Music Director Honors Former Band Director at State Meet
By Jeanne Acton | Tuesday, November 10, 2009 12:34 PM
At the Conference AA 2009-2010 State Marching Band Contest, Music Director Richard Floyd had the unique opportunity to honor a former high school band director, Charles Enloe of Wichita Falls, whose students participated in the first UIL Marching Band Competition in 1947.
“We had no idea that Mr. Enloe would be in attendance,” Floyd said. “When I heard he was there I immediately went to visit with him. At the conclusion of our visit I was compelled to orchestrate some kind of recognition for him.”
At the Alamodome in San Antonio where the contest was held, Floyd had the 89-year-old Enloe transported to the 50-yard line in one of the rented golf carts. On the field, drum majors from all of the Conference AA competing bands surrounded Enloe.
Then as the Recognition Ceremony began, Floyd presented Enloe a replica of the UIL 100th Anniversary Gold Medallion in appreciation of his 62 years of involvement in UIL music contest and music education in Texas.
“It worked out perfectly, and he enjoyed a standing ovation from over 7,000 band fans and contestants,” Floyd said.
Enloe was a member of the Armed Forces during World War II and was discharged in 1945. He then attended college for two years before beginning his teaching career in 1947.
Enloe came to the 2009-10 State Marching Band Contest with the band director from Holliday High School, Melanie Hadderton, one of his former students.
“He had never been to a band competition in a domed stadium,” Floyd said. “He thought it was wonderful.”
In addition to this presentation during the State Marching Contest, Floyd used the Video Wall as a showcase for UIL’s Centennial Celebration.
“We did a direct feed from the video cameras making it possible to project on the two video screens the performance on the field with close ups of soloist and visual features,” Floyd said. “During the warm-up between each band we ran quotes submitted by some 50 music educators and celebrities from across the state expressing what UIL music had meant to them and/or their students.”
The State Marching Band Contest hosting Conference A, AA and AAAA ran literally problem free, Floyd said.
“We had 60 bands and a total of 84 performances in prelims and finals over the two days,” he said. “Total attendance including spectators and contestants was nearly 25,000.
“Many feel this was the most successful and problem free state level marching competition in recent memory,” he said.
Results from the Conference A State Marching Band Contest are as follows:
1st place — Sundown HS
2nd place — Forsan HS
3rd place — Canadian HS
4th place — Tenaha HS
5th place — Somerville HS
6th place — Tolar HS
7th place — Carlisle HS
Results from the Conference AA State Marching Band Contest are as follows:
1st place — Queen City HS
2nd place — Clifton HS
3rd place — Holliday HS
4th place — Anahuac HS
5th place — Howe HS
6th place — Crane HS
7th place — Aubrey HS
Results from the Conference AAAA State Marching Band Contest are as follows:
1st place — Dripping Springs HS
2nd place — Friendswood HS
3rd place — Poteet HS
4th place — Wakeland HS
5th place — Hendrickson HS
6th place — Newman Smith HS
7th place — Legacy HS
8th place — Waxahachie HS
9th place — Forney HS
10th place — Hays HS