We would like to thank Julie Collins for taking on another project for the WT Band Alumni Association. This time, Julie has graciously agreed to write an article about the Baird family and its matriarch, Nadina (Baird) Oney. Please take a moment to read these wonderful articles about Don & Nadina, their children, grandchildren, and extended family members. I promise they will bring a smile to your face and most certainly a few tears.
Best,
Don Lefevre
Director of Bands
West Texas A&M University
The Life and Legacy of Don and Nadina Baird
Part 1
Nadina Mae Loucks was born February 19, 1934 to Orlando and Mildred Loucks in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Nadina and Don Baird attended church together as children, she as a fourth grader and Don as a sixth grader. At that point they “kind of started liking each other”. They were childhood sweethearts, neither one ever going out with anyone else. Although they “kind of liked each other" they did not start dating until Nadina’s sophomore year and Don’s senior year.
Nadina initiated their first date during Leap Week, where the girls ask the boys out. They had been friends a long time and Don had not seemed to notice Nadina. At the end of orchestra rehearsal Don was putting away his trombone and Nadina her string bass. She asked him to the movies and he said, “Yea, when are you going to come get me”? Just then it dawned on Nadina that she did not have a driver’s license! She told him her mother would come pick him up and he said, “That’s alright! I’ll come pick you up!” They had a movie date about once a week after that.
Not only did Nadina play string bass but she also played flute because she wanted to be in the marching band. Nadina was named Band Queen during her senior year. She had started out on violin, making the All-State Orchestra for two years. After that, the only string bass player in their school orchestra graduated, leaving them without a string bass player. The orchestra director asked who would like to switch to string bass. Nadina shot up her hand because she loved the sound of the bass.
Don’s first lesson on the euphonium (or baritone as it was called at that time) was when he went to college. He had started on cornet but his junior high director recognized that his embouchure was not suited for a small mouthpiece and suggested the baritone. Don said it made him feel like a 'tiger out of a cage' and he really took off on the baritone. He played on a banged up school instrument, of course, and when he went to college he did the same. In the spring of his freshman year at Phillips University the band was getting ready to go on a recruiting tour. They chose Don to be their soloist and surprised him with a new euphonium they had been able to purchase. Don continued playing this instrument until he graduated.
Nadina’s parents were not extremely musical. When Nadina started taking piano lessons her mother started along with her. Her mother advanced faster than Nadina, in Nadina’s words “because she was an adult” and eventually became a music teacher. Nadina’s father wanted to learn music. He got his parents to order him a violin out of a catalog but he had no one to teach him. Nadina started orchestra on that violin!
Both Nadina and Don’s mothers went to college. They were both teachers. Nadina’s mom became a third-grade teacher but Don’s mother never had the chance to teach because she graduated and got married. At that time married women were not allowed to teach. Nadina’s parents got married on Christmas Eve 1928. Her mother had to keep the marriage a secret until the end of the school year because she would have been fired.
Upon Don’s graduation he attended Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma. He would hitchhike home every weekend to see Nadina. When the weekend was over his father would drive him back to Enid. Nadina and the whole Baird family would go along most of the time. When Nadina graduated she also wanted to go to Phillips University but she received a nice scholarship to Oklahoma City University and her parents insisted she go there, majoring in string bass. Nadina met Harry Haines while attending OCU. She had an aunt that lived near the campus. Don would travel from Enid to Oklahoma City to see Nadina. Nadina had a friend that lived in the dorms in Enid so she would ride the bus to see Don. In college Don took woodwinds class and took a liking to the bassoon. He picked it up and on his senior recital he played both bassoon and euphonium. He performed the Mozart Bassoon Concerto.
