Phillips Blackhawk Marching Band

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Not too many people know I played in the Phillips band,
I played two different instruments both held in my hand.
This poem tells a little about my experiences while there,
And gives appreciation to the fine band directors that did care.

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Phillips Blackhawks Marching Band

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From the sixth grade through my junior high school years,
I was a member of the band in Phillips Schools I do swear.
From sixth through eight grade I was in Junior High Band,
I played Cornet and owned the horn that I held in my hand.

 

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In high school, I switched to the school owned Baritone then
As a new member of the Phillips Blackhawks Matching Band.
I was third chair out of three when I began playing that big horn,
Thinking all the time that a new Baritone star had just been born.

 

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We practiced marching in the early morning before school began,
And had our music practice during the regular class hour plan.
Mr Robins was band director with Mrs Creel was second in charge,
The students all seemed to enjoy the band and it was very large.

 

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We played and marched at all the PHS football games home and away.
We raised the school spirits with all the fine songs that we played
At half time we did the marching routines that we had perfected,
Trying to boost our team to a win with the marching tunes selected.

 

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We traveled all over to away games in old yellow school buses,
Carrying our uniforms and musical instruments right there with us.
Traveling together boosted our spirits and gave us a sense of pride.
We all wanted our Phillips Blackhawk Team to win big for our side.

 

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Our school fight song was to the tune of “Stars And Stripes Forever.”
As we played it, the students often sang it with us right together.
It gave us all the sense that the Blackhawks were together as one,
And seemed to be a driving force for all the games that we won.

 

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The Phillips Blackhawk Fight Song

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“Oh the orange and the black over all
May they rise to the sky never fall
May we look to you for our light
And the colors for which we fight

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Rah Rah

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Oh ye students of old PHS
The school that is always the best
We’ve stood every trial every test,
For Phillips High we sing our praises forever.”

 

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After football season the marching band entered competition,
With schools from three states held in Enid by request petition.
Our Marching Band won our division each year I did participate,
And did well in the overall, winning the Sweepstakes trophy each date.

 

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In 1960, we were requested to march in the Cotton Bowl game.
Texas University played Syracuse, both schools with big names.
Such fun participating with 3 other state bands on this big event,
The very fine half time show and quality parade was no accident.

 

 

My sister JerrylDine was also in the marching band way back then,

She played flute with other girls flirting with  some of the men.

I had my friends so we didn’t often hang much  with each other,

But we did get to go on all the fun marching band trips together.

 

 

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The Phillips Blackhawk Marching Band was actually quite good,
For a small Class A school from a Company town misunderstood.

The band directors did a fine job of teaching us how to play and march.
Giving us the confidence we needed to keep us right on the mark.

 

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By Bill

 

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Thanks for reading Phillips Blackhawk Marching Band,
Bill