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Delta Chapter
Roger Freeman Dollarhide-1991
Roger Freeman Dollarhide was born in Hackett, Arkansas, near Fort Smith, on
October 29, 1912. his fatter died
in 1925 while Superintendent of Schools in Braden,
Arkansas. Three years later, his mother married Roy
M. Martin, the band director. Roger had begun
playing the cornet under the teaching of Fred
Martin, brother to Roy, during junior high, and he
continued this under the direction of his
step-father.
His special interest in music led him to choose Ouachita Baptist College in
Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Upon
graduation with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1934,
Dollarhide became director of bands in Grenada,
Mississippi. While teaching in Grenada, his bands
won superior ratings each year of his tenure. It was
in Grenada that he met and married Adeline McCaslin.
This union resulted in a family of four sons: Roger,
Jr. (1942), David (1942), William (1946). And James
(1952).
In 1938, Dollarhide was elected President of the Mississippi Bandmasters
Association, and served two
consecutive terms. He also served as
Secretary-Treasure of region seven of the National
School Band Association, as well as representative
on the national board until 1944.
In 1943, Dollarhide accepted the position of Band Director in the Yazoo City
Schools. In the years 1944
until 1956, he served as Principal of Greenwood
Junior High School, music store owner, and director
in Itta Bena, and in music sales. In 1956 he was
employed by the Jackson Public School as Band
Director
First at Bailey Junior High and then at Murrah High
School until his retirement in 1973. During this
period he as active in the Mississippi Music
Educators Music Department, State Chairman of Phi
Beta Mu, member of A.S.B.D.A., concert director of
the Lion’s
All-State Band, and the performer with the Jackson
Symphony.
Band, Orchestra and Choral Director, music teacher, performer: His life as
been devoted to , and
associated with, the art of music since the age of
twelve. Under his leadership, and in cooperation
with leaders such as Kooyman, Martin, Wamsley, and
others, much was
accomplished in the “pioneer years” to
establish concert bands as an important part of the
educational process, in the minds of school
administrator and the public.
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