Bob G. Ingram

Bob Ingram, 77 of Texarkana, TX passed away January 30, 2011 at his home. Mr. Ingram was born on July 31, 1933 in Greenville, Texas and began his musical career on a Silvertone metal clarinet in the 6th grade band program. The clarinet was given to him as payment for mowing a lawn during one summer. In the 8th grade, he was moved up from the junior high band to the high school band, even though high school band grades were 10 through 12.

While in high school, Ingram served as President and Student Director of the band. He was also one of the first students in the high school’s history to participate in the Region U1L Solo and Ensemble Contest in 1950 where he earned a First Division rating on the First Class clarinet solo “Adagio and Tarantella.” He graduated from Greenville High School in 1951.

In 1951, Ingram entered East Texas State Teachers College on a full music scholarship which included room, board, books and an obligation to play saxophone and clarinet in the “East Texans” dance band, that played for the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) student dance at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas during the 1952 convention. While at East Texas, he served as President and Student Director of the college band and was a member of the college orchestra and the ROTC marching band.

Also in 1951, Bob met his future wife, Wanda Woodruff, at a college function in Commerce. The Ingrams married in 1954.

He began his teaching career in Longview ISD in 1955 and was Director of the Junior High School band until 1957, when he moved to East Mountain High School to be the Band Director for one year. In 1958, he moved to Sabine High School where the band received four consecutive Sweepstakes awards. He was inducted in 1960 into the Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Mu. For a number of years, he served as the fraternity’s Chairman of the Hospitality and Program Committee.

In 1962, Ingram accepted the position as Band Director and Supervisor of Music for the Greenville High School Band. During his two year tenure, the band received its first of two Sweepstakes awards.

The opportunity to move into Class 5A with Texarkana Independent School District came in 1964, when Ingram was named Supervisor of the Instrumental Music Program and Director of Texas High School Marching, Concert and Jazz Bands. Ingram remained in this capacity until his retirement in 1992. During this time, the band received many Sweepstakes and First Division ratings. The band was privileged to play for four United States Presidents: Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan. Other band performance events included the Frontier Days Parade in Cheyenne, Wyoming; Texas State Fair Celebration in Dallas; Cotton Carnival in Memphis; the Hemisfair in San Antonio; an Astros baseball game in Houston; Disneyworld Parade in Orlando and the Texas State School Board Convention in San Antonio.

As a charter member of the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Ingram has judged band and music competitions in almost every region in Texas as well as in several regions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi.

He served as President of the Four States Bandmasters Association and was very active in community affairs, including serving as President of the Lions Club from 1981-82.

Certainly one of the greatest highlights of his career was in 1971 when he was chosen to serve on the Board of Directors of the Texas Bandmasters Association as Sergeant of Arms. He later served as the President of this outstanding organization in 1974-75 and was inducted into the Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 1999.

The Ingram’s have one son, Mike, who is the Director of Property Management for E-Z Mart Stores, Inc. He is married to the former Elizabeth Patterson, a Kindergarten teacher at Westlawn Elementary School and they have blessed the Ingram’s with one granddaughter, Catherine, who is currently attending Texas A & M - Texarkana, and is engaged to Andrew Shope of Texarkana.

Services will be 2 p.m., Wednesday, February, 2, 2011 at First Baptist Church, Moores Lane with Rev. Larry Sims officiating. Burial will be in Chapelwood Memorial Gardens under the direction of East Funeral Home - Moores Lane.

Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at the funeral home.

Online tributes may be made at www.eastfunerals.com.