LOHS Band and 65 Presidential Inaugural

This page is reproduced here because that is where it started, but as development continues, it will someday be moved to the LOHS Band History page from the main site. In the meantime, we reminisce here.

Lone Oak High Marching Band

"Take the town of Lone Oak, Ky. Population, 2,104; in McCracken County near Paducah. Its high school has a football field, even though it has no team. They don't need football, because they have a grand and glorious band. The field was donated so the band would have a place to practice."
 . . .
"Hard-working band director Richard Petty, 30, has in reality not one, but seven bands in the school program. There are 315 boys and girls participating."

In 2001, as we began looking for our teachers for the 40th, Cecilia contacted Richard Petty who then lived in Gainesville, Ga. Although unable to attend, Richard was gracious enough to send some pictures and articles of the band and especially of the January 1965 Inaugural trip. If you were a band member, enjoy the memories, otherwise just be proud.

1965 Presidential Inaugural Parade

In the Fall of 1964, the LOHS Marching Band received a very prestigious invite to be one of two marching bands to represent Kentucky in the January 1965 inaugural parade of President-Elect Lyndon Johnson. LOHS would be the high school band, and University of Kentucky the college band. If you were a band member at that time, the excitement cannot be described. The pride felt by the entire school and the community as a whole was enormous. Few events before or after have equaled the honor and recognition bestowed on Lone Oak High School.

The News Article below came from the Oak-K News December 1, 1965 edition, released a few weeks after the announcement was made and does an outstanding job of describing the events. Also, below is a transcribed article from the January 29, 1965 Oak-K News edition written by 66'er Nancy Godfrey. When this web page was originally written, we had neither editions on the Oak-K, only clippings from Mr. Petty's collection. With minor formatting variations, we present the page as was originally designed and once again thank Nancy for a great article.

Student Remembers Trip as Contribution to History

By Nancy Godfrey

    Until November the phrase "Inauguration--1965" was only to me the inauguration of another President of the United States. However, on November 6, when the Lone Oak band was invited to march in the Inaugural Parade, it took on an entirely different meaning. If the trip did actually materialize, I, along with the other ninety-four member, would be in the nation's capitol actually participatiing, through in a very minute way, in the making of history.
    When the invitation was first received, it was hard for me to realize that we had been given such a great opportunity as this. Even as the months went by and the day of departure arrived, it was still hard for me to believe I was going to Washington, D.C., for the inauguration of a United States President.
    At last, Monday morning arrived. I came to the band room at 4:30am. After last minute farewells and a brief and meaningful devotion, the four Greyhound busses departed from LOHS to return the following Saturday. From this time until Saturday at 8:15pm seemed to me comparable to one continuous, long, and most exciting day.
    Our first stop was at Effingham High School in Illinois where we played a concert. This concert was very important to us all and we wanted it to go extra well because Effingham was the high school from which Mr. Petty graduated.
    The concert went well, and better in some ways than I expected. After lunch in the school's cafeteria, we boarded the busses and began the long ride directly to Washington, D.C., and Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge which was to be our residence while in Washington. We made frequent stops in order to change drivers en route in order to make up two hours we lost as a result of treacherous, icy roads. At 9:00 a.m. we arrived at our motel. After a hurried breakfast, our day began.
    We drove to the main part of the city and the busses let us off at the White House. It was as beautiful and stately as I had been told, but for some reason, it did not impress me as greatly as I expected.
    As soon as we completed the tour of the White House, we went to the Smithsonian Institute. I had been told many times of its huge site and millions of exhibits there, but it was even more gigantic than I expected. We spent from four to five hours there observing as much of it as we could in the length of time we had. We also had our noon meal there.
    About 3:30 we boarded the busses and drove to Arlington National Cemetary. Here at 4:00 we witnessed the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Solder. This was very impressive and very dramatic as the guards are changed ever hour of the twenty-four each day. From here, we walked up the hill to Kennedy's grave. The Eternal Flame was glowing warmly and was very thought provoking as I walked back down the hill to our awaiting busses.
    On the way to Lincoln Memorial, we pass the Iwo Jima Statue. After going to the Lincoln Memorial, we drove to the National Archives which contains all the important documents of our nation's history.
    As I viewed the Constitution and Declaration of Independence and numerous other documents I realized how great an exhibit this was and how much of our nation's history and destiny rested upon these papers, now worn and stickly guarded at all times.
    At 7:45 o'clock the next morning each room was awakened by a phone call from the chaperones. We had breakfast, changed into our uniforms, and boarded the busses for Bolling Air Force Base. Here the busses were all lined up for the actual march. The parade's organization impressed me since there were so many entries in it and everything went off so smoothly.

    A moment I will never forget I am sure was when the first forward march was given. We were lined directly in front of the Capitol Building and as we moved out on the Mall, I got a feeling that will be one of the finest memories I will have received from the entire trip. As we passed the Presidential stand, I glanced up and caught a glimpse of President Johnson and Vice President Humphrey.

After the Parade

    After the parade we returned to the motel, changed clothes, and ate supper. Steaks were on the menu for us. After supper we had a meeting and discussed the parade with Mr. Petty. At 9:30 we were given until 11:00 to ice skate at the rink adjoining the motel. We also could dance or merely spectate. Most of us skated since it was new to us. Surprisingly enough, I didn't "meet the ice" unnecessarily, and no one got hurt. At 11:30 lights went out, or were supposed to, shall I say.
    Thursday morning we were awakened at 5:15. We dressed in our uniforms, ate and boarded the busses for a concert in Alexandria. However, due to a lack of time, this had to be cancelled. By 9:30 we went back to the motel to start touring again. First we saw the Washington Memorial. Its height was astounding as I viewed Washington from this high point.
    After this, we saw the Jefferson Memorial and recrossed the Potomac for lunch. The tour of the Capitol was next. This was to be the most interesting tour of the trip. Morton Langstaff took us through and we saw much more than the average visitor could see. We were permitted to go into the actual chamber where the House of Representatives meets. We went directly onto the floor of the house and sat in the seats there.
     When this tour was completed, we went to the motels, ate, and then the entire band met together for a vesper service. Dr. J.T. Ford talked to us and we had a time for comments on the trip. This quiet meeting gave us much to think about and the band was drawn much closer by it.
    At the close of the service we were given an hour or so to shop at a nearby center. Friday morning we got up early and packed the busses for our departure. Our breakfast was scheduled in the Senate Office Building. We were joined by Senator Cooper, his assistant, Representative Stubblefield and his wife, and Morton Langstaff, Stubblefield's assistant. Here we were presented with a plaque bearing the names of the band members, majorette, drum major, and director.
    This is something for us all to be proud of and remember. After our breakfast we left Washington D.C. and started our journey home to Paducah. We spent Friday night in Zanesville, Ohio, and drove all the next day. By this time, I was looking forward to getting back to Paducah. We arrived at 8:15, or the bus I was riding on did.
    I haven't fully realized the greatness of all I have seen. I have heard many times that you get out of something what you put into it. This has a special meaning to me now as I look back on the past four years in regard to the band. Many long hours have been put into practice, preparation, education, and the building of character.
    I believe the trip was quite a success as a result of this effort. Mr. Petty promised the community four years ago that our band would be known all over Kentucky. Now, in the fifth year of the band program, its reputation has spread throughout the state, and even exceeded its boundaries. As result of all the efforts put into the band program, much has come. A group of youngsters has brought much recognition to its locality, school, and state. Let me say that I am proud, very much so, to have been a part of it.