2014 Fall Alumni Newsletter

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T.U.B.A. news
THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE TROY UNIVERSITY BAND ALUMNI
MISSION STATEMENT: “The Troy University Band Alumni Association is a university affiliated alumni chapter whose mission is
to support the Troy University Sound of the South band program through scholarships, financial assistance, service, and the fostering
of relationships forged through membership in the band program that is Dr. Johnny Long’s lasting legacy.”
The Mixer: It’s Back
Everyone remembers the fun times at the old
Holiday Inn on US 231 following those amazing
SEUS concerts.
The Hall of Fame band directors mixed and
mingled with current and former students, many of
whom had become band directors themselves.
Pledge books were signed as alumni met the newest
classes of potential fraternity and sorority members.
The new John Maloy Long
Hall at Troy University
The first week of January, 2014, was a historic one for Troy University.
Finally, the choral, dance, and band departments were all under one roof, as students
officially moved into the brand-new John Maloy Long Hall.
The new building is 30,500 square feet and, along with grand rehearsal spaces, there
is plenty of room for administrative offices for the College of Communication and
Fine Arts dean, School of Music director, as well as plentiful storage space for the
three fine arts housed inside the building.
The Troy University Band Alumni Association
(TUBA) is proud to announce the 2014 Band
Reunion Mixer at the Courtyard By Marriott, 6:0010:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 11.
There is no cover charge to attend. We would like
to ask you to bring your instrument to the jam
session. Prepare to share your tales of past glories
in Troy and share your musical knowledge with
hundreds of your closest friends.
It’s the nearest you’ll get to actually being back in
college. See you there.
Mayor Jason Reeves also proclaimed that Collegedale Street would now be known
as Dr. John M. Long Avenue.
Save the Date!
Homecoming
Home Games
October 11
Coming Up
Pay your $35.00
membership online,
and join us at 8:30
a.m. in the new Long
Hall!
Troy vs. App. St. (Oct. 18)
Troy vs. Ga. State (Nov. 8)
Troy vs. U-La-La (Nov. 29)
2014 Miss “Sound of the
South” Stella Burak with
her beau, Nick Krajniak
FALL 2016
FACES AND PLACES
Left: TUBA President Michael Bird and
www.soundofthesouth.org Webmaster Scott
Erb visit at a football game. (The Phi Mu
Alpha sweatshirt still fits; the FOB Squad
jersey doesn’t.)
Right: Recent TROY graduate and
veteran SOTS majorette Hannah Dunn
always pulled double-duty at games as
an athletic trainer and a twirler. She
has now become an athletic trainer for
the University of Southern
Mississippi! She is pictured here with
TROY’s Director of Bands, Dr. Mark
Walker.
Left: On opening day of the brand-new Long Hall in March 2014, members past and
present get together to share stories and catch up with one another.
Below: Dr. Long gets fired up conducting the Symphony Band at the opening concert for
the American Bandmasters Association convention, hosted by TROY University at the
Montgomery Performing Arts Centre.
Bottom: Ray Smith conducts the band inside their new home.
The Alumni Band performing at last year’s
Homecoming halftime.
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TUBA NEWS
FALL
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2016
2014
Let the celebration begin: 75 years ago, TROY started a band.
50 years ago, we became the “Sound of the South”
We are currently working on gathering anecdotes, photographs,
and all kinds of recollections and memorabilia to celebrate and
honor this milestone in 2015.
PRESIDENT - MICHAEL BIRD
[email protected]
Dr. Mark Walker, Director of Bands at Troy University, asked our
Board to collect these wonderful pieces of SOTS history to create
something truly special: a “Sound of the South” family album.
PRESIDENT-ELECT - JAMIE HONEA HOWELL
[email protected]
SECRETARY – CHRIS SMITH
[email protected]
A one-of-a-kind coffee table book is in the works. We want this to
be a souvenir of this 75th anniversary, but especially in
commemoration of the 50 years since the Sound of the South band
program began and the story of what brought an ambitious young
high school band director from Montgomery to Troy in the first
place. The story of the original SOTS will be a major component.
TREASURER – TAMMY BRUNSON BUSBY
[email protected]
MEMBERS-AT-LARGE
DEBBIE BRADLEY – TIM SIMS –
TERRANCE COBB – DONNA FLOWERS
So if you have stories, pictures, or anything worth sharing – please
contact your board members listed at the right.
* note: one Member-at-Large position will be open at Homecoming
All materials need to be received no later than October 31, 2014.
Homecoming Day
MEMBERSHIP FORM
Mail to Tammy Busby, Troy University Alumni
Band, P.O. Box 1469, Fairhope AL 36533
Or scan and send to [email protected]
8:30 a.m. Arrive on campus; walking self-guided tour of new Long
Hall; pay dues
9:30 a.m. Annual Business Meeting of TUBA; rehearsal with James
Smith and Art Williams; voting on new Member at Large
10:45 a.m. Outdoor rehearsal at band field
Name (include maiden if married)
11:45 a.m. Lunch and fellowship on your own (see below)
12:45 p.m. March in with SOTS for Trojan Walk
Years in Band / Section(s) You Were In
1:40 p.m. Pre-Game
2:00 p.m. Kick-off
Address
City
St
ZIP
3:30 p.m. (Approximately) Half-Time
5:30 p.m. (Approximately) Post-Game
email address
telephone number
6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Band Reunion Mixer at Courtyard by
Marriott (no cover charge)
Your membership dues . . .
Every year, we are reminded to “pay your dues”, in sometimes colorful
fashion. What do our TUBA dues do?
1. Help to continue funding www.soundofthesouth.org, the Troy band’s
internet presence and a vital link of communication for current and
former members.
2. Provide scholarships to deserving band students as recognized by the
Director.
3. Provide support and service to the current Director(s) and students.
4. Reconnect with former members of the SOTS and meet new ones.
5. Your TUBA membership gets you the same benefits as membership
in the Troy University National Alumni Association. Your
membership with us is your alumni chapter membership.
6. With TUBA membership, you can also enjoy discounts at the
university bookstore among many other places, as well as partake of
the Alumni House activities at every home game.
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TUBA NEWS
FALL 2014
Our Drum Major: Dr. Art Williams
Twenty years ago, Art Williams was serving as the Sound of the South Band Captain
during the 1994-95 school year. He was also the President of the Collegiate Singers at
the same time! Art later became our Drum Major for the 1995 and 1996 marching
seasons, serving as Dr. Long’s final drum major and Mr. Ford’s first.
Art and Ralph Ford also designed the Sound of the South logo in use from 1996 until
the early 2000s. As “Mr. Art,” Dr. Williams was featured in the Robert W. Smith –
Susan Smith production of CDs and DVDs to accompany their Music Expressions
series. Art left Alabama to complete his doctorate at Indiana University, and today
is the Chair of the Fine Arts Department at Faulkner University in Montgomery.
Art wishes to invite all members of the band from twenty years ago to come home
October 11th, when the moon will most assuredly turn into a football.
Put the hay in
the barn!
Troy University Band Alumni
Michael Bird, President (2014-2015)
26 Alber Drive
Tallassee, Alabama 36078