Yes

1980

Yes

7th

He taught me how to play the trumpet and become a perty good musician..but the main thing was to put your heart and soul into the music and enjoy it. Have fun playing.

I will always remember Mr.Strouds humor and the way he got out every one of his many trumpets and played for us. I wanted to play just like him...minus the smoke in the horns..haha. I couldnt wait until the bandhall opened up to go in. If i didnt have band...i dont know what my life would have become...that was my family.

yes

1978

yes

7th

He had a spirit about him that was rare and unique. You always enjoyed time with him and made learning to play an instrument a very exciting experience.

I started band when the school supplied instruments. They ran out of flutes when they got to me and Mr Stroud did everything in his power to find a flute for me. He found an old flute that had no shine and even had a slight curve to it. It didn't look like much but because of his special touch it played as well as the other flutes. He didn't give up on finding a better flute for me and was very please for me when I got one for Christmas.
In 1985, we had the alumni band play with the High School band (then directed by Dee Hood). During practice, Mr Stroud work with us on "Can't Stop Loving You". It brought back alot of memories. I showed the video to my senior in the Pride and she could even tell from that one practice, how great of a man he was.

yes

1977

yes

middle school, junior high

Where to begin...

Just look at that picture...that's it. That's him. Paul Stroud was a character. He was a gifted teacher, always quick and easygoing.

His classes were never out of control. He commanded a respect that kept us in line because it was just the thing to do. You didn't mess with Mr. Stroud, because you had no desire to mess with Mr. Stroud.

He was cool.

Just as Doug Peterson wrote on the intro page, my memories of Paul Stroud all seem to come from that little instrument repair room, in what was then the middle school band hall. He kept the instruments working. ALL the instruments, for a fairly large program, grades 6-12. Just that aspect of his service was remarkable. He kept us learning and playing, and he'd turn those horns around in no time flat.

Mr. Stroud held daily court in that little room, just exactly where you see him in the photograph. He'd crack jokes, smoke cigarettes--mind you, he just smoked them so he could blow smoke through the broken-down clarinets, flutes, and saxophones looking for leaks. Or so he said, usually with a wink and another drag. And a laugh. Always a laugh.

We'd go there on our breaks between classes, stealing a few minutes to hang out with Mr. Stroud. We'd be late for class as often as not, and we'd catch a ration of grief for it, but that was OK. There was no better place to be. He'd entertain us with his bone-dry wit...looking at us with that trademark expression (the exact one in that picture, kind of like you had a bug crawling across your face) before breaking into a grin and a laugh. He laughed at our jokes, too. He let us in on his little world. When you were with Paul Stroud, you were one of the cats. You were a player.

Fast-forward almost 30 years, and I'm still a musician. And when I think back on all the great teachers and mentors I've had through the years, I can thank Paul Stroud for teaching me that "cool is the rule."

Thanks, Mr. Stroud. You were the coolest.

Yes

1976

Yes

8th & 9th: 1971-72, 1972-73 school years.

Mr. Stroud was a kind and gentle man, traits that don't get much attention in popular American culture, but core values that we should all aspire to.


I can illustrate with a story, which follows. It is a tribute to Mr. and Mrs. Stroud that they were such graceful people during this incident. For those who participated, the Strouds were definitely a target of affection, not malicousness.


I'm beginning to post my photos online, including Jr. High. See http://www.pths.org
 

A story many will remember:



In the fall of 1973, Pine Tree Jr. High Band members concocted a plan to "roll" Mr. Stroud's house, located in Ponderosa subdivision off Gilmer Rd. This project was a huge success, with maybe 100 people and a 5-roll per person minimum. Things were proceeding nicely, with enthusiasm. Great October weather, dark night. Periodically, Mrs. Stroud would appear at the front door, putting up a false protest, "You kids better stop! I'm going to call the cops!" We all knew she wouldn't, and kept working.



Things went fine for 20 or 30 minutes, when suddenly sombody yelled, "POLICE!" We turned to see a patrol car speeding towards the house, all emergency lights blazing.



100+ Jr. High kids disappeared in an instant. We were diving behind every tree, jumping over fences into neighbor's yards... every shrub & bush was packed with big-eyed kids getting mentally prepared to call mom & dad from jail.



The police cruiser pulls straight into Mr. Stroud's driveway, and the officer quickly gets out to survey the situation -- by that time, all trees were obscured by a world-class toilet paper job. Just as unbearable fear was seizing all present, the passenger door of the police car opens, and out steps Connie Sides, the officer's daughter & our fellow band member.

Lucky for us: she was there to roll the house!



Let me tell you, this was funnier than any scene in any movie, better than any moment of tense drama resolved in a theater. Talk about a mass sigh of relief!



I don't know all the details, but I think the Stroud's were in on this bit of turning the tables on the pranksters.



This incident gained a certain degree of notoriety over the following days. I recall Coach James telling us to keep his house in mind, because he could salvage the paper and get two or three year's supply. To this day, I have never seen another house rolled like that one!