Blue Devil Marching Band Plans 75th Anniversary Dinner
The Huntington Blue Devil marching band is planning to celebrate the 75th anniversary of its founding with a festive dinner on Homecoming night, Saturday, October 17 at the Elks Club from 7-11 p.m. All past band members are invited. Tickets are now on sale for $45.
More than 100 band alumni are returning to Huntington High School that weekend to participate in several rehearsals and to march as a unit in the Homecoming Day parade through Huntington village. Anniversary dinner organizers are expecting a full house.
The Blue Devil band was founded by music teacher James Cloyd Doty, a graduate of Oberlin College in Ohio who came to Huntington High School in 1924 and remained a fixture for decades.
Principal Robert L. Simpson helped spur the development of the band. Mr. Simpson was a lover of music, pure and simple. He wrote school songs, sang them and played musical instruments. Few things were closer to his heart than the music program at the school and in the community.
Plans for the 75th anniversary celebration have been ongoing for more than a year. Those interested in attending the October 17 dinner are asked to RSVP no later than October 7. Payment can be made in one of two ways: By logging onto PayPal at http://bandanniversary.eventbee.com or by mailing a check payable to Beatrice Clemons to: Anniversary Dinner, c/o B. Clemons, 45 Biltmore Circle, Huntington Station, NY 11746.
The dinner is expected to attract band alumni dating back decades, who are returning from all over the country to participate in the celebration. The group has been using a Facebook page to network. Over the years the Blue Devil band has marched in parades in many states, including the Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, CA. It has won numerous titles, including the state championship and become well-known nationally.
For more information about the anniversary dinner contact Eva Regan at bregan@rochester.rr.com. Event updates will also be posted at the Band Parents Assn. site at www.bluedevils.eboard.com.
Alumni can obtain more information about the anniversary events by contacting retired longtime Blue Devil band director Linda Shoemaker at (631) 549-1033 or (631) 456-2186 or lshoemak@verizon.net.
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