Complements
of Pine Tree High School Cutlass - Special History Edition
Reprints from PTHS 1940 Buccaneer yearbook |
Band organized in 1937
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The
Pine Tree band was organized in 1937-'38 to further the interest in music
in the community. Last spring (1939) the band won first division in
marching, playing and sight reading in the Texas Music Educator's contest
held in Longview. Competing in Class D with other year-old organizations,
it was judged "Best all-around band" and awarded a sweepstakes
trophy. Band director is David Rose, assistant band director is
student Frank Pineda and drum major is J.W. Farmer.
(During those years the band also had a captain, lieutenants, sergeants
and corporals.) |
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In Memory of Flying Cadet David Rose
A vacant spot was left upon this earth by one who's passed
His earthly way from life here on to eternal life at last
The army of glorious Union pays tribute to you, we know
They've lost a man of brilliant mind; we miss you, David Rose.
We cannot know what you've gone through, what lies beyond the
grave,
Until our Master calls us too, and death has clipped our days;
Thine earthly deeds were scoring fast, thy record plainly shows,
But all those deeds will ever last we miss you, David Rose.
Thy Master saw it fit for Him to call you; now you've gone
To be a soldier for your Lord upon that Golden Throne;
No second death can end your life in God's eternal reign;
Although you're in a better place, we miss you just the same.
by Tommy Drace
(David Rose was killed in the early part of World War II.)
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Pine Tree's first drum major leads Kilgore College, Notre Dame bands
By Patricia Story
Cutlass
Adviser
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The
tall, slender young man dressed in a white uniform led the band toward the
bleachers. When they reached the crowd, he blew his whistle for the group
to stop, then suddenly threw his baton high into the air, turned two
somersaults and caught the baton on its way back down without ever missing
a beat as the band continued to play. The talented drum major was J.
W. Farmer, Pine Tree's first drum major. He started leading the band the
first year it was formed in the fall of 1937. He continued in this role
for three years.
"I was around 10 or 11 years old at the time," Vanoy Farmer, his
brother said. "I was surprised at his talent, and I remember band
members and band directors from other schools were surprised at some of
the things he could do. "Farmer was thinking back over those years
his brother led the band, trying to remember some of the acrobatic stunts
he was able to do while performing for the crowd. J.W. died in 1985.
"I was trying to remember about the somersaults, so I called a friend
to ask if J.W. could do two consecutive somersaults when he performed, and
the friend said, 'he could do all that and more, I'm sure of it.'" He
was quite dedicated to his duties as drum major, according to Farmer.
"He went to Shreveport every Saturday and took baton lessons from
Major West, the expert in that field," Farmer said. "When the
band first started, they had tryouts for that position." During
the time he was drum major the band won first division in marching, was
judged "Best all-around band" and won a sweepstakes trophy,
according to a 1940 Buccaneer yearbook.
After he graduated in 1940 he went to Kilgore College for two years and
led the band as drum major there too, Farmer said. "He was skilled
enough that he also led the Notre Dame band as drum major, Farmer said.
"He went to Notre Dame as a student of the Navy in naval training and
was there for two seasons of the four years he was in the Navy. He later
finished his schooling at East Texas State with a degree in business
management." He eventually moved to Austin where he became vice
president of Austin Mortgage & Loans, Farmer said. J.W. Farmer was
voted Most Handsome his junior year, and in addition to being in the band,
he was also in the Press Club, Future Craftsmen of American Club and
played baseball one year. |
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