White's honor well deserved
by Sam Hanna, Jr The Ouachita Citizen May 3, 2007
When Jack White is inducted later this year (December 21, 2007) into the
International Phi Beta Mu Hall of Fame, he will become one of just six band
directors who have been asked to join the Hall of Fame of the international
school band masters' fraternity.
It's an honor White deserves.
It's an honor that's even more remarkable when you consider that just six
people have been asked to join the Hall of Fame since it was established in
1938.
Since 1990, White has served as a member of the Ouachita Parish School
Board. He's a board member who serves for all of the right reasons,
meaning the bests interests of the school children and the school system as
a whole come first. That helps explain why White's peers on the school
board keep electing him president of the board.
We would be remiss if we didn't point out that the parish school system has
enjoyed tremendous successes since White joined the school board. Today,
the parish school system is considered one of the best in Louisiana. White
and individuals like him deserve much of the credit for that distinction.
Being elected to serve on the parish school board didn't mark White's entry
into the field of education.
In 1958, White began teaching at Ouachita Parish Junior High School after
serving a stint in the Army.* (see below for more)
While working in the parish school system, White also served as director of
bands at Ouachita Parish High.
From 1970 to 1991, White oversaw and directed the band, "Sound of
Today," at then-Northeast Louisiana University. He also was an associate
professor of music at the university.
Today, White remains active in music circles, directing the Twin City Concert
Band, a volunteer group of adult musicians from all walks of life.
In short, White's foot print in the field of education and music stretches deep
and wide not just throughout Ouachita Parish and northeastern Louisiana in
general but throughout all of the United States.
Thus, it is with a great deal of admiration and respect for White that we
offer our congratulations to him on his pending induction into the
International Phi Beta Mu Hall of Fame.
The honor could not be bestowed on a finer gentleman.
________________________
*Jack served on active duty at Fort Benning, GA after he received his
commissioned rank as a 2nd Lieutenant after graduation from college.
During that time at Fort Benning, Jack went through jump school and
received his parachute badge. After returning to public life, he joined the
Louisiana National Guard for six years before becoming inactive in the guard
as a First Lieutenant in the Infantry. He has been added to our list on the
military page.
_________________________
More about Jack White's honor from the 1953 HHS web staff...
Notice that this is an INTERNATIONAL honor bestowed so far only on four
musicians in the world which will increase to six when Jack and a fellow
musician from Texas receive the honor. (Hooray for the South!)
Rightly so, this is something that has been very emotional for Jack. He's
still trying to believe the reality of it all. He knows the organization
bestowing the honor and what it stands for and the prestige it has in the
band world so wakes up wondering if he dreamed this!
Jack lives in West Monroe, LA with his wife Coralie. They have one son and
three daughters. One of the daughters will attend the awards ceremony
with Jack and Coralie in Chicago December 21, 2007. What a wonderful
Christmas for the Whites!
Several former band students who live in the Chicago area plan to be at the
induction ceremony in December. Another emotional high for Jack!
This honor makes us (class of '53) very proud of Jack who got his start in
the Hope High School Band under Mr. Cannon and the orchestra at his
church, Assembly of God, in Hope. You may remember that is where our
own Gene Holdridge (HHS class of '53) played the trumpet and his father
was pastor.
Jack graduated from Northeast Louisiana State College in 1957 and received
his Master's Degree from L.S.U. In 1961.
We hope to see and congratulate Jack personally at our 55th reunion in
Hope in October 2008; he plans to attend!
Jack's picture and biography are included with other prominent Hope natives
on our 1953 Web Site page "Starkansas" as an honor from our class.
http://www.hopeclassof1953.com/starkansas.html
Jack's prayer is that he can "keep his cool" when this prestigious honor is
bestowed on him near Christmas 2007 in Chicago!
Ouachita Parish High School Northeast La. State
College
1966 1972
Director of Bands
Northeast La. University
1986
College
1966 1972
Director of Bands
Northeast La. University
1986
With Governor Reagan
before he was President
before he was President
With Paul Harvey
Jack and Coralie at
Lake Louise, Canada
- 1998
Lake Louise, Canada
- 1998
photos bottom of page
The induction of our own classmate Jack White into the International
Phi Beta Mu Hall of Fame is no small feat! There have been only four
other musicians before and one after this prestigious award for Jack.
Six since 1938! Jack's presentation at our main banquet was
accompanied by a memento of text and pictures for each class
member. The program was similar to the Power Point presentation
that was done in his honor in Chicago, Dec. 21, 2007. Many members
of Jack's family and friends in addition to his professional colleagues
gathered to honor Jack White that cold winter day.
The accomplishments Jack has made (and is still making) in his lifetime
were revealed for his consideration of this award, thus repeated for our
occasion of celebrating with him! It is without doubt he deserved this
honor. We do hope Mr. Cannon, his high school band director, knew
about Jack's progress before Mr. Cannon passed away. We believe Mr.
Cannon's wife may have known about this latest ward since she died
only recently in Florida and continued her friendship with Mary Nell
Turner of Hope until Mrs. Cannon's recent passing.