In 1953, before Nadina’s sophomore year and Don’s senior year they got married. Nadina transferred to Phillips University. A string department did not exist so Nadina became a flute major. Dr. Millburn Carey, Don’s college band director and head of the music department at Phillips, took Don and Nadina under their wings. In their first year of marriage the Millburn’s hired Don and Nadina to babysit their children while they traveled to Russia for a couple of weeks. They knew Don and Nadina were struggling financially and were very generous. After graduation Don was eligible for the draft in support of the Korean War. Don knew he had to do something immediately or he would get drafted. His uncle, David, and his friend, the Senator from Oklahoma, helped him get drafted into the US Army Band in Washington, D.C. Dr. Carey had found out about the openings in the West Point Band, Navy School of Music and the Army Band. Don chose the Army Band! He was going to teach music theory at the Navy School of Music but decided he would rather play in the Army Band in 1954. This meant a move to Washington, D.C.!
Don was needed immediately for the summer concert season. He auditioned for and won the solo euphonium position. Being a very important position the band needed him right away so his basic training was delayed. Don drove to Washington, D.C. in their 1939 Plymouth. Phillips University allowed Don to take their baritone to the audition. He was only there for three days and drove home. Almost as soon as he got home he had made the decision for the Army Band. If Don had enlisted he would have been in the Army for three years and may never have had the chance to play in the band. The band played two concerts a week. Don was issued a regular (beat up) Army baritone. As soon as he could, between winter and summer seasons, Don got a free Army transport plane ride to Paris. He made his way to London and the Boosey-Hawkes factory and purchased the euphonium everyone is familiar with in the brown faux alligator case! His grandson, David Blanchard, still has and plays the instrument.
Don was needed immediately for the summer concert season. He auditioned for and won the solo euphonium position. Being a very important position the band needed him right away so his basic training was delayed. Don drove to Washington, D.C. in their 1939 Plymouth. Phillips University allowed Don to take their baritone to the audition. He was only there for three days and drove home. Almost as soon as he got home he had made the decision for the Army Band. If Don had enlisted he would have been in the Army for three years and may never have had the chance to play in the band. The band played two concerts a week. Don was issued a regular (beat up) Army baritone. As soon as he could, between winter and summer seasons, Don got a free Army transport plane ride to Paris. He made his way to London and the Boosey-Hawkes factory and purchased the euphonium everyone is familiar with in the brown faux alligator case! His grandson, David Blanchard, still has and plays the instrument.
Nadina stayed behind in Ponca City. After Don’s basic training she took the train to Washington, D.C. around December 1. After moving to D.C. Nadina got a job at the Pentagon as a clerk/typist for the Office of the` Chief of Staff for the Army. She had clearance for top secret correspondence that came in and out of the office of the Chief of Staff. She said it was a very interesting job! This was in the era of the Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles! She was too young to understand what was really going on. She just did what she was told! During her time at the Pentagon she went from a grade 3 clerk to grade 5.
After basic training Don was immediately made the rank of Sergeant. Everyone in the band held that position. Don played in the band for two years. Don had the incredible opportunity to play for President Eisenhower. The President was in Walter Reed Hospital and the Army band assembled on the grounds to play for him. The President looked out the window and waved at them!
Don then went to the University of Illinois for his Master’s degree. A move to Illinois ensued to Urbana/Champaign. Remarkably, Don finished his Master’s degree in nine months. By that time Leslie had been born (1956) at the Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. Nadina became a stay-at-home mom to care for Leslie. Leslie was six weeks old when Don left the Army and moved to Illinois. They lived in Illinois for only 9 months.
Don then realized he needed a job! He took the first job available in Caldwell, Kansas (south of Wichita) as band director. At mid-term, around Christmas, his college band director had discovered that a band director was needed at Bowie Jr. High in Odessa, Texas. The position had not been filled in the fall. His director told the people in Odessa that he had” just the guy” for them. Don went down to Odessa and became the director of Bowie Jr. High! In January of 1958 the Baird family moved to Odessa, Texas! Don and Nadina’s son, Steve, came along in April. While at Bowie Jr. High Don had a motorcycle. He was very competitive in nature. Don would leave for work so early and would drive by Bonham Jr. High, their competitor to see if Kyle Crain (band director at Bonham) was there yet!
