Tawnya (Bunting) Flowers, 41, of Emporia, KS, and Line Leader with Hostess Brands, passed away Monday, December 26, 2016, surrounded by her loving family. Tawnya was preceded in death by her grandparents, John and Dorothy Smith and George and Madelyn Bunting. Survivors include her husband, Russell Skelton; children, Eric Skelton, Caleb and Raegan Flowers; mother, Judith Bunting; father, Robert (Marsha) Bunting; brothers, Robert Bunting, Jr. (Sharon) and Dr. Eric Bunting (Rebecca); father and mother-in-law, Stephen Skelton (Barbara); brothers-in-law, Max Skelton (Dawn), Jason Skelton (Marie), Justin Skelton (Kimberly); sisters-in-law, Pamela Stithem (Dan) and Kristina Skelton. A Celebration of Life will be held at Reformation Lutheran Church, 7601 E. 13th St. N., Wichita, KS, at 3 pm, on Friday, December 30. Memorials to: Midwest Transplant Network in Tawnya’s memory.
Charles H. Billingsley (Alpha) 1928-2016
Charles H. Billingsley, 88, retired Music Educator, Insurance Agent and USMC veteran, passed away Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016. Visitation 1-8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, with family receiving friends 5-7 p.m.; Funeral service 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, both at Smith Mortuary, 1415 N. Rock Rd., Derby.
Charles was born Oct. 15, 1928 in Oklahoma City, and was adopted 5 months later on March 25, 1929, by Walter and Alice Billingsley. They preceded him in death.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with the Haysville Church of Christ and College Hill Church of Christ, Mulvane.
Donald A. Stanley (Eta) 1937-2016
Donald A. Stanley, 79, of GraysonView Court, Selinsgrove, passed away on Nov. 23, 2016, at his home.
He was born Jan. 11, 1937, in Mansfield, Ohio, a son of the late Arthur and Ruth (Young) Stanley.
Donald received his bachelor of science degree in music education from Ohio State University. After teaching in the public schools of Ohio, he earned his master of fine arts degree at Ohio University where he also served as graduate assistant with the Ohio University Bands. He had done post graduate work at both the University of Colorado and Hartt College of Music.
Donald was professor of music and director of bands emeritus at Mansfield University, Mansfield. He joined the faculty at the university in 1966 and, until his retirement in 1992, conducted the university wind ensemble, taught conducting, and tuba and euphonium lessons.
He was active in a number of professional organizations and had served as president of the Pennsylvania Collegiate Bandmasters Association, the Easter Division of the College Band Director’s National Association, and as the National President of Kappa Kappa Psi, and Honorary Band Fraternity. He was currently a member of the Honorary Advisory Board of the Tubists Universal Brotherhood Association.
In 1975, Stanley received the National Band Association’s “Citation of Excellence” following a concert by the Mansfield Concert Wind Ensemble at the M.E.N.C. Convention in Philadelphia. He was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association in 1980. In 1987, he received a citation of excellence from the Pennsylvania Music Education Association and was named Pennsylvania’s “Outstanding Bandmaster” by Nu Chapter of Phi Beta Mu in the same year.
In 1982, he was invited to perform with the Harvey Phillips Ensemble in their Carnegie Hall Recital in New York City and was invited again in 1989 to join the ensemble for a performance at the Vermont in various state and national music journals.
Donald remained active as a performer serving as the principal tubist with the Nittany Valley Symphony in State College, the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra and the Commonwealth Brass Quintet. He continued a busy schedule as an adjudicator and clinician with Yamaha Musical Products Inc., since moving to Selinsgrove in 1994, and was an adjunct faculty member of the Susquehanna University Department of Music.
He was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church, Selinsgrove, and had served as treasurer, senior warden, on the finance committee, and the vestry.
Donald was the last of his immediate family and was preceded in death by his brother.
A celebration of Donald’s life will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 17, at All Saints Episcopal Church, 129 N. Market St., Selinsgrove. A gathering of family and friends will follow in the parish hall.
