Herald's history series:

Sylva-Webster Band Grand National Champs

Reprinted from The Sylva Herald, June 21, 1979

Considered the top high school marching band contest in the nation, the event is sponsored by MBA, a subsidiary of McCormick Enterprises and supported by Meadow Gold Dairies Division of Beatrice Foods Co.

Tuesday morning, June 12, 130 members of the Sylva-Webster Golden Eagle Marching Band, accompanied by staff members and chaperones, left Sylva to participate in marching band competition in Indiana and Wisconsin.

They traveled to Indianapolis and spent the night in the Ben Davis High School gym.

On June 13th, the band rehearsed at Manuel High School in Indianapolis. Later in the day, the group traveled on to the Hayworth Invitational Tournament at Kokomo, Ind.

At the Hayworth Tournament, Dennis Cooper and David Parker were featured as trumpet soloists.

Hersher High School Band of Hersher, Ill., performed first. The S-W performed. Bob Buckner, band director, told The Herald "crowd response to our band was overwhelming." S-W received a standing ovation after their second number. Buckner said "the crowd remained on their feet throughout the entire performance." Buckner also noted "that our band was the only band that night to receive such crowd approval."

Scores for the Hayworth Tournament based on a total of 100 were 81.45 for S-W. The next closest score was 79.00 by Falls Church High School Band of Falls Church, Va.

Thursday, June 14th, rehearsal was held. The group traveled on to Chicago. There, they toured the Museum of Science and Industry; went to the top of the Sears Tower; and had the opportunity to use some free time and do some shopping. Shopping was done at the Schaumburg Mall, which when built was the world's largest mall. The mall houses 110 stores.

Thursday evening, the senior members of the band held their traditional senior dinner. This year it was a steak dinner.

Friday, June 15th, the group was in Whitewater, Wis., for preliminary competition in the Marching Bands of America championship event. The preliminaries produced the best six band for each of two divisions for the finals on Saturday evening, June 17.

The two divisions of competition are based on enrollment; "A" Division for schools with 1,200 and fewer students; "Open" Division for 1,201 and more students.

Bob Buckner had told the band members "I think we have as good a chance as anyone in the contest." He said the band's number one goal is to make the finals, and then in the finals "we'll go for broke."

The preliminary contest included 37 bands from all over the United States.

All scores were held until after the finals, Buckner said. A leader board was posted and showed only if a particular band was in the finals. The band director stated judges' comments were taped and time and penalty sheets showed no penalties for S-W.

"Band members felt their performance could have been better, but the staff commented their show as good," Buckner stated. The band performed in a 40 mph wind, according to Buckner. Again, perfect score was 100. The S-W band scored 89.10 and the next closest was 88.25 by the Independence High School Band from San Jose, Calif., a high school with a student body of 5,000.

Saturday, June 16, a meeting of all finalist Band Directors was held to draw for position., Buckner told the Herald.

Buckner drew position number one and promptly received condolences from the other band directors. "It is a kind of understood omen," stated Buckner, "that in drawing position number one, winning is usually impossible.

"The kids were down," Buckner went on. "They were disappointed too," he said, "about being the first band to perform."

So remembering their motto "go for broke" that's just what the kids did, Buckner stated.

Performing before a crowd of approximately 11,000, composed of students and directors from all over America, Buckner termed the show "electrifying, yet the kids executed the show in a very relaxed manner."

Soloists for the finals were David and Danny Ginn, Dennis Cooper, Mike and Tim Gillespie and David Parker. All were trumpet solos, except Danny Ginn, who played trombone.

Buckner termed the young men as "the best soloists of the contest."

Once again Buckner emphasized how well the crowd responded to the S-W Band. He stated "it was four bands later (following Sylva-Webster's performance) before good crowd response was evident."

When the finals were over, and the winners were announced, Sylva-Webster was First Place Winner Class A Division Grand National Champions.

In addition, the band won Best General Effect, Best Marching Maneuvering and Best Music Execution.

Seven judges comprised the scoring panel. Out of the seven, four had S-W in first place. No other band had more than one judge placing them in first, Buckner said.

Score for the evening was 89.45 for S-W out of a possible 100. The next closest score was 87.15 by the Flusing, Mich., band, an Open Class winner.

Band director Buckner said the "kids were absolutely ecstatic."

Editor's note: This is the weekly installment of a review of our back issues as The Sylva Herald and Ruralite celebrates its 75th anniversary throughout 2001. Thomas Stites was assistant band director for the 1979 band and Jana Denton Fulton was drum major.)

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