In 1963 the family moved back to Enid,Oklahoma where Don became the band director at Phillips University. He held this position for three years. The call came from WT needing a low brass teacher. At the time Nadina was pregnant with Janie (1965) and Nadina told Don they were not moving! There was a scandal in the music department at WT during that time. The President of the University was Dr. James Cornett. He was a staunch Baptist and felt that it would look bad for a divorced man to be teaching. Although the professor was not at fault, he was asked to leave. The head of the music department was involved and was also fired. The former brass teacher had established a strong department, teaching all of the brass. At the time Don was hired, it was decided to divide the brass department into two positions. The Baird family moved to Canyon when Janie was five weeks old!
Don was hired for the low brass and brass methods along with Dave Ritter for the high brass in 1965. He was also the assistant director for the marching band and directed the concert band. Teaching the concert band was a very difficult position for Don because everyone wanted to be in the Symphonic Band with Dr. Garner and morale was low. Don taught the concert band until his first heart attack in 1972. After that he needed less stress and gave up the concert band and marching band. Don also taught at the WT Band Camp before he was hired at WT. Don was already well known at WT when hired him for the low brass position. He had taught at band camp and served as the band camp director for a number of years. Don continued in these positions until his death in 1979. There was not another concert band director or assistant marching band director until Don Lefevre in 1987. Ironically, they share the same first name!
Nadina was a member of the Odessa Symphony Orchestra playing flute. She and Don were also members of the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra for 17 years. They both held principal positions, Don on trombone and Nadina on string bass. However, Don first went to the symphony as the principal bassoon. There was no opening on trombone and Don did not feel proficient on trombone. Eventually the principal trombone made a decision to switch to percussion and Don received the trombone position. One concert Don had to play Ravel’s Bolero. Leslie recalls he was very upset all week. She asked him why he was so upset, after all he was a professional musician. He asked her how she would feel playing a piccolo solo in front of 2000 people! “ I’m playing the hardest trombone solo that there is,” said Don. He knew that some symphony trombone players state in their contracts that they will not play the solo in Bolero. Don continued playing in the symphony until his death in 1979.
Along with Mr. Baird and Mr. Ritter, the WT Music faculty was very strong. Emerson Haraden was the horn teacher. Later Ron Lemon replaced him. Don also taught with other esteemed educators: Rowie Durden (clarinet), Dr. Gary Garner (flute, saxophone, orchestra, wind ensemble and band), Charles Veazy (oboe), Dr. Robert Krause (oboe), Bill Davis (bassoon) and Dr. Harry Haines (Head of the Department of Music). Nadina served as the secretary of the Music Department and Band Camp.
Sadly, Donald Ray Baird suffered a fatal heart attack while playing golf at the Canyon Country Club with Russ Blanchard. He was 47.
Nadina had taken a few courses at Phillips while Don was band director, studying things that she enjoyed. Nadina had also taken a few classes at WT along the way. In the early 80’s Nadina started out as a junior, learning to play the organ. An organist was needed in her church so Nadina started there and decided she needed some lessons. Nadina earned a Bachelor of Composition and Organ from West Texas State University in 1986.
After Don’s death Nadina took jobs at the WT Post Office and the Retirement Village in Canyon, often working long nights. I had first made friends with Janie, ironically, at band camp during the summer of 1979. Little did we both know that our friendship would become a lifelong friendship. Janie was my big sister in Tau Beta Sigma and I approached her about renting a room from her mom. Nadina graciously opened her home to me and allowed me to rent a room for $100.00 per month. Nadina often helped me with theory and piano late at night. I remember a beautiful rug on the wall of the small office in their home at 1110 Sixth Avenue. It said, “A euphonium is merely a baritone with flowers in the bell”! I have fond memories of sitting in the kitchen late at night while Janie was making reeds and Nadina was catching up on our day and learning about Don, whom I never had the honor of meeting.
