WT Band Alumni Spotlight: Robert Frost

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

1965-1969

What was your degree in?

BME

Where are you living now and what are you doing?

I reside in Tyler, TX. I am the CEO of Frost Rains Holdings, LLC (eb5southwest.com).

Tell us about your family.

I have three grown sons living in Texas. I have no grandchildren I am aware of! I married Lieng Nguyen in early 2024. My wife is from Vietnam. I met her there in 2018. I resided in Vietnam from 2021 to 2024 awaiting her visa to return to the US with me. We were married on the campus of WTAMU and Dr. Gary T Garner walked Lieng "down the aisle" to give her away. WT Band alumnus Ronnie Vaughn (AKA "Stovall") was Best Man. Another WT Band alumnus, Bob Humphrey performed the marriage ceremony. Two other WT Band Alumnae, Alice Flanagan and Jan Coffman did the planning and provided the music. Don LeFevre assembled a brass choir to play the official hymn of the US Army, "The Army Goes Rolling Along."

What instrument did you play?

Euphonium and Trombone.

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

Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Mu Alpha, Brass Ensemble under the direction of Dave Ritter.

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

I have several favorite band memories.

• I am proud to have served as Band President in 1967-68.
• Symphonic Band performance at MENC, Colorado Springs in the spring of 1967.
• Symphonic Band performance at TMEA, Austin, TX in 1968.
• Marching Band performance at Lamar Tech, Beaumont in fall of 1965
• Marching Band performances at New Mexico State in fall of 1966 and 1967
• Marching Band performance at Colorado State, Fort Collins, CO in fall of 1968...........brrrrrrrrr, it was cold!
• Doc Severinsen and Vaclav Nelhybel - enough said!

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

I miss our blissful youth as a group. We were all family and we had special guardians and mentors such as Gary Garner, Don Baird & Dave Ritter. This experience has created lifelong bonds of friendship.

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

My favorite memory is the standing ovation the WT Symphonic Band received at TMEA in 1968.T

What did you learn from your time at WT?

The pursuit of excellence and the importance of being a part of something larger than our individual selves.

Why did you come to WT?

Don Baird and Gary Garner

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

That's hard to say. All of them were unique and full of fond memories.

Do you have any advice for current WT students?

Don't quit - you must commit yourself to graduation! Enjoy the experience - work and play hard!

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

Many years have passed and I am proud of having served on the WT Foundation Board for nine years and as its President for three of those years. We were able to increase the WT scholarship endowments by millions of dollars. Our job was to raise money and provide financial help to students attending WT. Many of those students were band students receiving help from the Gary and Mariellen Garner Scholarship, which has grown over the decades because of contributions from Dr. Dudley Moore and the Fabulous Five, friends of the Music Department, and many WT Alumni.