To the Corps
Last night we packed up the family and headed down the street to watch a DCI drum corps competition. It was the perfect evening for a night outdoors and a fun new experience for our children. I'm proud to report that I accurately predicted who would win first and second place.

Watching the bands took me back to my marching days at Enid High School and the University of Oklahoma. I joined the Enid band one year after a long-time beloved director had died and the school was looking for a replacement. After one unsuccessful attempt, Bob Costello was hired. Mr. Costello had been a drum corp director and brought a whole new style to Enid, which had a great band that had always marched in the traditional style. Suddenly we were told to "glide" and we made unrecognizable, flowing shapes instead of marching into a big "E" and standing there. Instead of marching to the stadium in a large block, we went two-by-two with 'charisma."

As I watched the corps last night, I wondered about the excitement Mr. Costello must have felt the night he debuted the new Big Blue Band. His future was riding on us, but we were unaware of that. We were just a bunch of kids wondering who would be at Godfather's after the game.

Mr. Costello became the next beloved band director, though, and he served in Enid until his death last spring (2003). I attended his funeral, which was held in the high school auditorium. The auditorium was filled to the max and they had to use the cafeteria for overflow. That is a testament to the impact he had. We should all hope for such a send off!