hire her own sub, and she had to cover the cost of her room. I am pretty sure I am right.

Re: Two things

Posted by Kaye 63 on March 5, 2019, 5:18 pm, in reply to "Re: Two things"

Robert. I did some reading on Thing 1. I’m confused. I found BD Hall of Fame for different parts of the state, such as Northeast Mississippi High School Band Directors Hall of Fame. As it happens, Sonny Cadden was inducted into this one in 2016. Most of us remember him. There were others by divisions such as North, South, etc.
Question: Does the State Hall of Fame go by another name? We need to look into this. Not sure why we never thought of it.

Thing 2. I treasure a handwritten letter from your mother. She wrote it to both Kel and me sometime around 1995. Both sides of the 3 pages of floral printed stationary were written in her very precise handwriting.

Re: Two things

Posted by Robert '62 on March 5, 2019, 8:09 pm, in reply to "Re: Two things"

1) I found out there is a band director hall of fame. Been talking to Mr. Polk about it. 2) You would not BELIEVE how many letters of encouragement and praise she sent to former students and how many times I hear about it. One that jumps out to me has to do with Tommy Lee. I was visiting with him once and he pulled two of his treasured possessions out of a drawer. One was a letter from J. Edgar Hoover to his father on the occasion of Tommy's birth, congratulating Mr. (later Judge) Lee. The other was a letter from mama. I bet close to 50 people have told me about letters she sent them, and they almost all still have them.

Re: Two things

Posted by Nancy Chambers on March 6, 2019, 11:06 am, in reply to "Re: Two things"

Robert, increase the number to 51 people. I also have a treasured letter from your mother which was written many years ago and I read it often. Also, one of my fondest memories occurred when your mother attended a junior high choral program in which my younger son sang a solo and she very quickly contacted me with much praise of his performance. Made me so proud!!
My letter is tucked away in my bible along with other treasured keepsakes.

Lost Art

Posted by Kaye 63 on March 6, 2019, 1:43 pm, in reply to "Re: Two things"

Nancy,
This whole thing brings to my mind the value of writing letters. How meaningful a few handwritten words can be. It’s an example of one more thing Mrs Hays taught us by example. I need to do better and I certainly need to practice my handwriting.

Re: Two things

Posted by Margaret-Anne ‘64 on March 6, 2019, 7:25 am, in reply to "Re: Two things"

2. I too have a treasured note from your mother, Robert—in her very recognizable handwriting. It was written in the summer of 1966. She was such an encourager to me. We all have teachers from our school days in Forest that we appreciate,and she is one of those on my list.

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