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DECEASED FHHS BAND DIRECTOR: FRANK WICKES
Frank Wickes, Fort Hunt High School's Band Director from the fall of 1967 through 1973 has passed at the age of 82 in Louisiana. His obituary is included below.
Fort Hunt High School's legendary bands were mentioned in Mr. Wicke's obituary, however, it only mentions "national" recognition. As many of you know, in 1972, the Fort Hunt High School band went to the International Band Festival in Austria and won first prize, making the band for a period of time "The Best High School Band in the World". The competion was tough and getting there to participate was even more difficult considering the logistics of transporting the school's student/musicians, instruments, assistants, chaperones, etc. without even mentioning the massive undertaking of fundraising for the trip.
It was successful due to the efforts of many, including the FHHS "Band Parents", local community support, the talented & disciplined student/musicians, and - of course - Mr. Frank Wickes.
Mr. Wickes left FHHS after the 1972-1973 school year and went on to direct the University of Florida band from 1973 - 1980 and then to Louisiana State University (LSU) band, where he worked for 25 years. At every school, he left quite a legacy and was proud of the accomplishments of his students.
We thank him for his time at Fort Hunt and for the lessons he taught us about hard work, discipline and pushing ourselves to accomplish more than we thought possible.
I invite all FHHS students to comment here on your memories of Frank Wickes and would especially love to hear from the student/musicians who played under his direction.
Our thanks for Kathy Baldwin Geary (FHHS '73) and others for notifying us about Mr. Wicke's passing and sending along the obituary.
- Joe Gililland, FHHS '73
https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/article_44ec4736-88a0-11ea-ab49-f77446dd5265.html?fbclid=IwAR0yT8frnEOIijGyG5sBIKacYR2ueSfWozyZTQulU-sTSBNLHkB4kshJis0 https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/article_44ec4736-88a0-11ea-ab49-f77446dd5265.html?fbclid=IwAR0yT8frnEOIijGyG5sBIKacYR2ueSfWozyZTQulU-sTSB
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Elizabeth Ann Pepper (Page) (1969)
Thanks to Mr. Wickes' encouragement, I went on to have the best career of a lifetime as a middle school music teacher/band director. I always strived to be like Mr. Wickes, to be the best teacher I could be giving my students a strong music education. I was lucky enough to attend a band directors conference at Keene State U. Somewhere around 2006. I cannot even begin to state my joy in spending time with him, his remembering me, and playing in an ensemble, sitting in the same seat as I did back at Fort Hunt, under Mr Wickes direction. I always said I wanted to be just like him when I grew up. He was absolutely the best! Rest well Mr. Wickes.
Joe Gililland (1973)
Elizabeth -
Thank you for your comments about Frank Wickes and his postive influence on you throughout your life.
We would love to hear more band members & others share comments & memories about Mr. Wickes here, on our Alumni Website.
Mr. Wickes' efforts at Fort Hunt High School certainly deserve more than a single comment...
Mary Jane Mayer (Guffey) (1973)
Even though I twirled baton under Mr. Wicke's direction and didn't play an instrument, he was and continues to be an inspiration. His fierce and exacting passion for the life of music, his encouragement and belief that we could be our best stay with me even now. Remember his lecture on the "ictus of da"? Remember going down the line instrument by instrument? I remember running marching routines in late August on the parking lot and Mr. Wickes reprimanding us for "dogging it" (well, yeah!) I remember choreographing marching routines after watching Ohio State marching band videos and and cleaning a jet at Dulles to raise money to compete at the International Music Festival. Our tour of Europe featured concerts in many towns and that culminating, terrifying performance in Vienna. I remember looking down my baton at the end of "Old Man River" at the judges, under the lights, and holding my breath. There was no phoning it in with Mr. Wickes -- you were there 100% or you weren't there at all. He taught us a lot about commitment, comraderie, sacrifice and joy. He was FHHS!