TBA Hall of Fame 2025 Inductee Bruce Collins

Bruce Dwain Collins was born October 17, 1955 in Lubbock, Texas, to Dwain and Pauline Collins. A love of music, and respect for teachers was nurtured by his parents, so becoming a music educator was a possibility, but not without a few bumps getting started.

Bruce started clarinet in seventh grade at Atkins Junior High in Lubbock. But it was the family’s move to Clovis, New Mexico and the influence of Dick Echols at Gattis Junior High and later Norvil Howell at Clovis High School that would be the real beginning.

As an eighth grader, Bruce was only in the top band because he had agreed to move to bass clarinet. Bruce’s lack of practice was exposed in a “down-the-line” playing test that resulted in being cut-out of a part that he really liked and thought he was playing just fine…never mind that it was under tempo and full of wrong notes. But after promising to practice the part and prove that he could play it, Bruce finally got the message that he needed to get serious if band was to be his future.

Mr. Howell selected him to be a drum major with the condition that he attend band camp. Being in the Honor’s Band at the West Texas State University Band Camp directed by Dr. Gary Garner convinced him that “WT” would be his college choice. A highlight of his senior year at West Texas was student teaching with Randy Vaughn in Hereford. The comradery that they shared was genuine and made going to work a joy. Bruce could not wait to get started!

That opportunity came when Van Ragsdale asked him to be assistant director at Midland’s Robert E. Lee High School. Bruce had actually met “Mr. Ragsdale” when he was the director at rival, Yucca Junior High in Clovis and was very familiar with his accomplishments and reputation. In his interview, Midland Fine Arts Director, Bill Cormack asked him very bluntly, “so, you think you’ll be able to work with Van”? Bruce’s response was, “of course, he’s the reason I want to come here! Bruce would continue teaching in Midland as director at Alamo Junior High from 1979-1984 and return to Lee working alongside Randy Storie in 1984.

In 1985, Bruce took a job in Gruver. He had a good year, including the band’s first ever performance at the state marching contest, but an even better opportunity was presented the next summer when he was asked to come to Pampa as director at Pampa Middle School. Retired directors Joe DiCosimo and Sam Watson were incredibly supportive, and Charles Johnson and Brent Colwell were great to work with. But the best thing would be meeting a Pampa graduate and former student of Charles, Joe and Sam – Julie Smith. Julie was very concerned how her beloved “Pride of Pampa” band program would fare with a new director at the middle school. Things turned out okay. She and Bruce were married in 1989, and they worked together as band directors, for the rest of their teaching careers. The Pampa Middle School Band would consistently earn first division ratings in UIL marching, concert and sightreading and be named as a TMEA Honor Band Finalist in 1988 and 1990.

Bruce was named Director of Bands for Pampa High School in 1993. One of the expectations was that the band take a “big trip” every other year. This expectation had begun back in 1960 when the band took the train to Chicago to perform at Midwest. A sign that hung at the train station saying “Welcome Home Pride of Pampa,” had inspired the band’s nickname and created a standard of excellence that every director worked to continue. A highlight of the years in Pampa would be a reunion in 2000 that brought together 40 years of alumni and all of the living directors to celebrate this historic achievement. Bruce’s time in Pampa did not yield an invitation to perform at Midwest, but the band’s numbers grew, and the band continued a tradition of first division performances.

A call from Amarillo ISD Director of Fine Arts, Cody Myers resulted in Bruce and Julie leaving Pampa to become directors at Amarillo High School in 2005. The greatest joy of this time was having their sons Alex and Matthew in the band. Bruce retired in 2018, having completed forty years, as a Texas band director.

Bruce was fortunate to cross pass with many incredible music educators. Iconic directors from the Permian Basin, and the Panhandle and of course the GOAT, Dr. Gary Garner at WT were all sources of motivation, inspiration and examples to be followed. He is grateful for the opportunity to work with literally hundreds of students and parents who spent countless hours in rehearsals, fund raising, traveling and performing. Most of all he is grateful for the love and support of his wife Julie, sons Matthew and Alex, Alex’s wife Ashley and daughter/grand-daughter Indie.