The following was copied from the Jan 26, 1954 Crimson and Gray Tate newspaper. The article was written by Joyce Willis.

The first band at Tate was organized under the direction of Mr. Frank Marchese. This was in approximately 1938. Since Mr. Marchese left there have been several directors.

Mr. Jim Allen, who was president of the Paper Mill, furnished Mr. Vernon Hooker a station wagon and supplemented his salary for him to come out every so often to teach band. Mr. Allen bought many musical instruments and paid for the first uniforms, attempting to promote the band. Due to Mr. Hooker’s position of band director at Pensacola High School, he soon had to give it up.

Mr. John (Chick) Shelton took Mr. Hooker’s place in 1949. Mr. Shelton did much in establishing the band. There was a membership of 46 people in the band that year. Mr. Shelton won a scholarship and after just one year of teaching left.

Miss Barbara Davis, the present director, came to Tate in the fall of 1950. Miss Davis is a graduate of the University of Miami. Since she came the band has improved and increased in number very much. Miss Davis is always willing to help people individually and is striving for a superior band.

The band now is working very hard on concert music. The district contest is not very far off and they are going to try very hard this year to make a superior rating.

During the marching season, the band participated in all halftime shows at the football games. They also played in a halftime show for the Navy Goshawks. The band worked very hard for these performances and put on some very good shows. They have received many compliments for them.

Submitted by James W. Parker, Tate High School Alumni, Class of  ’56.