Hit that Line... Keep on Playing!

“Hit that line” one more time and join the Razorback Alumni Band for Homecoming, October 27th. We invite you to revive the Alumni Band spirit that has been a Homecoming tradition since 1922. Join us for this year’s 85th Homecoming celebration. Enjoy food and fellowship. See old faces (and some new ones, too)! Play the old tunes (hum the new ones). Watch the Hogs play and cheer them on just like old times! Spaces are limited, so register early. The deadline to register for the Alumni Band is October 5th, 2007.

Download the Register Packet Now!

We welcome you to attend the following activities:

Friday, October 26

• 3:30 pm—5:00 pm Razorback Marching Band rehearsal
  Location: Drill field in parking lot (Lot 56) directly south of The Gardens, on the corner of Razorback Road and Sixth Street.
• 7:00 pm Homecoming Parade
  Location: Up Dickson Street from the United Methodist Church to Arkansas Avenue
• 8:00 pm Homecoming Pep Rally
  Location: Greek Theater

Alumni Band activities:
GAME DAY: Saturday, October 27

• 6:45am Park at Baum Stadium (baseball field on Razorback Road).
• 7:00 am Registration for Alumni Band Location: Epley Band Hall
• 7:30 am Razorback Band Alumni Society Breakfast and Speakers All alumni and family members are invited to attend regardless of whether you plan to march with the Alumni Band. If you plan to attend the breakfast, please RSVP in advance by filling out the online registration form.
• 9:15 am Alumni Band Rehearsal Location: Janzen Rehearsal Hall
• 9:45 am Depart for rehearsal with Razorback Marching Band Board shuttle bus to the Walker Pavilion (east side facing the Gymnastics Center and Stadium Drive).
• 10:15 am Rehearse with Razorback Marching Band Location: On the artificial turf practice field, south of the stadium.
• 11:00 am Break at the Walker Pavilion (No food or drink in the building, please)
• 11:50 am Form parade block with Razorback Marching Band Location: On the artificial turf practice field
• 12:05 pm Begin march to Stadium
12:15 pm Razorback Marching Band and Alumni Band march into Razorback Stadium Alumni Band remains on sideline in preparation for Pregame Show
• 12:42 pm Pregame Show After the Alma Mater, please move to your seats in Section 112.
• 1:00 pm KICKOFF! Go Hogs, beat FIU Golden Panthers!
• 4:30 pm Postgame Concert by Razorback Marching Band

Following the game, you may board regular shuttle buses from Gate 1, Razorback Road back to Baum Stadium.

If you have any questions about this schedule, please contact Connie Vick or Shauna Copeland at 479-575-4100. We look forward to seeing you back on campus for Homecoming 2007!

Remember Jesi Willyard & Larry Shank

2007 FOR JESI

The 2007 Razorback Marching Band has dedicated their season to Jesika “Jesi” Rae Willyard. Jesi was tragically killed in an automobile wreck on July 8, 2007 near Blackwell, Oklahoma. Jesi was a sophomore trombone player for the RMB majoring in Elementary Education. Jesi dedicated most of her college years to the RMB. She was a member of Tau Beta Sigma, participated in the Hogwild and Lady Hogwild Bands, Volleyball Band, Pep Bands and was a work study for the band office.

Jesi was born on September 30, 1986, in Tulsa to Becky and Jim Willyard. She has one brother, Jamie Willyard who currently serves in the U. S. Marines. She was a member of the Westside Freewill Baptist Church in Pryor, where she was active as a church youth leader. She graduated from Pryor High School in 2005 as Valedictorian. She was a member of the Pryor High School Basketball Team that won the state championship in 2003.

Jesi left her mark on the hearts of those she met with her beautiful smile and positive attitude. One of her favorite quotes was, "Walk toward the sunshine, and the shadows will fall behind you."

'The Voice' - Larry Shank

Larry Shank, “The Voice of the Razorback Marching Band” succumbed to cancer on Saturday, July 28. Larry held the position as Voice of the Razorback Band for the past 16 years. All hog fans will miss his famous rendition of the “Go Hogs” spellout during the end of each RMB halftime show.

Larry is survived by his wife, Karen, daughter, Amanda, son, Andrew, and Andrew’s wife, Brooke, of Tulsa, OK. Larry was a 1974 graduate of the University of Arkansas with a degree in journalism and marketing. Larry was the worship leader and former administrative board chairman at the First United Methodist Church in Springdale. Larry was also the public address announcer at Baum Stadium for the University of Arkansas baseball team and voice of the Springdale High School Band.

A Special Thanks!