After Don’s untimely passing, Nadina continued to live in Canyon until 1986. She moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma to help care for her parents. Janie was ready for her senior year at WT and Steve, Nadina’s son, was teaching in Tulia. Steve, and his wife, Kathy, agreed to move into the lower floor of her Canyon home, rent free and keep up the repairs and bills. Janie and I lived upstairs. That freed Nadina to move. Nadina got a job with the State Agency for Older Americans and rented a house near her parents. That September Nadina attended her 50th class reunion and reconnected with Dick Oney, who had been a childhood friend since 1st grade. He had never married and said he was just waiting for Nadina. They fell in love and married April 2, 1988. Dick was a sales representative for W.W. Grainger in Kansas. They lived in Topeka. Dick retired in 1999. Since he had no children, they were free to move near Nadina’s children and they chose to move to Las Cruces, New Mexico, near Leslie and Janie, who were living in El Paso. Don and Nadina’s only son, Steve, passed away on January 3, 2011.
Nadina and Dick enjoyed traveling until Dick became ill and passed in 2020. Nadina then moved to the Woodlands, Texas where she has resided since 2021. Nadina is currently moving into a home next door to Leslie and Russ Blanchard. Her daughter Janie, and her husband Anthony Sanchez, live nearby in San Antonio. Nadina still enjoys playing piano, sewing, quilting, embroidery and riding her electric bicycle. She also just returned from a family cruise to The Caribbean. Nadina tells me she has had a hodgepodge life! I think we can all agree that Nadina has had a wonderfully full, exciting, interesting life and is still going strong at 91 years young!
I know of no other family as musical as theirs. The rich musical heritage of the Baird family is astonishing. It reaches from Nadina and Don’s parents to their great-grandchildren. I imagine it will go even beyond that!
Part 2
A Legacy of Music, Love, Family and Faith
As told by the children of Don and Nadina Baird
The musical heritage of the children of Don and Nadina Baird is truly astounding. Don and Nadina were blessed with three amazing children; Leslie, Steve and Janie. As you read in the previous story, you might recall the memories shared concerning Don and Nadina’s musical background and their immense talent. No doubt that legacy has been passed down to multiple generations.
In the Baird household there was never the expectation that the kids would be in band; the expectation was, “What instrument are you going to play?” It was never a decision they had to make as they always assumed they would get to play an instrument. Band was never forced upon the Baird children, it was something they always wanted to do. Don often said, “Is it a hard decision to choose to eat three meals a day?”, meaning it was not a hard decision to choose band.
Steve, incredibly, made All-State four times on French Horn! He not only made the band but the orchestra as well. He was an exceptionally gifted musician! Steve’s college adventures took him to Texas Christian University on a scholarship. In Nadina’s words, he enjoyed college a little too much and found himself on probation by his third semester. Don made the decision for Steve to move back home to Canyon, go to WT and study music. And, “he was going to like it!” Steve made the Dean’s list after only one semester and earned his Bachelors from WT six years after graduation from high school. His mom said he didn’t skimp on the parties.
Janie began her instrumental journey on oboe. After attending numerous symphony rehearsals in which her parents were playing she decided on the oboe. In seventh grade, Don brought home a reel to reel tape so he and Janie could play trios. He recorded himself playing two parts and Janie would play the third part. Don made reeds for Janie as he had made them for his students in Odessa. They were so good that May & Duncan in Odessa sold them! After hearing Janie practice one day Don went into the next room and told Nadina, “She is going to be good!' Sadly, he passed away during Janie’s 8th grade year and never saw his comment come exceedingly true! He also never knew that she could belt it out on tenor sax in the WT jazz bands. Janie made the All-State Band and Orchestra an incredible three times. She also attended Interlochen in the summer of 1983. Janie received her Bachelors from WT and her Masters from New Mexico State University.
