AramcoBrats, Inc.

Dr. James Wattenbarger, Music teacher, Dhahran School, 1957-1959.

  • 01 Dec 2010 5:24 PM
    Message # 472895

    For those of us who were lucky enough to be included in Dr. Wattenbarger's band and classes, it was a true treat to be a part of that time.  Dr. Wattenbarger came to Dhahran in 1957 and the first thing he did was to put together a proposal to establish a band in the Jr. High school classes.  He got the kids and parents together and arranged to select the proper instruments for the kids and also arranged to order them all for us.  The band took shape in the next few months and we were actually putting on concerts by the end of the the first year.  The band got simple uniforms of white shoes, pants and shirts and we marched in a variety of parades in the community.  We learned the Saudi national anthem and played it and the US national anthem for King Ibn Saud at a water ski show put on by the Aramco employees at Half Moon Bay in 1958.  We even learned and played "Pomp and Circumstance" for the graduation ceremony. 

     

    Unfortunately, I have just learned that Dr. Wattenbarger passed away in 2006 in Cookesville, TN where he had been the Director of the Music Department for Tennessee Technical University.  I would attach the obituary I obtained from TTU's current Art and Music Department Director but it is a PDF file.  Please let me know if you'd like a copy of the obituary.

    gaverett@wbhsi.net

    Gary Averett, CAPT, SC, USN (Ret.)

    Tucson, AZ

    Dhahran '59

    Last modified: 01 Dec 2010 5:24 PM | Gary Averett



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