Director Emeritus of Mississippi Valley State University Professor Leonard E. Tramiel passed away Saturday Morning, April 6, 2019 in Greenwood, Mississippi. Professor Tramiel, native of Shreveport, Louisiana was a student at Mississippi Vocational College (Mississippi Valley State University) in Itta Bena, Mississippi. He was a charter member of the 1962 Delta Pi Chapter the first African-American Kappa Kappa Psi Chapter in the state of Mississippi. After receiving his B.S. in Music from MVSU, he served as band director and social studies teacher in Fayette, AL in 1965-1966. He completed graduate work at the University of Alabama while teaching at Druid High School in Tuscaloosa, AL from 1966-1973. While at Druid High School, his band program was the first African-American school ensemble to integrate the Alabama Bandmasters Association Concert Band Festival in 1969.

In 1973, he was offered to serve at his alma mater, Mississippi Valley State University as Director of Bands and Related Activities. He held this position until his retirement in 2005. During his 30-year tenure, he directed the marching, symphonic, varsity-pep band and or other performance groups. He also served as sponsor of both Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma chapters on the MVSU Campus. He has served as consultant, guest conductor, clinician, public speaker and adjudicator in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. He was an active member of the Jennings Temple C.M.E. Church in Greenwood, Mississippi where he served on the Steward Board. In October 2016, for his record of excellence and quality of service to bands, band members, and instrumental music education, he was a recipient of the Kappa Kappa Psi Silver Baton Award. He is survived by his two sons Marvin and Nelrich (Zeta Nu ’90) and three granddaughters.