A few of his early accomplishments are listed here. For more, refer to
the hand out from the reunion. This is only a fraction:
Early childhood - received a cornet as a gift from his uncle (unlike the
clarinet he had asked for)
Junior High in Hope, AR - began band and continued through Hope
school bands
1953 - graduated Hope High School
1957 N.E. LA State college graduate
1958 began teaching at Ouachita Parish Jr. HS, Monroe, LA after
serving in US Army
1961 LSU Master of Music degree + 32 hrs.
1963 - Outstanding Young Teacher of the year, Ouachita Parish
1964-70 Director of Bands at Ouachita Parish HS
1970 - 1991 Director of Bands and Assoc. Professor of Music at NE LA
Univ.
1991 retired but continued being active in music in the area
Here you can see how Jack rose to become a superior leader and
performer well beyond an average band leader and teacher. During
these years he received many awards and his bands played at all kinds
of national events. He was repeatedly re-elected to the School Board
(4 times) in Ouachita Parish, LA where he served as president of the
school board a number of years. He also conducted a Twin City (Monroe
and W. Monroe) band. Remember these are only a fraction of the
things Jack has done in his life. In addition to his teaching duties he
has served as adjudicator, clinician,consultant, guest conductor and
guest lecturer in 20 states and Canada. He has also done some
publishing in leading professional journals and magazines and some
promotional records that were distributed world wide.
Jack found the love of his life Coralie Heard at a dance during their
dating years. They have been married over 50 years. Coralie still
teaches piano at N.E. LA State University in Monroe. (2008) The
Whites are parents of four and grandparents of eleven!
For these accomplishments we have placed Jack White on our
"Starkansas" page http://www.hopeclassof1953.com/starkansas.html
on the 1953 HHS web site along with other Hope and Arkansas people
whom the Web Host and staff feel are deserving.
Jack, the 1953 Class salutes you and your lovely wife and encourager
for your accomplishments.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Story by Barbara T. Burke
March 28, 2008
Phi Beta Mu Hall of Fame is no small feat! There have been only four
other musicians before and one after this prestigious award for Jack.
Six since 1938! Jack's presentation at our main banquet was
accompanied by a memento of text and pictures for each class
member. The program was similar to the Power Point presentation
that was done in his honor in Chicago, Dec. 21, 2007. Many members
of Jack's family and friends in addition to his professional colleagues
gathered to honor Jack White that cold winter day.
The accomplishments Jack has made (and is still making) in his lifetime
were revealed for his consideration of this award, thus repeated for our
occasion of celebrating with him! It is without doubt he deserved this
honor. We do hope Mr. Cannon, his high school band director, knew
about Jack's progress before Mr. Cannon passed away. We believe Mr.
Cannon's wife may have known about this latest ward since she died
only recently in Florida and continued her friendship with Mary Nell
Turner of Hope until Mrs. Cannon's recent passing.
A few of his early accomplishments are listed here. For more, refer to
the hand out from the reunion. This is only a fraction:
Early childhood - received a cornet as a gift from his uncle (unlike the
clarinet he had asked for)
Junior High in Hope, AR - began band and continued through Hope
school bands
1953 - graduated Hope High School
1957 N.E. LA State college graduate
1958 began teaching at Ouachita Parish Jr. HS, Monroe, LA after
serving in US Army
1961 LSU Master of Music degree + 32 hrs.
1963 - Outstanding Young Teacher of the year, Ouachita Parish
1964-70 Director of Bands at Ouachita Parish HS
1970 - 1991 Director of Bands and Assoc. Professor of Music at NE LA
Univ.
1991 retired but continued being active in music in the area
Here you can see how Jack rose to become a superior leader and
performer well beyond an average band leader and teacher. During
these years he received many awards and his bands played at all kinds
of national events. He was repeatedly re-elected to the School Board
(4 times) in Ouachita Parish, LA where he served as president of the
school board a number of years. He also conducted a Twin City (Monroe
and W. Monroe) band. Remember these are only a fraction of the
things Jack has done in his life. In addition to his teaching duties he
has served as adjudicator, clinician,consultant, guest conductor and
guest lecturer in 20 states and Canada. He has also done some
publishing in leading professional journals and magazines and some
promotional records that were distributed world wide.
Jack found the love of his life Coralie Heard at a dance during their
dating years. They have been married over 50 years. Coralie still
teaches piano at N.E. LA State University in Monroe. (2008) The
Whites are parents of four and grandparents of eleven!
For these accomplishments we have placed Jack White on our
"Starkansas" page http://www.hopeclassof1953.com/starkansas.html
on the 1953 HHS web site along with other Hope and Arkansas people
whom the Web Host and staff feel are deserving.
Jack, the 1953 Class salutes you and your lovely wife and encourager
for your accomplishments.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Story by Barbara T. Burke
March 28, 2008
2008 55th Class of 1953 Reunion
Program
March 15, 2008
Program
March 15, 2008
2008 REUNION PROGRAM
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