News

Forsan band gets a boost from well-known country star

Forsan High School Band Director Jim Rhodes displays signed photographs and a fiddle donated by Charlie Daniels. The instrument and other items will be auctioned in the spring as band members raise funds to march in the Washington, D.C., Independence Day Parade.(HERALD photo/Bill McClellan)

By BILL MCCLELLAN News Editor

The devil didn't go down to Forsan and neither did Charlie Daniels. He sent a fiddle instead.

"We're having an auction in the spring and we've been asking for donations for it," explained Jim Rhodes, director of the Forsan High School band, which is raising funds to send its 120-plus member troupe to the July 4 Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C. "This week, we received an autographed fiddle from Charlie Daniels. I couldn't believe it."

The gift from the Charlie Daniels Band ("The Devil Went Down to Georgia," "The South's Gonna Do it Again," "Still in Saigon") was a much welcomed surprise.

"We've asked sports teams -- the Mavericks, Rangers, Astros, Spurs and others -- to donate items and we believe the response will be good. We're just starting to gather things and this one was a surprise and the first really big thing we've received," said Rhodes.

"A parent and her daughter got this done for us. Theresa Marlow, a teacher's aide at Elbow Elementary, and her daughter, Melissa, went on the Internet and e-mailed Charlie Daniels, asking if he would help. They received a reply back from Charlie Daniels himself, saying he would send something, but no one expected anything like this," said the band director.

Rhodes said the package had been received by the school a couple of days before someone checked and realized it was an instrument. He was immediately notified.

"I said 'well, we don't use violins, so send it back.' Then I said, 'no, I'll come look at it later.' Sure enough it was a fiddle. Then I opened it and wow!"

The package includes a couple of autographed photographs of Charlie Daniels.

"It's a wonderful surprise," said Randy Johnson, Forsan Independent School District superintendent. "We weren't anticipating anything like this."

Forsan school officials made it public in October that the band had been chosen to represent Texas in the famed and highly televised parade in Washington, D.C. Almost 75 percent of the student body will be involved in the trip. While in Washington, the Forsan contingent plans to tour the Smithsonian, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Lincoln Memorial, Capitol Building, Washington Monument and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Such a large endeavor -- air transportation, meals and housing for 160 people -- is going to be a huge expense. It has been estimated that the cost will be $145,000.

Monetary donations to help fund the trip are being accepted at the First Bank of West Texas.

Anyone who has items they would like to donate for the auction is asked to call Johnson, Rhodes or Jeremy Higgenbotham at 457-2223.