Don was a loving husband, father, friend and teacher. He was the “dad" of the neighborhood with children often knocking on the Baird family door to see if “your dad” could come out and play. They had a basketball goal in their driveway and Don was also known to play sandlot baseball with the neighborhood kids. Don was also popular at band camp dances. Students would always ask the Baird kids if their dad was coming to the dance. The kids loved him!
Leslie, Steve and Janie all went on to have successful careers in teaching and in performing. Leslie taught band, color guard, elementary music and in the elementary classroom. She also plays piano, organ, harp and clarinet. She has been active as an accompanist and in her church music programs. Steve held band directing jobs in Edinburg, Tulia and Canyon before becoming the “road guy” for Jents Music. He returned to Canyon to teach. Steve played lots of gigs on trombone around the area. You knew if Steve was around you were always going to have a good time! It was always a delight having Steve walk through your band hall door. He was extremely knowledgeable and had a joke to leave you in stitches as he left. He was a great friend to all who knew him. He was known to play a mean trombone on jazz gigs in the area. He, sadly, died of a heart attack on January 3, 2011 at the age of 52. Janie enjoyed a 28 year career as a band director, color guard instructor, elementary music teacher and sharing an elementary classroom with her sister, Leslie. Janie was also principal oboe in the El Paso Symphony Orchestra for 27 years. Incidentally, Leslie and Janie were both awarded Outstanding Bandswoman of the WT Band in their respective graduating years.
The Baird household was one of love, laughter and faith. Don was the epitome of a family man. All summers, after band camp, would find the Baird family on a camping trip. Memorable trips included going to the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Taos, Canada, South Dakota and Colorado. Camping trips were appealing for the Baird family as there were no phones, radios or television. This time was a sacred time! Don never taught in the summers other than band camp. He used his band camp paycheck for the family vacations. The Baird’s would often gather to play Baroque music on recorders, using wire music stands and often switching parts. Don always played the loudest! Don was very adventurous playing paddleball, golf and racquetball and his motto was always, “Higher and faster!”
Don had purchased a sailboat from clarinet professor Rowie Durden. One particular winter Buffalo Lake had been frozen. Around the first of April the weather was warming up and Don decided to take Leslie and Steve out on the lake. There was still ice floating on the lake and the sailboat would bump up against it. There was absolutely no wind and somehow the boat capsized and they were all scared. Turns out the water was only waist deep! Leslie came home telling her mom they had a great time but asked her, “ What does crap mean? Nadina immediately called out, “Doooooooonnnnnnnnn????”
Don was a man of faith. He was the choir director and Nadina was the organist at the First Christian Church in Canyon. Don suffered his first heart attack on January 13, 1972. Six days later he had a quadruple bypass, a new surgery that they had never heard of before then. He endured a long recovery. Upon returning to church he told the congregation he wanted to give his testimony. He told the congregation, “When you pray for me I feel it!” As he spoke, Leslie, who was 17 and in the choir, was sobbing. When church was over and the choir members were changing out of their robes, a fellow choir member approached Leslie, took her by the shoulder and said, “Don’t be ashamed to cry because that man is worth crying for!”
Don led his family with love and faith and by example. He imparted the joy of living and modeling a good marriage. Both of his daughters made sure they married a man with the qualities Don had. He always interacted with kindness, humor and was always smiling. He could be heard in the halls of the music department whistling and twirling his keys. He wanted everyone to be their very best and live up to their potential. He was never arrogant and always uplifted people. He interacted with those he knew with kindness. He deeply cared about every student. He was the ultimate professional and always had a great attitude. He exhibited the impact of teaching through music. He wanted those he knew to try to be the best they could be and to reach their potential.
These are lessons that Don’s family have taken along with them through life and imparted to hundreds of students and their own children and grandchildren. These are the lessons his students have taken with them. These are the lessons those of us who never knew him can learn and live by. An extraordinary legacy from an extraordinary man!
