Marching to the Beat of a National Winner

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -The John Philip Sousa Foundation has awarded the Razorback Marching Band the Sudler Trophy, the nation’s highest and most coveted award for college and university marching bands. Robert C. Fleming, a board member from the Sousa Foundation, will present the trophy to Chancellor John White during halftime of the Sept. 23 Arkansas-Alabama game in Fayetteville.

The purpose of the award is “to identify and recognize marching bands of particular excellence that have made outstanding contributions to the American way of life.” Bands must not only achieve high musical standards, but must also demonstrate innovative marching routines and advance performance standards for all marching bands.

“This honor goes to all of the University of Arkansas’ band directors and everyone who has ever been a member of the Razorback Marching Band — past and present,” said Timothy Gunter, director of the athletic bands. “It is an achievement that every person who has ever participated in the Razorback Band should take pride in, because each one helped to make this happen for us.”

The Razorback Marching Band began in 1874 as a brass band of 14 musicians. In the 1920s, the band began to appear more frequently and offered its first concert performance. From 1927 to 1940, legendary ROTC drum majors Norman “Jelly” Warnock, Harry “Snooks” Crumpler and Jimmy Baker performed with the band.

During the war years from 1941 to 1948, two officially separate bands emerged, the ROTC Razorback Band and the civilian Razorback Marching Band. Over the years, the Razorbacks have performed at the Cotton Bowl, Mardi Gras, Disney World, during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, at the unveiling of a newly renovated Statue of Liberty and during the inaugural parade for President William Jefferson Clinton.

Today that 14-member brass band has grown to 320, with student members representing 62 different majors.

The students were excited when they were notified of the honor, Gunter said. “This award raised their self-esteem and helped justify the many hours of hard work they give to represent the University of Arkansas throughout the fall each year.”

In 1982, Louis and Virginia Sudler, patrons of the arts and music, endowed the Sudler Trophy awards program to recognize and encourage excellence in college bands. The Sudlers’ philosophy was that the American marching band had the capacity to reach countless people through sight and sound and that this contribution to society should be recognized.

Band directors in schools that are members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association nominate bands each year. Four finalists are asked to submit historical footage, archival materials, a 10-minute video and audio to the Sudler Trophy Committee, which then selects the recipient of the traveling trophy.

Consisting of a bronze drum major astride a football stadium and mounted on a marble base, the trophy stands 22 ½ inches high, the length of a typical marching band step. The trophy will remain at the University of Arkansas for one year. While at the U of A, it will be displayed in a special case in the spacious new entryway of the Lewis E. Epley, Jr. Hall. Gunter said he plans to purchase an exact replica for permanent display in the hall.

Other events held to celebrate the award will include a Sudler Trophy recognition dinner at the Alumni House on Sept. 21 and a Chancellor’s Society reception on Sept. 22 in the Broyles Athletic Center, during which the UA Pep Band will perform.