BAND HEADS: We’ve had column after column lately about high
school football so today we turn it over to a former member of
Bradford’s marvelous marching band.

Kristie Bentley of Grayslake, Ill., writes earlier this week,
“Reading about the Autumn Classic in yesterday’s paper refreshed a
lot of memories for me. I was an enthusiastic ‘band head’ and fall
meant Friday night half-time shows and Saturday marching
competitions, and practices during band class and several evenings
during the week.”

“From August through November, we in the band spent more time
together than we did with anyone else in our lives. So it isn’t
surprising that I remember when the IUP band performed in
Bradford.

“We in the Marching Owls were so excited. Some of our alumni
were in that band and seemed so grown up now that they were in
college.

“Being a low brass student, I was in complete awe of their
tuba/baritone section, as there were 16 tubas and at least that
many baritones to rival our three of each. Such power and grace to
be heard there!

“They warmed up to ‘Amazing Grace’ and I must confess that I
can’t remember anything after that except that I do remember that
most of us were in such a state of musical rapture that we didn’t
seem to even care that it was pouring down rain and we were sitting
in mud. I can’t recall if I marched with Ms. Thumpston but I did
march with her younger sister.

“I am so glad that one of our own has come home to direct the
Marching Owls.”

RAM TIME: We had a call from L.J. Gorske of Johnsonburg – who
tells us he is “90 plus” in age – about a football game that sticks
in his memory after all this time.

Johnsonburg and Bradford played each other in football and,
usually, Bradford dominated the Rams. But one year, when ‘burg had
a halfback by the name of Kenny Parks, the tables were turned.

“Parks beats Bradford,” was the headline Mr. Gorske remembers
vividly even though the game was played during the 1930s.
Incidentally, Mr. Parks apparently still plays golf even though
he’s a contemporary with Mr. Gorske in that “90-something” age.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “Books are the quietest and constant of friends …
and the most patient of teachers,” said author Charles William
Eliot, 1896.