Viking_Yearbook_50

Winding up its second term, as an accredited course at Vanport College, the Vanport band has a story of unique trials, .tribulations and growing pains that prob·. ably have never confronted any other Junior College' Band. Organized in the Fall of 1949, by student Wayne Reid. the Vanport band now boasts of 27 members. The majority of the present members joined Reid in the early struggle for existance. All practises were held during students' free time at an agreed·upon·hour that didn't conflict with classes. Instruments were few and hardly approched the needs of a ' small combo. Winter term, 1950, Vern Preston, director of the honor winning Roosevelt High School band consented to come to Vanport afternoons, to in­ struct Vanport "Bandsmen," and soon, credited classes were approved by the administration. Firsl row: D. Rosenberg, L. Bennett, J. Neuman , C. Boesch, I. Given, R. Johnson, B. Sholer, W. Reid . Second row: J. Looney. C. Work . B. Lindseth , R. Spickel­ mier. B. Laver, D. Schmidt. E. Cushman, H. Tillman. Third row: B. Jones. D. Porter. D. Franzel. B. Diclcover. R. Pruiett , K. Low . C . Cutting, I. Tomlin. Outstanding among the problems that faced the band. was the question on how to obtain instruments. Dr. Phil Putnam, assistant director of Vanport College appealed to the city through the Oregon Journal for donations of instruments. The reply to Dr. Putnam's request was marvelous and the band was able to cOn­ tinue practises and towards the end of the Spring term, were able to aHer stiff competition to some of the finest 01 junior college bands. It is through cooperation and the desire to build, such as the band story that is making Vanport the largest 01 junior colleges in the Pacific Northwest.