Mexico High School - Mascot Yearbook (Mexico, MO)

Page 113 text:

i 2' Organizations 109 Warm-up is normal procedure lfrom top leftj for the Dixie Grays before the tour concert at Higginsville High School. As Keith Aussiker, Charles Anderson and Bill Maddox look on, Mike Shoemaker and Gayle Hase set up equipment for the Dixie Gray combo made up of boys from various Mexico bands. Along with other band members, Dennie Littrell hungrily waits for someone to take his order at a restaurant along the tour route. A main attraction on the first floor of the Nelson Art Gallery is this armored horse and rider. Ileftj The Dixie Grays give Mr. Willer a cheer after he concludes the reading of his dialogue for the homecoming show. In appreciation, Mr. Willer takes a bow.

Page 112 text:

Band Entertains Higginsville High, Willer's Hometown Higginsville, Missouri, became not just an ordinary town with an ordinary high school for the Dixie Gray band tour this year. For here was the school which once gave Director john Willer a high school di- ploma. That's Mr. Willer! exclaimed band members as a picture of him with curly hair and rosy cheeks was passed around. After a well received concert at Higginsville, the band moved on to their destination, Kansas City and the Muhlebach Hotel. While in Kansas City, the band toured several places including the Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac Assembly Plant, Liberty Memorial and the Nelson Art Gallery. On the return trip from Kansas City, the 144 members stopped at the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri. Money raised by the band from magazine and chocolate sales, and the concession stands at the music festival made the trip possible. The Dixie Grays received a I rating at the District Music Festival held at MHS on March 28 and 29. The selections played were Yelva and The Silken Ladder. May 'IT brought the seventeenth annual Parade of Bands at Presser Hall. The Dixie Grays opened their part of the show with a tympany roll and Host- rauser's March and closed with the Star Spangled Banner. At a break halfway through the program, Kirby Allen, master of ceremonies, introduced the seniors who were playing their last concert with the Dixie Grays. The seniors surprised Mr. Willer with a movie camera as a gift of appreciation. DIXIE GRAY MAIORETTESZ ILEFT TO RIGHTJ Lynda Williams, Ar- dith Loehnig, Iudy Sunderland, Debbie Deason, Nancy Erdel, Car- ol Iames, Kathy Atkins, and Cathy Matthews ICENTERJ, NOT PIC- TURED: Kim Mundy tdrum majorettel and Debbie Iett. DIXIE GRAY LETTERETTESZ CLEFT TO RIGHTJ Ann Whitaker, joy Stephenson, Sue Woods, Judy Duggins, Marilyn Melahn, and Vickie Barnes. 'I08 Organizations

Page 114 text:

Red and Grays Grow Accustomed to Exacting Work Visions of marching festivals, music contests, parades and band trips made the hours of practice more than just dull routine for the Red and Grays. During the year, members perfected the scales and marching techniques necessary to enter the Dixie Grays. The Red and Grays, a sixty piece freshman band, marched in the MHS homecoming parade. The members of the freshman class not in band listened to the Red and Grays' concert in Emmons Hall in March. On May 'l they made a trip to Eugene Field School to perform for the students. Participating in the District Music Festival gave the freshman an idea of what would be expected of them the next year as Dixie Gray members. The Red and Grays were not rated, but played for construc- tive criticism. Among the pieces played by the freshman band in the Parade of Bands was Bandology by Eric Osterling. The concert was held at Presser Hall on May11. To add a little fun to the year, the band held sev- eral social events. They were planned by the officers with the help of their director, Robert Murta. The officers were Chuck Buckner, president, Lawrence Epple, vice president, Marcia Lees, secretary, and Cindy Blumer, treasurer. At a party for members and their guests February 7 in the high school cafeteria, there were games and plenty of food. Then to end the year, the band had a picnic May 9 at Plunkett Park. With all this behind them, the freshmen were ready to go on to bigger and better things--the Dixie Grays! his Mr. Murta Itopj proudly directs his freshman band in a concert for members of the freshman class. fbottomj Leading the Red and Grays on parade is thejob of Iris Holtcamp, drum majorette. 110 Organizations