His final resting place will be in the columbarium at All Saints. –
Melvin Boyce Montgomery (Beta Delta) 1925-2016
Melvin Montgomery, 91 passed away in Huntsville, Texas on November 18, 2016. Melvin was born January 3, 1925 in Richards, Texas to parents Henry Lester and Mary Francis Montgomery.He attended elementary school in Montgomery, Texas, and junior and senior high school in Conroe, Texas. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Sam Houston State University and did post graduate work at Texas Tech University and the University of Texas.
Mr. Montgomery began his musical training playing in the first band formed in Montgomery, Texas under director Vernon Cleveland. She gave private instruction to Mel on trumpet, piano, and mandolin. Later he played baritone horn, trombone and percussion. In 1936 his family moved to Conroe, Texas and he entered junior high. In junior and senior high school he played baritone and French horn and played drums in the high school dance band.
Mr. Montgomery graduated from Conroe High School in 1942 and completed one year of college at Sam Houston before being drafted into the Army in 1943 as a musician and perimeter guard. While in the service, he attended and graduated from the Army School of Music, played in the U.S. Army Field Band and Dance Band, and served in the European Theater Operations as a musician in the special services attached to the U.S. 7th Army. In December 1944, his battalion was attached to General Patton’s 3rd Army and he served 23 days in the Battle of the Bulge as an infantryman in defense.
Following his army duty, he returned to Sam Houston and completed his music degree in 1948. While at Sam Houston he served as director of the “Houstonians” dance band and during his senior year was employed as music director for the Texas Prison System.
Mr. Montgomery’s first teaching position was at Stephen F. Austin High School in Port Acres, Texas. During his four-year tenure, his bands received three Sweepstakes awards. In 1952 he became Director of Bands at Snyder High School. During his sixteen-year tenure, the Snyder band amassed an enviable record of contest honors and performed in the 1957 Cotton Bowl. They won fifteen consecutive Sweepstakes at UIL and several honors at the Tri-State Music Festival. At the Buccaneer Festival, the Snyder band was four times selected as the Outstanding Concert Band in its class and seven times won the Grand Sweepstakes award. They were consistently ranked among the top five bands in their classification in the state Honor Band competitions. In 1966, the Snyder band was chosen as the TMEA Honor Band in their classification.
He was also a pioneer in the stage band movement in Texas. His Snyder High School stage bands won national acclaim during the 1950’s and 1960’s and was ranked third among 225 participations schools in the National State Band Contest of 1966. His Snyder stage bands also won the competitive Brownwood State Band Festival twelve of fourteen years from 1954-1968. They also won first place at the Tri-State Festival in 1962 and first place in the Texas Tech Stage Band Festival in 1967. During 20 years in the Texas Public school systems, Mr. Montgomery’s bands won 19 sweepstakes awards.
In 1969, Mel Montgomery was selected as Director of Bands at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. He began with a band of 70 and turned it into a group of more than 200. His teaching load was very heavy, including Lumberjack Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Instrumental Methods and Materials, Marching Band Techniques, Conducting, Band Literature, Percussion, Percussion Ensemble, Percussion Techniques, Horn, and the supervision of student teachers.
He served for eighteen years as Director of Bands and Professor of Music. Under his leadership, the SFASU bands gained considerable recognition with both the marching and symphonic bands and became highly regarded throughout Texas and the United States. The SFA Symphonic Band was invited to perform four concerts for the Texas Music Educators Association and once for the College Band Directors National Association under Mel’s leadership.
During his time at SFA, he began a commissioning series that continues today. Under his leadership, the following band pieces were commissioned:
Armand Russell- Fantasy and Cantilena, W Francis McBeth- Caccia, Armand Russell- Fantasy and Cantilena, Luigi Zaninelli- Capriccio Spiritoso, David Holsinger- In Spring, at the Time When Kings Go Off to War, James Curnow- Variants on an Ancient Air. The Curnow piece was dedicated to Mel and Virginia Montgomery for their eighteen years of service to the SFASU Band.
In 1976, the spirit of patriotic fever let to another Mel Montgomery creation: the annual Concert in the Park. The original idea was to create a nostalgic atmosphere of an outdoor concert with families enjoying the music in Pecan Park. Later the concert was moved to its present location in the free speech area in front of the Wright Music Building at SFA. During his years at SFA, both Mel and Jenny Montgomery worked with the chapters of Kappa Kappa Psi consistently ranked as a “Top Ten” chapter, and won the Founder’s Trophy in 1983.
