Sarge Boyd
Encyclopedia
Donald I. "Sarge" Boyd, award-winning band director and teacher, was born in Wendell, Minnesota
in 1901 and died in Eau Claire
, Wisconsin on March 1, 1987.
A 1926 graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa
, Sarge arrived in Eau Claire as a band, orchestra, and history teacher for the local high school
in 1929. He had a profound impact on the band program, increasing participation from a mere 14 students to an astounding 275 by the time he retired in 1963. During that time his bands received countless awards and he became known throughout the state for his adept musical leadership.
In 1934, he replaced William Keller as director of the Eau Claire Municipal Band. A master showman whose polished performances featuring the finest singers and instrumentalists in the area, not to mention the spectacular lighting effects that were an integral component of each concert, he caused the Thursday evening event to become a major summertime attraction with attendance often approaching 4,000. In 1992, twelve years after his retirement, the bandshell in Owen Park was named for him and in 2010 a memorial plaque was installed at Owen Park in recognition of his half century of musical contributions to the community.
Wendell, Minnesota
Wendell is a city in Grant County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 167 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
in 1901 and died in Eau Claire
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,...
, Wisconsin on March 1, 1987.
A 1926 graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa
Decorah, Iowa
Decorah is a city in and the county seat of Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 8,172 at the 2000 census. Decorah is located at the intersection of State Highway 9 and U.S...
, Sarge arrived in Eau Claire as a band, orchestra, and history teacher for the local high school
Memorial High School (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)
Memorial High School is one of two public high schools in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the other being North High School. Built on a three-block campus, its enrollment is 1737, with a staff of over 150. AP classes are offered in English, science, social sciences, math, and foreign language...
in 1929. He had a profound impact on the band program, increasing participation from a mere 14 students to an astounding 275 by the time he retired in 1963. During that time his bands received countless awards and he became known throughout the state for his adept musical leadership.
In 1934, he replaced William Keller as director of the Eau Claire Municipal Band. A master showman whose polished performances featuring the finest singers and instrumentalists in the area, not to mention the spectacular lighting effects that were an integral component of each concert, he caused the Thursday evening event to become a major summertime attraction with attendance often approaching 4,000. In 1992, twelve years after his retirement, the bandshell in Owen Park was named for him and in 2010 a memorial plaque was installed at Owen Park in recognition of his half century of musical contributions to the community.
- Charter member of Phi Beta Mu
- Member of National School Bandmaster Fraternity of Wisconsin
- Member of Wisconsin Music Education Association
- Member of Music Educators National ConferenceMENC: The National Association for Music EducationMENC: The National Association for Music Education is an organization of American music educators dedicated to advancing and preserving music education and as part of the core curriculum of schools in the United States...
- Recipient of Book of Golden Deeds Award from Eau Claire Exchange Club
- Recipient of Carlo A. Sperati Award for Meritorious Achievement in the Field of Music from Luther College of Decorah, Iowa
- Recipient of First Award of Harmony from the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA)