July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Humbert to be honored at bash (4/4/05)
Party scheduled for retiring JCHS band director
By By Barbara Wilkinson-
About 1,600 former band students are among those invited to a party in mid-May to celebrate the end of Jay County High School band director Dave Humbert’s teaching career.
Humbert, who has taught music in Jay Schools for 38 years and has led the Jay County Marching Patriots since the high school’s inception in 1976, will retire at the end of the school year.
Competing annually at the Indiana State Fair Band Day, the Patriots have finished in the top 10 every year but one, and in the top three 17 times. They earned first place finishes with “West Side Story” in 1992 and “Riverdance” 2001.
“Nobody will ever match that — his involvement in the community and dedication to the program,” Kelly Smeltzer, who is serving on a 10-member party committee, said recently. Smeltzer will replace Humbert as JCHS band director effective July 1.
In keeping with the band’s unusual start times, the festivities will begin at 1:03 p.m. on Saturday, May 14, at JCHS.
“I think more than anything it’s for everyone else, not (Humbert). To give the former band kids and the public the chance to say thanks and good-bye.”
Humbert tends to shy away from the limelight, but Smeltzer jokingly said, “We’ll give him a bowl of ice cream since he likes ice cream” to entice him to attend.
Doug Milligan, who served as the first Band Boosters president, is helping put the party together and will serve as master of ceremonies. Also serving on the committee are Pete Vogler, Bev Arnold, Lori Mark, Dolphus Stephens, Marianne Horn, Linda Lowe, Jackie Houck and Jim Myers.
“We’re going to have a lot of speakers,” including some of Humbert’s school associates, former students, Band Boosters, bus drivers and fellow band directors from other schools.
“We also want to recognize his family. (His wife) Janet and his daughters, Jennifer (Worley) and Angie (Kidd),” as well as his grandson, Evan, Smeltzer said.
He added, there “may be a couple of other surprises, as well.”
A cake and punch reception will follow in the high school commons. “If they can’t make the program, they’re urged to come to the reception,” Smeltzer said.
At present, more than 250 former band students plan to attend. “We attempted to contact one person from each graduating year,” who would be willing to research and find the addresses for their fellow classmates back to 1967 “when he first started teaching,” Smeltzer said.
The public also is invited to attend. Reservations are recommended due to limited seating, and they can be made with Myers at 509 W. North St., Portland, IN 47371. The deadline is Sunday, May 1.
Also that day, a DVD featuring 28 years of the Patriots’ state fair shows from 1977 to 2004 will be available for $10 each. The proceeds will benefit the Band Boosters.[[In-content Ad]]
Humbert, who has taught music in Jay Schools for 38 years and has led the Jay County Marching Patriots since the high school’s inception in 1976, will retire at the end of the school year.
Competing annually at the Indiana State Fair Band Day, the Patriots have finished in the top 10 every year but one, and in the top three 17 times. They earned first place finishes with “West Side Story” in 1992 and “Riverdance” 2001.
“Nobody will ever match that — his involvement in the community and dedication to the program,” Kelly Smeltzer, who is serving on a 10-member party committee, said recently. Smeltzer will replace Humbert as JCHS band director effective July 1.
In keeping with the band’s unusual start times, the festivities will begin at 1:03 p.m. on Saturday, May 14, at JCHS.
“I think more than anything it’s for everyone else, not (Humbert). To give the former band kids and the public the chance to say thanks and good-bye.”
Humbert tends to shy away from the limelight, but Smeltzer jokingly said, “We’ll give him a bowl of ice cream since he likes ice cream” to entice him to attend.
Doug Milligan, who served as the first Band Boosters president, is helping put the party together and will serve as master of ceremonies. Also serving on the committee are Pete Vogler, Bev Arnold, Lori Mark, Dolphus Stephens, Marianne Horn, Linda Lowe, Jackie Houck and Jim Myers.
“We’re going to have a lot of speakers,” including some of Humbert’s school associates, former students, Band Boosters, bus drivers and fellow band directors from other schools.
“We also want to recognize his family. (His wife) Janet and his daughters, Jennifer (Worley) and Angie (Kidd),” as well as his grandson, Evan, Smeltzer said.
He added, there “may be a couple of other surprises, as well.”
A cake and punch reception will follow in the high school commons. “If they can’t make the program, they’re urged to come to the reception,” Smeltzer said.
At present, more than 250 former band students plan to attend. “We attempted to contact one person from each graduating year,” who would be willing to research and find the addresses for their fellow classmates back to 1967 “when he first started teaching,” Smeltzer said.
The public also is invited to attend. Reservations are recommended due to limited seating, and they can be made with Myers at 509 W. North St., Portland, IN 47371. The deadline is Sunday, May 1.
Also that day, a DVD featuring 28 years of the Patriots’ state fair shows from 1977 to 2004 will be available for $10 each. The proceeds will benefit the Band Boosters.[[In-content Ad]]
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