Part 3
Reflections on the Teaching and Inspiration of Don Baird
As told by Russ Blanchard and Anthony Sanchez
Son-in-law’s of Don and Nadina Baird
Russ Blanchard has the blessing of being among the last students of Don Baird. Russ is a tuba player from Alamogordo, New Mexico. Russ made All-State in two different states. As a sophomore and senior he was a member of the New Mexico All-State band. Being a military family, his junior year took the family to Hawaii where he was a member of the Hawaii All-State Band. He recalls his audition to come to WT, playing the first movement of the Vaughan Williams Tuba Concerto. Russ was awarded a whopping $200 scholarship per semester and setting out on a journey that would change his life in more ways than he ever knew.
Russ arrived at WT as a performance major, playing a Bb tuba. He switched to a C tuba and it took him forever to learn the fingerings. In the spring Russ auditioned for the Symphonic Band and did not earn a chair. Russ was not mad about this but rather went to Mr. Baird and asked him , “Show me what to do to get better!” Russ recalls Mr. Baird wanting his students to be their very best and to live up to their potential. He recalls times when Mr. Baird would literally give the shirt off his back to his students, loaning them money, his car and even bailing them out of jail. He was a father figure to his entire studio and many others in the WT music department.
Russ recalls listening to Mr. Baird play and wanting to be his very best. Don had that effect on everyone. In lessons, Mr. Baird made Russ sing his etudes before he played a note-a concept of hearing a note before you played it. Mr. Baird was always encouraging and was never upset when one came to a lesson unprepared. In the summer of 1978 Don took Russ to the International Tuba Euphonium convention. He paid for everything and even treated Russ to a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game. They heard many professional recitals. There was a solo competition and Don told Russ, “You could do that!” Don passed in April of 1979 but the following year, low brass TA Bob Simmons sent in a tape and was named an outstanding brass finalist at the convention at North Texas. Don’s legacy was going strong!
Romance was in the air at WT! Russ began dating Don and Nadina’s oldest daughter Leslie. Leslie says that Russ was in it for an easy A in lessons, theory help and a ride since Leslie had a car. Leslie was a year ahead of Russ. In the summer of 1976 Russ and Leslie recall her having made them matching outfits to wear on the Riverwalk at the Texas Bandmasters Convention in San Antonio. The outfits were purple velvet jumpsuits with a huge collar and matching shirt for the outside. Leslie’s jumpsuit survived to be worn by a future Tau Beta Sigma pledge, while Russ’ jumpsuit was thrown away. They were not married at the time but were wanting to get married. Russ talked to Mr. Baird about marrying Leslie but thinking it was best to wait until after graduation for both of them. Mr. Baird told Russ, “Why wait? Do it now! Married students always do better!” So Russ and Leslie officially became Mr. and Mrs. Russ Blanchard during his junior year. Russ received an A in lessons the semester he and Leslie were planning their January wedding. Russ humbly says it was a wedding gift! Russ and Leslie were also TA’s in theory and low brass, respectively.
Russ emphasized that Mr. Baird always taught with kindness, humor and a smile. He was uplifting and placed the emphasis on his students rather than himself. He also instilled in his students a love of playing, encouraging them to play as long as they could for the sheer joy of making music.
Russ and Leslie enjoyed long careers in music; teaching bands in Canyon, Clyde, Highland Park and Hobbs, New Mexico. They later moved to El Paso where Russ entered into the financial business as a CFP with Edward Jones. They also taught at an International School in Saudi Arabia. They moved back to The Woodlands where Russ did more banking and eventually taught strings for Spring ISD. Russ and Leslie are retired and living in The Woodlands right next door to Leslie’s mom Nadina! They are bicycle enthusiasts and can be found riding all over the Houston area and also in Europe with Russ’ sister, Amy Lindley and her husband Paul. They both still play and spend as much time as possible with their talented children and grandchildren.
Romance was also in the air for Don’s son, Steve. Steve met his wife, Katherine, at the Railroad Crossing in Canyon. She was a graduate of Canyon High School. Steve was offered a job in Edinburg, they got married and moved. Katherine was an elementary school teacher. They moved into the Baird home in 1986. Every weekend there was a Cowboys game friends were welcomed into their home. The decibel level rose on those weekends. Playing pool and enjoying the humor and friendship that was evident in the Baird home.