During his teaching career, he was honored with a citation from the Texas state legislature and selected to membership in the First Chair of America, honoring the nation’s 100 best high school bands; he was also the recipient of the A. Frank Martin award from Kappa Kappa Psi national band fraternity for his contributions to music education. In 1978, he was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association and in 1986 was given honorary membership in the Stephen F. Austin State University Band Director’s Hall of Fame. In 1993, Mel Montgomery was selected by the Texas Bandmasters Association as the Bandmaster of the Year. He was inducted into the Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 1994.
Mel Montgomery is a member of ABA, TMEA, TBA, TMAA, Phi Beta Mu, Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Mu Alpha, Tau Beta Sigma, and Phi Delta Kappa. He holds listings in Who’s Who in the South and Southwest, international Who’s Who in Music, Personalities of America, Men of Achievement, Who’s Who in Percussion: USA, and the Directory of Distinguished Americans.
After retiring in 1986, Mr. Montgomery taught part-time on year supervising student teachers. The Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents awarded him the title of Director of Bands Emeritus and Professor of Music in 1987. He continued to serve as an active clinician and conductor until he began losing his vision in 1999.
They continued living in Nacogdoches enjoying their home, their friends and travel until 2011, when Mel and Jenny came full circle returning the town in which they met, had their first kiss at the grave of Sam Houston and fell in love, Huntsville TX. They resided at the Carriage Inn and were loved by all.
Following Jenny’s death in 2013, Mel remained active at the Carriage Inn and returned to the teaching profession, holding Music Appreciation Classes sharing his depth of knowledge and love of music from Willie Nelson to Glenn Miller to Gustav Holst. Mel also taught many residents to play “hand and foot,” a form of canasta, and enjoyed playing nightly in teams of 2 and often had multiple tables playing simultaneously as he never stopped teaching or conducting. He is also known to have been a force at the poker table.
Mel loved life. He loved living. He loved learning. He loved the challenge in the “everyday” and inspired those around him to enjoy each day a little bit more than they would have without his encouragement, not so subtle admonitions as he always led by example with a strong wit, strong will, clear sense of self, and integrity down to his to his bone marrow. He was a leader who understood that you cannot teach what you do not know and cannot lead where you will not go. His legacy will live on and touch generations to come.
Mel was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Virginia Faye Harrington Montgomery and is survived by one son, Don Montgomery, a two-year All-State bass trombonist and member of Kappa Kappa Psi, their daughter, Jill Criddle, who played flute in the SFA Band and four grandchildren.
A funeral service is scheduled for Tuesday, November 22 at 3:00 pm at Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors. Rev. John Bingham will be officiating. Entombment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park. Family and friends are invited to visitation on Tuesday from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm prior to the service.
Mel did not specify what his wishes were for flowers or “in lieu of flowers.” In light of that, please follow your heart. Here is a link to donate to the Mel Montgomery Band Scholarship Fund. We know that would make him happy :-)https://sfaalumni.site-ym.com/donations/donate.asp?id=7347.
Arrangements are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors
Newly Forming LAA Alert – Greater Dayton AA
The Greater Dayton Alumni Chapter, a newly forming Local Alumni Association, is in its beginning stages of approval with the KKPsiAA. This is a regional LAA, looking to recruit members who reside in the greater Dayton, OH area. The goal of the GDAC is to aid and assist in the building of great music programs in the Dayton area.
Please email the GDAC via Dr. Stacy Worley at swo4853@aol.com to inquire about becoming a member!
Donald McGinnis (Eta) 1917-2016
Born in Barberton, Ohio, in 1917 to Samuel and Ruth McGinnis, Dr. McGinnis was a distinguished musician, Professor Emeritus, and Director of Bands Emeritus at The Ohio State University. As an avid fan of collegiate sports and native Ohioan, Dr. McGinnis was an enthusiastic supporter of both the Ohio State Football and Basketball teams. His love of sports was eclipsed by his lifelong devotion to music. As a child, his early prowess in clarinet led to his being the first seventh-grader to be accepted as a member of the Medina County Band. In high school he was a member of the band, orchestra, glee club, and jazz ensemble, was a guard on the varsity football team in his senior year, as well as achieving the scholastic honor of being elected to the National Honor Society. Dr. McGinnis completed his collegiate education with undergraduate degrees in clarinet performance and music education from Oberlin College, followed by MA and PhD degrees in music theory and composition from the University of Iowa. His dissertation was his own composition Symphony for Band, available from Hal Leonard.
