65 years ago, Jack Wainright’s FHS band won a national title
Thursday, June 23, 1988

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Pix #1 First Annual Competition Schools Band contest of America, Chicago, Ill. 1023 Fostoria (Ohio) High School Winner of Blue Ribbon and Capital Prize of $1,000 Pix #2 - Captain W.H. Santelman, Director of U.S. Marine Bane, pinning the Blue Riggon on Jack Wainwright, after the F.H.S. Band was judged the winner in Chicago in 1923.

(Author’s Note: How did I know that , and why does today’s article happen to be in print” Here’s why!

some weeks ago Richard Reis, Mesa, Arizona, son of Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Reis, E. Fremont St., sent he presented a printed article from Music Education Journal, February, 1988 issue, all about music in schools, going back to the time when Jack Wainwright was pioneering instrumental music at Fostoria High, and culminating with Jack’s F.H. S. band winning the first National School Band contest in Chicago in 1923.

At about that same time someone who did not leave his or her name, brought to The Review Times, the large photo used with today’s article, showing the F.H. band when they won the National Championship in 1923 in Chicago.

the donor of the photo only said, “perhaps Paul Krupp might be able to use it in an article.”

Today’s article and one or two more will be devoted to that championship band of 65 years ago.)

How lucky can I be?

On top of all that, I discovered in a conversation with Fostorian Jim Carter, a member of that 1923 band that he had a sizable file about Wainwright and the band going back to those early years.

And through some effort it has been possible to collect photos of those early members of Jack Band who are still living.

I hope you enjoy this series.

Other than the above explanation, of course, this author was attending F.H.S. in 1923, graduating that year, just prior to the band winning the contest, and remember the preparation for the contest and the “win” that followed.

Blue ribbon means ‘best’

Yes, it was sixty five years ago (in 1923) that Jack Wainwright and the 62-piece Fostoria High School Band went to Chicago to participate in the contest to decide the best school band in the U.S.A., and they won the title “best.”

That was a readt day for those young musicians and for their parents, schoolmates and the whole town. And when they returned home a large crowd was at the railroad station to welcome and praise them. Hundreds were present when the train pulled in.

Fostoria had always been strong for music in earlier years, but that victory was the crowning achievement for Jack and his young musicians.

Members of ‘best’ band

In the event that names cannot be matched with all of the faces of the musicians that participated in that contest, as shown in the photo with today’s article here is the complete list, grouped according to the instruments played:

Trumpets: Arvine Harrold, Richard Conley, Wm. Franke, Kenneth Hooper, Harrison Scott, Marvine Hoffman, Wm. Richards, Charles Sterns, Byron Stearns, Glenn Hill James Carter, James Richards.

Trombones: Robert Warren, Calvin Frances, Leland Cribbs, Robert Myers, Guy Workman, John Yeasting.

Baritone: Howard Wikle, Norman Munech, Dan Warren.

Flute and Piccolo: Lawrence Bredbeck, Walter Bristow, Royal McCracken, Victor Myers.

French Horn: Lyndon Abbott, Ralph Cramer, John Reed, Mahlon Sheller, John Hayfield, Russel Simon, Wm. Lockhart.

Saxophone: Junior Myers, Myron Leibengod, Paul Stein, Clyde Smith.

Tuba: George Green, Orin Carroll, Claire Crunkiltom, Harold Hartley, Raymond Cole,

cymbals: Howard Baynton.

Drums: Grenville Hearst, Charles Hunt, Ralph Sackett, Don Sheldon, Charles Carroll.

Clarinets: Howard St. John, Wilbur Shults, George Schlatter, Virgil Switzer, Walter May, Harry Hale, Robert Shaffer, Homer Spangler, Joseph Arnold, John Weaver, Wad Loe, Thomas Wirebaugh.

Drum Major: Park Burtcher.

(To be continued next week.)

Heed God’s Word: A warning for American Christians

Dr. D. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge Ministries quoted General Douglas MacArthur in a recent bulletin:

“History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline. There has been either a spiritual awakening to overcome the moral lapse, or progressive deterioration leading to ultimate national disaster.”(MacArthur)

“General MacArthur’s words are a chilling warning to us as American, But God’s warning to us as Christians in Ezekiel 22A:30 is inescapable: ‘And I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it!’

“Yes, God is seeking men and women to stand in the gap for Him, in order to stay His judgment fir our land. Back in the 22nd chapter of Ezekiel, God didn’t find that man or woman and his judgment was 70 years of Babylonian tyranny over Judah.

“You and I, as Christians, cannot ignore the responsibility we have to help win souls. We are so directed to make sure that whole counsel of God permeates our lives and our actions.”

That warning pertains to Fostoria and every other town and city in the U.S.A.

It’s time for a great awakening and revival.

Reader feed back: I’m sorry to have missed more doctors

Ever heard the expression, “Comedy of Errors?”

That is what POTLUCK has committed in handling the up-date on the latest list of doctors.

When the May 12th column was published, soon my telephone started ringing , with callers telling me that so and son’s name was missed.

Gerald Windau told me the name of Dr. Overhold was not listed. And someone else called to report that Dr. J.L. Murphy’s name was also omitted.

Alibis are not in order. I’ll just say “I’m sorry.”

Ever day when I walk up N. Main St., I think of Dr. Overholt. He lived there at one time.

Also, I remember when Dr. Murphy came to town and his first office was on West Center Street in a building which had once been a residence.

Yes. I remember where many of the doctors who were here many years ago had their offices. Again, I say I’m sorry.