Like some fortuitous alignment of stars, each year WSU Bands alumni get together for a feast of memories — and one more encore.
WSU Bands alumni returned to campus to play with the current student pep band during the Jan. 22 Shocker men's basketball game. The Shockers beat Evansville 81-63.
No doubt that during the course of the event-packed evening, legends are recounted, heroic boasts made and ex-girlfriends or boyfriends bemoaned. But what everybody waits for is game time.
“We have a big dinner for everybody and their families the night of a game. Then we play with the current student pep band,” explains Dana Hamant ’78/83, the alumni pep band’s honorary director.
Joe Boley ’55, who for 36 years directed high school marching bands in Great Bend, Kan., says he makes the trip back to campus almost every year. “I like to play the trombone, and it’s the only time I ever get to see a lot of these guys.”
This year, the alumni pep band supported a winning effort as the Shockers thumped Evansville, 81-63, on Jan. 22. “Still, it’s fun to be back even if the Shockers don’t win,” says Anthony “Torch” Pressnell ’90, who attends the event annually. “It’s fun to get to play and then get a group of us together to go drink beer at the Cedar, like the old days.”
Sponsored by the alumni association’s WSU Bands Alumni Club, the annual event features a dinner and program prior to playing at the game. This year, with the added impetus of celebrating 100 years of bands at Wichita State, the crowd welcomed a number of special guests, including wsu President Don and First Lady Shirley Beggs; Dave Dahl ’71/74, who spoke about his experiences as a radio sportscaster covering the Shockers; Vic Markovich, music professor and director of WSU Bands; and Walt Myers, dean of the College of Fine Arts, and his wife, Kaye.
Among the more than 50 event attendees rekindling memories and enjoying the food, music and spirit were Mike ’78 and Elise ’78 Altenbernd of Kansas City, Kan., Kate and Greg Bergman of Newton, Kan., Carol Bird of Owasso, Okla., Ken and Rita Bradfield of Argonia, Kan., Dan Chisham of Lawrence, Kan., Lynn and Carolyn ’65/68 Harner of Dodge City, Kan., Charlie Warren of Salina, Kan., Paul White of Garden City, Kan., and Brad Bone ’76/79, Ryan ’95 and Karen Claycamp, Bob ’46/56 and Myrabel ’42 Hollowell, Tim ’86/92 and Wendy ’86/87/99 Johnson and James “Pepper” ’84/90 and Mary Oliphant, all of Wichita.
— Robert Graves