Leslie wasn’t the only Baird daughter to marry someone from Alamogordo. Janie met trumpet player Anthony Sanchez in 1983, their freshmen year. Must be something in that Alamogordo air! Anthony made All-State in New Mexico a remarkable three times! Anthony immediately felt welcomed into the Baird/Blanchard family. Although never having met Mr. Baird, Anthony is blessed to be the owner of all of Don’s music including solos, etude books and a lot of trumpet literature. This was a gracious gift from Nadina to Anthony. Anthony received his Bachelors from WT, studying with Dave Ritter. He received his Masters from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. He enjoyed a long career as a band director, assisting Randy Storie in his first job at Midland Lee High School. Later he taught for many years in El Paso and not wanting to retire just yet, ended his career in a small town in New Mexico, a short drive from their home in El Paso. The Sanchez’s are living retired life in San Antonio where they enjoy their two children, their spouses and their grandchildren. Many days you can find Anthony substituting in the area. Although never having met Mr. Baird, Anthony has a deep respect for him and the qualities of a great husband, father and teacher that Mr. Baird instilled in so many.
Next: The Life, Legacy and Faith of Don Baird instilled in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. You won’t want to miss this. It is amazing!
Part 4
Four Generations of the Family of Don and Nadina Baird
Interviews with the grand and great grandchildren of Don and Nadina
Additional information provided by their families
We all know those families, the ones who have distinct familial traits passed down: red hair, left handed, curly hair, athletes, artists, actors and musicians. Often those traits skip a generation or two. But with the Baird/Blanchard/Sanchez families musical talent and intelligence gets passed down, even in more epic proportions, to every generation. What Don and Nadina started as fellow band students in a small Oklahoma band hall began a legacy that Don was never able to see past his three kids, but still is going strong to this day. As of this writing, they have four grandsons, one granddaughter, five great-grandsons and four great-granddaughters, with another due in December.
The Blanchard’s, Leslie and Russ, were blessed with two handsome and talented sons. David Russell, an excellent tuba player and Brian Baird, an excellent horn player. David’s musical journey began in El Paso. He attended WTAMU earning a Bachelors Degree in Music Education. He taught band in El Paso and has been teaching elementary music for the past 20 years in Spring, Texas. David also attended Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky, where he was awarded a Master of Divinity Degree. He is currently on track to become an Ordained Minister in Spring of 2026. He met his beautiful wife, Kyleen, a bass clarinet player, when she was at Coronado High School in El Paso and was in band with his brother, Brian. (David was already at WT.) Kyleen has a degree in Art Education and teaches elementary art.
Brian was a member of the All-State band for three years. His fourth/senior year he attended and graduated from Interlochen High School (Michigan). He also won the concerto competition at the WT Band Camp. Brian met his wife, Madelyn, at Interlochen. After Graduation, they both studied with Dale Clevenger and received Bachelors degrees from Roosevelt, part of the Chicago College of the Performing Arts. Brian attended Rice University with the intention of getting his Masters, however he won an audition with the Kansas City Symphony. He later finished his Masters in Utah. Brian has held positions with Chicago Civic Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, North Carolina Symphony and Utah Symphony. Brian is currently an associate professor of horn at Brigham Young University in Provo. His wife, Madelyn, is an attorney with BYU. Brian and Madelyn regularly play with the Temple Square Orchestra in Salt Lake City.
The story of Don’s euphonium, which he purchased in London, traveling by Army transport via Paris, has a long and interesting history. After Don’s passing, the Boosey & Hawkes instrument in the faux alligator case first passed down to his son, Steve and then to his grandson, David Blanchard. David is now the proud owner of the instrument and uses it to teach lessons to more than 15 students on tuba and euphonium. Three generations of Blanchard’s, Russ, David and David’s son Thomas, most recently played together for the Fourth of July band concert in The Woodlands directed by WT Band Alum Paul Worsello.