In 1941, he began a forty-year career at Ohio State which was interrupted by his enlistment in the United States Navy, where he performed as the principal clarinetist and featured soloist in an elite musical unit. During the war, he received a commission and served as the Communication Officer on the USS Lucidor in the South Pacific, achieving the rank of lieutenant junior grade.
During his post-war career with Ohio State, Dr. McGinnis became the conductor of the Concert Band. Under his leadership, the Concert Band earned national and international recognition with performances in illustrious venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Outside the School of Music, he was the principal clarinetist of the Columbus Symphony for two years, and the principal flutist for another ten years. After retiring from Ohio State, he was the interim conductor of the Capital University Wind Ensemble and Columbus Youth Wind Ensemble for the 1979-80 year. He was appointed conductor of the Southeastern Symphony Orchestra in New Concord, Ohio for the 1979-87 seasons. He was the interim band director at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1989.
Among his many honors, he is a member of the Columbus Senior Musicians Hall of Fame, Honorary Member of Phi Beta Mu and Tau Beta Sigma, Distinguished Service to Music Award from Kappa Kappa Psi, and the God and Country Award from the Salvation Army. He was elected a member of the American Bandmasters Association and served as President of that association before being named as an Honorary Life President.
He married Ruth L. Ostrander on November 28, 1946. She preceded him in death on July 1, 2016.
He is survived by daughters, Rebecca, of Tujunga, CA and Martha (David) Gamble of Grove City; granddaughter, Erika Gamble of Reynoldsburg; brother Richard (Mary) McGinnis of Naples, FL; many nephews and nieces; and a legion of students and colleagues.
He was preceded in death by his brother Harold McGinnis.
Family will receive friends at the TIDD FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 5265 Norwich St in Hilliard, OH. A private funeral service will be held at a later date in addition to a Memorial concert at Ohio State.
Memorial contributions may take the form of checks mailed to The Ohio State University Foundation, 1480 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, OH 43221. Checks should be payable to The Ohio State University Foundation. Please indicate the Donald E. McGinnis School of Music New Day Fund #314212 in the memo line.
James Frederick “Jim” Kierstead (Epsilon Nu) 1952-2016
We’re saddened to announce that James Frederick ‘Jim’ Kierstead died in an accident at his home in Windsor, Massachusetts. Jim was born May 4, 1952, in Washington D.C., and was raised in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Isabel Bird Kierstead, his father, Friend Hans Kierstead, Jr., and sister Dorothygrace Bird Kierstead Kelley. He is survived by his sister, Margaret Rose ‘Margie’ Kierstead, and nephew, Peter Hans Kierstead, of Kent, Ohio, as well as many cousins.
Jim studied music at Ohio University and the University of Massachusetts where he played in the marching band. But his love of marching bands started at Cuyahoga Falls High School. After college he continued to play in the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band, for a total of 39 years. He also played in the Pride Alumni Marching Band of Cuyahoga Falls, at times with his sister Margie, in the yearly Cuyahoga Falls Band Show. Many times he won the award for having traveled the furthest in order to participate which was a point of personal pride.
Jim started his employment with the University of Massachusetts after his college studies. He worked in many offices of the University, including the Cooperative Extension Division of Nutrition, now part of the Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment. His employment at the University ended in 2006 as a Bookkeeper for the Dean of the School of Public Health and Health Sciences. He also worked, at times in the Textbook Annex, and helped out the UMMB as a Drill Assistant. Jim’s public service was demonstrated in his activities in his home town of Windsor, Massachusetts. He was an active member of the Windsor Historical Commission and Cultural Council. He was the elected Town Moderator (who runs the town meetings) since 2012, and had served as a Town Assessor. He was the unofficial town historian, as he had a wealth of Windsor Historical Knowledge and was always willing to share.
