Eugene Seastrand Composed Milby Songs

(See related Milby era photos after the song lyrics.) ____________________________________________________________________________

CHARLES H. MILBY HIGH SCHOOL SONGS

You will probably remember that Charles Simmons was in the Milby band. Eugene Seastrand was the director for many years, including when we were there. Charles remembered that Mr. Seastrand wrote some of the official Milby songs. He found those songs and presents them for us here. Thanks, Charles!!!

 

“FAIR MILBY”

(Words and Music by Mr. Eugene L. Seastrand)

 

Fair Milby, Fair Milby,

Your sun shall ever rise

In glory and beauty

Throughout our Texas Skies.

Together we’ll honor

And praise your noble name,

And fight for those golden buffaloes

Thundering o’er the plain.

 

“ONWARD MILBY”

(words to the music of “On Wisconsin”)

 

Onward Milby, Onward Milby,

Onward Milby High.

We are for you,

And we’ll never

Let your spirit die.

Rah, rah, rah! (Yell)

Every place that we will go,

We’ll let your colors fly.

We’re for you Milby,

Onward Milby High.

 

“CHARLIE BUFFALO”

(Words and Music by Mr. Eugene L. Seastrand)

 

Charlie Buffalo, you’re my guy.

Charlie Buffalo, how I sigh.

When I see a Romeo in gold and blue,

Charlie Buffalo, it’s you.

 

I’m a buffalo from the zoo.

I’m a buffalo, tried and true,

My pa was a buffalo, my ma was too.

So I’m a buffalo, MOO__MOO

Charles Simmons sent the following photos on 03/07/10 after rummaging in his box of memorabilia. His captions accompany the photos.

 

"All of the musicians at Milby will remember the late Mrs. Moore, band and orchestra director at Deady.  I snapped this when we left Deady May of 1957."

 

 
  

"The first Milby era picture shows many faces undoubtedly known to many.  Prominent is our classmate, John Hammerle, standing to the left."

 

Charles later added: The gentleman with the emotive smile is Robert Wilbur, also class of '59.  He went on to become the drum major of the band in 1958-59; hence, this picture is our first football season of '57.  Sitting to Robert's right is Mary Frances Snedeker, class of '59. Many will recognize our own classmate, Richard Seymour, in the polo shirt sitting on the separation wall.  John Hammerle, although not a drummer, was acting like one!

 

"The second, taken either during our sophomore or junior years, will spark someone's memory to identify the individuals.

 
Charles later added this information: The pretty Majorette in the above band photo is Barbara Denton, class of '59

"And the third photo is yours truly, understandably proud of his new uniform!!!" 

Thanks, Charles, for sharing these with us!  The rest of you - feel free to add identification or comments (below), or send me more photos to include here. (Karla at davise@swbell.com )

CLICK HERE to return to the top of the main section after reading comments below, and/or making your own comment. There is much more story in these comments, and they are a wonderful tribute to this man who meant so much to so many.

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But first, here are some stray comments about Mr. Seastrand that ended up on other posts. I left them there as they were appropriate to a string of conversation, but am also copying them here to expand this post about Mr. Seastrand. Other comments that were originally attached to the Seastrand article follow below. All of these comments greatly enhance the story of Mr. Seastrand.

From Glady Payne Bohac: Hey Karla, if Mr. Seastrand is still alive, maybe we should invite him to our reunion since so many have such fond memories of him. Gladys Payne Bohac

 

[Laura McNeil Burns sent me an e-mail stating that Mr. Seastrand is no longer alive. KD]

 

From Sammie Farquhar Valenti said:

Mr. Seastrand and I used to play a game before school in the band room. He would play a few notes of a song on the piano and I would try to guess what it was. I also remember how nice he was to me when I made a "1" in solo contest in my senior year. Sammie Farquhar Valenti

 

Carolyn Smith Pfennig wrote on Beverly Frankinson Allison's post:

I remember playing The Barber of Seville for the spring band contest under Mr. Seastrand. My how time repeats itself! Sounds like you have had a very interesting and exciting last 50 years! Carolyn Smith Pfennig (clarinet)

 

 

Comments

[Laura McNeil Burns]

[Scroll to the top to see songs that Eugene Seastrand wrote for Milby while teaching there. KD]

Laura McNeil Burns wrote:
My mother, a Milby alumna (class of 1929) and teacher there in the 1960s and 1970s, died in November at age 96. My sisters and I were dividing up and disposing of personal effects and memorabilia last month. One item I got was the self-published book of poetry, "Remembered on Waking", by Gene Seastrand. For former high school musicians and others, here is a poem from it:

TROPHIES

Assorted plates of brass on wood,
A bowl extolling teacherhood,
Depicting honors variously
For living, not precariously.

No battle or heroic deed,
No answering a general need,
But, for some tunes and casual rhyme,
And, mostly, serving quite a time.

The recent days have brought a state
Of watching them accumulate
Until the shelf and closet space
Request a fitter resting place.