An interesting story about the euphonium was when David attended an event while carrying the euphonium in the alligator case. He was startled when a gentleman confronted him. In a very accusatory manner he asked David, “Where did you get that case?” The gentleman had taken lessons from Don at band camp and immediately recognized the faux alligator case. David, of course, had to explain that it was his grandfather’s instrument and case! This instrument has been in use since 1954-an astonishing 71 years.
The Blanchard grandchildren, Don and Nadina’s great-grandchildren, are also following in the rich musical heritage of generations before them. David and Kyleen have three exceptionally talented children. Sam received the Outstanding Band Member award at the WT Band Camp. He is currently a Senior at the University of Texas in Arlington studying to be an aeronautical engineer. Thomas, a high school senior, made All-State on trumpet his junior year. Max, a fourth grader, has his eye on playing bassoon. Brian and Madelyn have two talented children, Ellliott and Lily. Elliott just finished his freshmen year as a composition major at Julliard in New York City. Lily, a junior, is active in musical theater and plays oboe. She attended band camp at WT and studied with Dr. Krause.
Steve and Kathryn have one son, Travis. He was born while Steve and Kathryn were in Edinburgh, eventually moving to Canyon where Travis played trombone in the Canyon Bands. Travis is the proud father of two girls, Elliott and Stevie Ray, named after her father, Travis Ray , her grandfather Steven Ray, her great-grandfather Donald Ray, and her great-great grandfather, Raymond Oscar Baird.
Anthony and Janie are also the proud parents of two beautiful children, Patrick and Nicole. Patrick played euphonium, later switching to trumpet, honoring both his grandfather and his father. He currently lives in San Antonio and has a 3-D printing business. Daughter Nicole, is a three year All-State player on horn. She received her Bachelors from Arizona State University and her Masters from The University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. She also enjoyed playing in the Santa Fe Symphony while a graduate student. Her husband, Joseph Mora, is an All-State clarinet player, has a band with his brothers, Darkness Divided, and is currently a middle school band director in San Antonio. They have two beautiful children, Joshua and Clare, with another precious one on the way. Both Joseph and Anthony perform with The Heart of Texas Concert Band in San Antonio.
Some of the sweetest stories from my time interviewing the Baird, Blanchard, Sanchez and Mora families comes from Joshua Mora, four year old great grandson of Don and Nadina. Joshua loves music, can identify many instruments, is familiar with Pomp and Circumstance (and can pronounce it in his sweet little voice). He names John Williams as his favorite composer, since he is a huge Star Wars fan! I’ve been told a precious story about Joshua when he was looking through a family photo album. He was naming everyone and explaining their family connections such as Momma’s brother is Patrick, Gram is Oma’s mom. Then he said, “Oma’s dad is in heaven” (As we had told him previous times) Nicole said to Joshua, “He is going to be so happy to meet you one day in heaven.” And Joshua said, “I actually already met him when I was born.”
Both Janie and Leslie have heard a lot about their father through stories that people have told. It still happens often and means so much to them. Not only was the impact of Don Baird evident in his own children, but also to generations of family that never had the honor of knowing him. They have all taken with them the legacy of Love, Life, Music and Faith. His memory has influenced them as they have traveled through life whether studying, practicing, performing, parenting or serving their communities in various ways. It is evident that the current youngest generation is prepped to be a continuation of this incredible legacy. Knowing Don Baird has improved the life of many, whether as a colleague, teacher, spouse or father.
If you are reading this and you were a student of Mr. Baird’s you know his lasting impact on your life. If you are reading this and never had the honor of knowing Mr. Baird it is my hope that through these stories you have had a glimpse of the incredible person he was. It has been my honor to spend time with the family learning so many interesting, funny, moving and important facts. May God bless the family of Don Baird and may his memory be a lasting testament to the kind of person that we all hope to be.
- Julie Collins
