TR Atwood as Band Director

This is what my father, Thurston Atwood, looked like when he directed the Eastland High School Band.

He was very popular in Eastland.

He was also popular in Comanche, Texas and in Mineral Wells, where the following newspaper article was written:

 In 1951 WBAP TV invited the Eastland Band to appear on a
Saturday Sept. 29 half hour performance.  I was seated in center just next to Daddy's right hand. On my left in the same row is Don Smith.

Eastland was very proud of its band.  We played for Christmas parades, rodeos, and football games of course.  We had great uniforms that the good people of Eastland paid for with bake sales, bingo games, and other kinds of fund-raising events.

more Eastland band

 This goes with an earlier post showing the Eastland Band at the State Fair. It was 1950.  On the left is the invitation Daddy received to participate in the Music festival day.  Below is the marching band half time show at the Cotton Bowl the same day.

The message is "Howdy Folks, (Texas) Greets You."  Eastland band is the second letter E in the word "Greets."

Eastland High School Band

This picture was made at the State Fair of Texas about 1950. After an invitation that Daddy received,  the band went to Dallas for the day.  We marched in a half time show at the Cotton Bowl that evening.

If you look to the right in the first row seated you will see Don Smith with his oboe.  My place was in the center of the same row, behind the music stands.  I played flute from the age of 10.

This music festival was an annual event at the fair in those days.  We took everybody on school buses, and a good time was had by all concerned.