Former Tupelo Band Director Inducted Into Bandmasters Hall of Fame
Date:February 06, 2008
Retired Tupelo High School Director of Bands Floyd Stevens was inducted into the Mississippi Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame at the MBA State Band Clinic in December, 2007. The Bandmasters Hall of Fame recognizes band directors for their contributions to the growth and development of band programs in Mississippi and for the accomplishments of the bands that they have directed. In addition, the Bandmasters’ Hall of Fame honors band directors who have had outstanding and distinguished careers over a period of many years.
Mr. Stevens began his career with the Tupelo Public Schools in 1966, and he taught in the TPSD for 39 years—4 years at Milam Junior High School and 35 years at Tupelo High School. Mr. Stevens’ bands repeatedly received superior ratings through the years at regional as well as State Band Festival in Concert, Sight-Reading, and Marching. In national competitions, the Tupelo bands consistently earned superior ratings and “Best-in-Class” ratings at festivals throughout the United States including Enid, Oklahoma, San Antonio, Orlando, Tampa, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. The Tupelo High School Band also represented the state of Mississippi in the 1989 Presidential Inaugural Parade for President George H.W. Bush and in the 2002 Fiesta Bowl Parade in Phoenix, Arizona. In recognition of this longstanding tradition of excellence, the Tupelo Band Program received the prestigious Award of Excellence in 1997 for exhibiting high standards of excellence at all levels over a long period of time.
Personally during his long career, Mr. Stevens was extremely active and assumed positions of leadership in many professional organizations that promoted the pursuit of excellence in band programs across Mississippi and the nation. In addition, he is a charter member of the Tupelo Symphony Orchestra Association, served as coordinator of the Mississippi Invitational Marching Festival for 34 years, was instrumental in starting the Tupelo Christmas Band Festival, and was selected as concert director of the Mississippi Lions All State Band in 1985. He helped to initiate the “Drummin’ Down the Trace Drum and Bugle Corps Contest” in 1996, and since 2004 he has been instrumental in initiating and coordinating the MHSSA-MBA State Marching Band Championship.
Mr. Stevens was assisted with the band program at Tupelo High School for many, many years by his wife, Linda. They have three children who presently work in the field of education, with two of them serving as music educators. Many of Mr. Stevens’ former students have continued their musical experiences in college with many becoming music performers, teachers, and band directors on all levels of education. Due to Mr. Stevens’ influence, music became an important, lifelong part of the lives of many of his students.
The Tupelo Public School District congratulates Mr. Floyd Stevens on this prestigious honor. His contribution to the band program of the TPSD and to the overall quality of our schools was immeasurable over nearly four decades. Thank you, Floyd, for all that you have done for so many young people and for truly helping to make “Excellence a Tradition” in the Tupelo Public Schools!
