Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame
sponsored by
Alpha
Chapter, Phi Beta Mu
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1975-78
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Bill Bradley
Bill Bradley was born on December 17, 1937 in Pharr, Texas. He graduated from Big Spring High School in 1955 where he played in the high school band under the direction of fellow Hall of Fame member J. W. King. While in high school, he made the All-State Band three years and is honored in the Big Spring High School Hall of Fame. Bill attended college at Texas Tech and was chosen twice as the Outstanding Musician of the Red Raider Band. He received both his bachelor and master's degrees in Music Education from Texas Tech.
Bill taught in Farwell, Memphis, and Muleshoe before returning to Big Spring in 1965 to direct the high school band. Under his leadership, the band initiated the tradition of the elaborate show band, established the famed Mariah color guard, and produced the campus review shows which were very professional and musically entertaining.
Bill served as high school director in Big Spring for 1 year before requesting a move to Junior High, an age student Bill especially enjoyed teaching.
He was a perennial staff member of the Texas Tech Band Camp, and also traveled with the Sky Ryder Drum and Bugle Corps during the summers. Bill strived to make each contest the students entered not only a learning experience, but one filled with fun and excitement. He stressed to the students that there was more to life than a Division I rating.
Bill was known and loved by everyone in Big
Spring. The people considered him more of a local landmark than Lookout Mountain or the spring for which the city is named. He will always be remembered as a musician, band man, a man who loved people, and one who taught his students more than just music.......
"He taught us life!"
Bill Bradley died on February 20, 1984 of a sudden heart attack.