Walker earns spot in Band Hall of Fame

Stanley Walker

Stanley Walker, longtime East Texas band director, was inducted into the Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame this past weekend. His wife, Ann, was present to accept the award. Walker lost his battle with cancer March 19, 2007 in Whitehouse.

"This is the highest honor a band director can receive in the state of Texas," said Denny Whitley, Whitehouse director of bands and longtime friend of Walker. "The announcement was made in February and Stanley was very honored."

The Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame is an ongoing project of the Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Mu, a music service fraternity comprised of band directors in the state who have demonstrated a high degree of competence in their music programs and exhibited service to the music education profession.

The Hall of Fame was begun in 1975 and to date there have been 209 inducted into the organization.

A Hall of Fame committee accepts nominations to the Hall of Fame from sources both within the music education community and from the public at large. The committee spends a year investigating each nominee's record of accomplishment and service.

William Stanley Walker was born Dec. 3, 1934 in Clarksville to William and Gladys Walker. Stanley's love of music began in the fourth grade when he joined the band. His father played the drums, and Stanley decided to follow in Dad's footsteps, but for some reason, switched to the cornet in the fifth grade.

After graduating from Clarksville High School, Stanley and several friends went to Paris Junior College and played in the band. In 1955 he met a beautiful saxophone player from Wolfe City named Ann Boggs. They were married Aug. 4, 1956 and soon moved to Commerce so that Stanley could complete his music degree at East Texas State Teachers College.

In 1958, during his senior year at East Texas, he took a part-time job as band director at Honey Grove High School. Here he met future friend Denny Whitley, a fourth-grade saxophone player.

In 1959 Stanley attained his music degree and accepted a teaching position as band director at Farmersville. The following year he became the band director at Linden/Kildare and spent four years teaching exceptional band students.

There was one young man that wanted to quit band because he didn't like the trombone. Stanley asked him if he would like to play the drums and the rest was history for Don Henley and the Eagles.

In 1964, the Walkers and their three young children moved to New Boston where Stanley taught for one year.

In 1965 the family moved to Pittsburg and stayed for eight years. Pittsburg High School achieved six consecutive Sweepstakes awards under Stanley's direction and became one of the most respected band programs in the state.

Several of Stanley's Pittsburg students became band directors, including Whitehouse Junior High's Jerry Gober.

Following a brief stint at Carthage, Stanley accepted a position with Tatum Music Company in Tyler, owned by mentor Alto Tatum. The Walkers moved to Whitehouse, and Stanley spent 25 years with Tatum Music, working with young East Texas band directors and sharing with them what others had so freely given him.

He became a mentor to many directors and spent many, many hours working with their bands as they prepared for marching and concert contests.

In 2000, Stanley retired from Tatum Music Co. and was presented with a unique opportunity to return to his first love of being a band director by that little alto sax player from Honey Grove.

Denny Whitley was now the band director at Whitehouse High School and wanted Stanley to come and be a part of the band family in Whitehouse, heading up the beginner band program and assisting with all the other bands.

Stanley worked for five years with the band students and loved every minute of it, and they loved him. The students responded to his personality and love of music, and it was a very enjoyable experience.

He retired in May 2005 after working with band students and directors for 47 years.

Representing Stanley at the induction were his wife of 50 years, Ann; son Steve, son Michael and his wife Regina, and daughter Suzanne and her husband Steve Mounce; and his six grandchildren.