The weekend of March 3-4 saw a unique reunion on the Razorback campus of former Razorback band alumni from the 1950s. Unique in the way that the two daughters of legendary University of Arkansas band director E. J. Marty (from 1948 to 1955) had the opportunity to delight former band members who had performed under their father’s baton. Though they were young girls when their parents lived in Fayetteville, band members were often baby-sitters for those two developing a long lasting bond.
Sybil Marty Cheesman and Zoe E. Marty Brumfield were greeted by Lewis Epley (halftime announcer for the Razorback Band under Marty & KKPsi), Martha Berry Cate (former majorette) and husband Stan Cate (Kappa Kappa Psi brother), T. O. Spicer (also KKPsi and Razorback Band Alumni Society founding president) and his wife Martha Spicer (RBAS founding secretary) and Frances Barton Nutt (RBAS board member and famous flute carrier). Lewis Epley, before giving the Marty sisters a tour of the much-changed U of A Campus, introduced the ladies to the RBAS Board who were fortuitously meeting Saturday morning in the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House across from Razorback Stadium.
Needless to say, there was much conversation and reminisces exchanged between the folks mentioned above and many questions asked by RBAS Board members regarding Professor Marty’s tenure with the Razorback Band. It must be noted that Marty’s wife, Ruth, was also a strong supporter of the band and was the official sponsor/advisor of the Psi chapter of Tau Beta Sigma.
The Razorback Band Alumni Society salutes not only Sybil and Zoe in their return to campus, but also the Razorback Alumni listed above who took time from their busy schedules to treat the these ladies with such kind hospitality during their return visit to Northwest Arkansas. What a grand event for all involved!
This article was written by Tyler Thompson, Razorback Band Alumni Society Board Member Emeritus.
