WT Band Alumni Spotlight: Dana Reynard

What years were you in the WT Band? When did you graduate?

1967-1971 BMED Dec 1971 Master of Ed Aug 1977

What was your degree in?

Music, Education & ROTC

Where are you living now and what are you doing?

I live in Mexico, MO and am currently retired bandmaster from Missouri Military Academy. Being retired, I try to exercise everyday, I do many chores around the house and help with visitations and activities with our church.

Tell us about your family.

I met my wife Peggy Gurley from Perryton, TX in the WT Band in 1969 and we were married August 16, 1970. And, we are still married! We have three sons, Steven, Keith and Luke. Steven is a police officer in Port Royal, South Carolina with 3 daughters and 2 step sons. Keith is a CPA with Missouri Farmers Association (MFA) in Columbia, MO and has 2 sons. Luke is a LTC Active Battalion Commander with the US Army National Guard in Camp Atterbury, Indiana and has 2 sons and 1 daughter.

What instrument did you play?

Trombone

What ensembles and student groups were you involved in while you were at WT?

I was drum major of the WT marching band 1968-1970, the Jazz band, brass choir, symphonic band, Kappa Psi, Phi Mu Alpha and Scabbard & Blade.

Tell us a favorite band memory that you have from your time at WT.

I always looked forward to pre-band in the fall to look at and meet all the new girls. As drum major of the WT marching band, I had a perfect opportunity to "strut" up and down the lines and checkout the new girls I might want to date. There were always many choices and I started the dating process. I remember riding to Wichita, KS for the football game with one girl and realized she was not the best choice. Coming back to WT, we stopped in Enid, OK at Furr's Cafeteria. I ended up in line with Peggy Gurley from Perryton, TX. We conversed with many identical interest while in line and during the meal. I asked her if I could call her and we set up a date. She was the secretary in the ROTC office and I was also in the corps. Our first date surprises most because of our patriotism and curiosity to attend a Vietnam protest rally. We both found out at the same time we were not at all interested in what was being said and left the rally, had a homemade pizza at my apartment and I took her back to the dorm. The WT band trip to Wichita started the best 55 years of our lives.

Share with us what you miss most about your time at WT.

I genuinely miss the fellowship of all the band members.

Do you have a favorite memory or highlight that has happened for you since graduation?

The best memory after graduation was being hired as the bandmaster at Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri. All my musical skills learned at WT, plus my military experiences fit into one neat basket to benefit many boys from all over the United States and many foreign countries.

What did you learn from your time at WT?

Dr. Garner was my mentor during and after my time at WT. Because of him, I developed a unique skill of transposition and directing skills. I could use my trombone to play along with almost all the different instruments and learned the flute and drums well enough to keep up with my band students.

What are some of your favorite musical memories?

My most favorite musical memory was the second semester of my freshman year when the WT symphonic band performed at TMEA. This was February of 1968. Our band put WT on the map for band directors and started many years of superb performances and quality of musicians up to this date.

Why did you come to WT?

I played trombone and was drum major at Canyon High School. I wanted to major in a subject I was good at and Canyon was where I wanted to be. Bottom line, WT was the only college where I wanted to attend.

What was your favorite band trip and why did you like it so much?

I answered this question above about my favorite memory.

Do you have any advice for current WT students?

Seek God's will, work hard and always strive for perfection. "Remember, the only place success comes before work is in the dictionary."

What else would you like for us to know? (Career or family highlights, awesome memories, people who inspired you at WT etc.)

I will always have fond memories of my Kappa Kappa Psi pledge class of the spring of 1968. We had some great times and experiences together. Many I can only talk about in private!