Not nearly enough "thanks" can be extended to T.O. and Martha Spicer for the yeomen's work they have put forth as the inaugural president and secretary of the newly reconstituted Razorback Band Alumni Society. When Lewis Epley and the powers that be in the Arkansas Alumni Association began investigating the possibility of a new affiliated society of the AAA for band alumni, T.O. and Martha willingly and enthusiastically stepped forward to accept those two new leadership roles for two most challenging years. T.O. interrupted his comfortable retirement from a Baptist pulpit to serve as RBAS president, and Martha was able to stay on top of things as secretary while working part-time in the Development Office in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

The society has benefited greatly from the Spicers' leadership during their time at the helm of RBAS. They began a new tradition of honoring band alumni and friends with the inauguration of the Spicer Wall of Honor in the Epley Band Hall. RBAS merchandise will now be available through the AAA. Current and future Razorback Band Scholarships are being presented to deserving band students through a growing endowment program supporting the UA bands, made possible by a number of band alumni and dedicated friends. Not only that, but the enrollment in RBAS went from three members (Mr. Epley and the Spicers) to over 550 at last count. Quite an accomplishment!

This is not a "good-bye" to the Spicers because T.O. will be spending two more years on the RBAS Board as a result of the ex-officio position of past-president, and Martha will remain as a consultant to our new secretary and, hopefully, a candidate for a regular board position when a new spot comes available.

So, to the Spicers, here's to a job very well done and a future that has them remaining on board as active members of the Razorback Band Alumni Society.

Tyler Thompson,
RBAS President

New Razorback Band Alumni Society Officers

Elected for 2007-2008:

• President: Tyler Thompson, (1972)
• Past-President: Dr. T.O. Spicer (1960)
• Vice President: Mark Brewer, (1997, 1999)
• Secretary: John Tolleson, (1959, 1961)
• Member-At-Large: Katie Watson Walden, (2006)

Board Members:

• Doug Blevins
• Mark Brewer
• Ray Calhoun
• Lewis Epley, Jr.
• Rosemary Fairhead
• Michael Ferguson
• Bret Lawson
• Patrick Pulley
• Paul Simkins
• John Tolleson
• Bill Woolly
• David Woolly
• Andrew Wise, Student Representative

UA Music Camp Celebrates 50 Years of Service

The University of Arkansas Summer Music Camp began under the leadership of Director of Bands Richard "Doc" Worthington during the summer of 1958. For 50 years, the camp has developed the skills of junior high and high-school musicians and provided a venue for recruitment of talented students into the University of Arkansas Bands.

In the summer of 1968, Robert Bright became Camp Director. Robert Bright's leadership of Summer Music Camp represents its "Golden Age." The program grew enormously in quality and size-from 200 to over 1,000-by his retirement in 1998.

Eldon Janzen, University of Arkansas Director of Bands from 1970 - 1995, served as Interim Camp Director during the summer of 1979. Chal Ragsdale and Tim Gunter succeeded Bright as Camp Directors in 1998 and have served to the present day.

Longevity and continuity of service have been hallmarks of Summer Music Camp not only among its directors, but also the faculty, with many 10-year, 20-year and even 30-year awards received by faculty over the years. In addition, the past two Conference Coordinators, Rick Stroud and Kim Jones, have combined for 21-years of service in that position.

A combination of camps for Junior High, Senior High and Orchestral musicians, this year's Summer Music Camp enrolled a total of 1110 students in 11 bands and provided about 700 private lessons. Approximately 22% of students in the current Razorback Marching Band are alumni of the Summer Music Camp-a testament to our long tradition of music education outreach.

New RBAS Shirts Available

You may now display your membership in the Razorback Band Alumni Society with pride! The Arkansas Alumni Association’s online store now offers quality RBAS Polo shirts for all members of the Society. Are you not yet a member? Simply activate your membership in the Arkansas Alumni Association! You will automatically become a member of the Razorback Band Alumni Society.

Tell Us Your Stories!

Homecoming is a time for the many generations of our band family to come together and share their stories, old and new. Do you have a favorite Homecoming memory? If not Homecoming, perhaps you traveled to a Bowl game with the Razorback Marching Band and created the memories of a lifetime! If you have an unforgettable story that you would like to share about your time with the band, let us know! Please e-mail Connie Vick, cvick@uark.edu, with your stories and photos, and you might find yourself in our next newsletter.

Bands Performance Schedule

Would you like to stay up-to-date on all of the University of Arkansas Bands' performances? From the Razorback Marching Band to the Concert Bands, you may find a comprehensive schedule of events online at http://arkalum.org/band. Just click "Events" to find out when and where our bands will perform!