So back to where the things they praise
Had birth, to grace my passing days
With thoughts of thankfulness to those
Who praise a man before he goes.

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[Scroll to the top to see songs that Eugene Seastrand wrote for Milby while teaching there. KD]

[Charles Crider]

Eugene Seastrand was such a wonderful man. He caused us to love music, both band and orchestra, so very much. Because of him, we all looked forward to each day when we could enjoy playing music with him.

[bob neal]

In many of our classes, we gained knowledge through discussion. Through Band, we applied the principles of sound, mathematics, quality, style, structure, discipline and how to make a toot or squeak into the beautiful medium of music. Seastrand had a love of Big Band and Jazz and using the talents of students seated before him, he provided us with the knowledge and challenges that are appreciated to this very day. He had many peers but he was recognized well above them and to this day, there are many that fall short of ability to bring out the sounds and traits of quality through their students. He was an artist and with much patience empowered many members of our class to excel.

It was with pride that we would confront the frigid conditions each year marching in the winter parades down Main St. On more than one occasion, band members would lose their white buck shoes in the mud while performing routines Seastrand had created for us at Friday night football games. And he was a motivator challenging us to excel as we participated in the Spring competition among bands.

I’m sure what we learned with Seastrand over three years has been intertwined within our lives ever since. I immediately went into the service after graduation and experienced extensive drills which to me were a breeze since it was the same as we practiced at the theater parking lot or front lawn of Milby. Timing, articulation and discipline had been well embedded while a member of the Milby High School Band.

So many more commendations, memories, and laughs could be mentioned and I hope to hear of your experiences.

Perhaps this is also a lesson on how we should let people that have left favorable imprints on our lives know just that, while they are here. And as for me, I still see each of you at the age we all once were and appreciate the common bond we had and the impact you unknowingly have had on my life.

[Marilyn (Vestal) Shockey]

I'm so happy that Charles mentioned Mr. Seastrand here and that others are commenting about his influence on their lives. There will always be a place in my heart for him.

In my sophomore year I played violin in the orchestra and loved it so much (and really didn't enjoy P.E.), that by the end of the spring semester, I begged him for a spot in the band. He let me join the band the following fall as a cymbal player and as such, I learned lots of other percussion instruments -- not that I was good enough to march as a snare drummer, but I loved the clavas and other rhythm instruments. I loved the morning marching practices and all the football games, being on the field at halftime. Even being in the parade behind the horses had its moments.

Being a fledgling song writer, I asked shyly if he would listen to songs that I'd written. He gently critiqued my efforts and steered me into writing songs with the proper form. I wrote the lyrics and melody, but not the accompaniment. If I came in before school or stayed after, he would take the time to play through my songs, making up accompaniment as he went. He even shared a funny song of his with me called "The Beetles in the Zinnias".

Since those days I've gone on to write children's musicals and church anthems. I'll never forget those hours spent in band and orchestra with Mr. Seastrand. I feel blessed that he was our teacher.

[Karla Lofgren Davis]

Thank you so much, Marilyn, Bob, Charles C & S, and Laura. This post and your comments have touched my heartstrings. I hope others will comment on this topic.

Eugene Seastrand and his colleagues could not have imagined that something like this blog could exist in the year 2010. But your comments illustrate beautifully the thoughts Mr. Seastrand expressed in the poem Laura gave us.

Your comments also illustrate one of our favorite quotes about teachers, "A teacher affects eternity. He (or she) never knows where his influence stops."

Many blessings on you all, and on those who taught us so many, MANY years ago. Karla

[Charles Simmons]

After doing some digging, the pretty Majorette in the above band photo is Barbara Denton, class of '59.

In the first band picture, the gentleman with the emotive smile is Robert Wilbur, class of '59. He went on to become the drum major of the band in 1958-59; hence, this picture is our first football season of '57. Sitting to Robert's right is Mary Frances Snedeker. class of '59.

Many will recognize our own classmate, Richard Seymour, in the polo shirt sitting on the separation wall. John Hammerle, although not a drummer, was acting like one!

Anyone, please feel free to correct me on any of these "facts" and add your own.

[Charles Simmons]

An addendum to Laura McNeil Burns' email to Karla about the death of Mr. Seastrand...The Social Security Death Index shows that he was born February 12, 1911 and died March 28, 1988. Last known residence was Bellaire, TX.

[Lucy Stern]

I graduated from Milby in Jan. 1969... I was in Band and it was my savior in High School... I was never part of the "in crowd" and the band was like a family to me... Mr. Seastrand loved marches and I became a big fan of Sousa, King and other march kinds... All three of my kids were in band and to this day I credit Mr. Seastrand with teaching me a love for music...God Bless Mr. Sea.....

NOTE: Thank you so much, Lucy, for joining our blog discussion. It is heartening to hear from someone from the class of 1969. Spread the word and keep the comments coming . Karla Davis (blogmeister for the Milby Class of 1960 Blog)