Jim was an animal lover and is survived by his cats Storm and Thunder. Jim took pride in knowing family genealogy, as well as the stories of people’s lives, and even traveled around to photograph family graves in order to preserve the memory of the past. He was also an avid sports fan and delighted in science fiction. Jim lived life to the fullest and was taken too soon. Each year, when he left Ohio, he’d give a cheery, “Until next year!”
Eric Wayne Fisher (Omicron) 1976-2016
Eric Wayne Fisher, 40, of Martinsburg, passed away Thursday, September 1, 2016.
Born April 25, 1976, in Frederick, Maryland, he was the son of Ronald W. Fisher (Mike) and Judith L. Moran Foss of Martinsburg.
Eric graduated from Frederick High School in 1994, and continued his education at West Virginia University. He was a proud member of the WVU marching band and developed an unwavering passion for WVU football. He attended nursing school at Frederick Community College and found his niche as a compassionate caregiver, dedicating his career to helping those in need and truly making a difference. Most recently, he was employed at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center as a Registered Nurse.
Eric was always the first person to lend a hand, offer support or make you laugh. His laughter was contagious. He cheered rigorously for the Mountaineers each game day, and enjoyed spending time with his family, friends and two beloved cats, Socrates Spencer and Priscilla Lynn.
In addition to his parents, Eric is survived by his sister, Amy L. Fisher of Bethesda, Maryland and grandmother, Jessie M. Fisher of Frederick, Maryland.
He is predeceased by his grandparents, Edward L. and Margaret F. Moran, as well as his grandfather, Grayson L. Fisher. He will forever be in the hearts of many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, September 8, 2016, at Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike in Frederick, Maryland.
Funeral services will be held at the same location at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 9. Pastor Nick Scott will officiate.
Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Berkeley County Humane Society at berkeley.wvhumane.com.
June 11, 2016 – Picnic on the Mall
On June 11th, the Omicron Alumni Association (comprised of alumni, life, and honorary brothers of the Omicron Chapter at West Virginia University) hosted brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi and sisters of Tau Beta Sigma at their annual Picnic on the Mall in Washington, DC. Sandwiches were shared and friendships were made (and renewed) on a beautiful day in our nation’s capital.
Next year’s Picnic on the Mall is tentatively planned for June 10, 2017. All brothers and sisters are invited! A big thanks to the Omicron Alumni Association for hosting this event!
Dr. William A. Gora (Iota Omicron) 1946-2016
William Alan “Doc” Gora, 69, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Boone, North Carolina, and New Smyrna Beach, Florida went to Heaven on Sunday the 17th of July after a valiant fight against Mantle Cell Lymphoma. He was born in Brooklyn, New York on December 26, 1946.
Gora earned a Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Miami and studied conducting with Frederick Fennell. Following two years of teaching public school in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, he completed a Master of Music Education Degree from the University of Florida. Soon after, he resumed his studies in conducting and wind literature with Fennell at the University of Miami and earned a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in saxophone performance.
Gora was as an accomplished saxophonist and traveled extensively throughout the world during the course of his life performing and teaching. He spent his first college teaching job in Modesto, California but was Director of Bands at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina from 1976 to 2006. Gora was a dedicated teacher who loved his students with a passion. He fought for music in the schools and its importance to every student. His wry whit, smile and love made an impact on many. Upon retiring in 2006, Gora was granted emeritus status by the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees and was inducted into the North Carolina Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 2014.
In June 2006, Gora and his beloved wife, Virginia, moved to New Smyrna Beach, Florida where he was happiest fishing on his boat with family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Nathaniel; brother, Bruce; and is survived by his wife of 48 years, Virginia Ragsdale Gora; daughter, Jennifer Baxter (Michael); sons, Robert (Richelle) and David (Margaret); mother, Thelma; brother, Michael; grandsons, Robert Alexander Gora and Graham William Gora; along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
There will be a Memorial Service at Appalachian State University Hayes School of Music on October 2, 2016 at 3:00 in the afternoon.
In lieu of flowers sent to the family, donations may be made to the William A. Gora Principal Player scholarship in care of the ASU Foundation, P.O. Box 32014, Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C. 28608.