On Saturday I had the privilege of being part of a wonderful event that celebrated the impact of two very special people in the lives of scores of young people in my hometown of Blairsville.
Larry and Marcie Culpepper were the band directors at Union County High School from 1971 to 1979. When they moved to Blairsville from Villa Rica, Georgia, the band was comprised of about 30 students. Immediately the Culpeppers began cultivating relationships with middle and high school students, encouraging them to use their musical and performance talents in the marching and concert bands. The marching band was made up of the usual selection of instrumentalists, as well as majorettes, drill team, and flag corp members. By the time the Culpeppers left Union County in 1979, the band members numbered about 150 kids.
The Culpeppers did so much more than direct the band. They instilled in a rag-tag bunch of kids values like team work, punctuality, perseverance, honesty, and a desire to be the best people we could be. Each Monday evening would find many of us in their living room studying the Bible. Their home is where my love of Bible study began. Tuesday and Thursday evenings were dedicated to band practice, and Friday nights found us marching on the field during half-time of the football game. We were more than a band…we were a family with the Culpeppers as our head.
Saturday afternoon a portion of that family reunited to reminisce and honor the Culpeppers. I had the honor of being part of the organizing team for the reunion, and it was such a privilege to have a small part in honoring two people who mean so much to me. I can count on one hand the number of teachers and leaders who impacted my life in palpable ways. Larry and Marcie Culpepper are two of those. It was so good to see so many former band members turn out to honor the Culpeppers.
In addition, the current band directors at Union County High, Will and Emily Stafford, were with us at the reunion. They are a marvelous young couple who have a vision for the band that is similar to the vision that Larry and Marcie had. The Staffords are doing a great job, and I’m so excited to see where they take the band.
Today at the blog, I want share a few of my pictures from Saturday.
The organizing team for the reunion. The Culpeppers are the couple on the right next to me.
There were a marvelous group of parents who formed the Band Boosters Club. These are a few of those who remain. What a blessing they were!
Each section had their picture taken with the Culpeppers. I was part of the percussion section, having played the xylophone in both the marching and concert bands.
A portion of the trophies the band won during the Culpepper years.
A fun display of memorabilia. The drill team boots, a baton, and the wax lips that the girlie groups had to wear if they didn’t hold their smiles during practice and performance!!
A picture of the band from the 70s on display at the reunion.
Larry and Marcie Culpepper have no idea how many lives they impacted. As we were planning the reunion, they kept telling us, ‘we don’t want this to be about us’. The thing is that it was about them…about their impact in our lives…about how we are better people because they were in our lives. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of the Culpepper band.
