August 18, 2001

To my Dear Friends of Shidler Alumni,

            What an honor it is to have my name mentioned with the music fund.  It is a special lift to my spirit at this time in my life when my footsteps aren’t very lively and my fingers don’t bounce over the piano keyboard like they did a few years ago.

            My years at Shidler/Webb City will always be a part of me. Walking down the hall the first day of school, I remember being whopped in the side of the head with an eraser. I turned around just in time to see a head disappear around the corner and heard some snickering. Later those boys who threw the eraser confessed that they thought the scrawny, wild-haired little guy they aimed at was a new student in school and they wanted to give him a hard time!

            If I remember right, we had Shidler band in the morning then I drove to Webb City in the afternoon. One day on my way to Webb City, I was driving along singing the old hymn, “God Will Take Care of You” when all of a sudden the car began weaving wildly from side to side out of control. Seeing the steep ditches on each side, I just closed my eyes and held on until it came to a gentle stop – right in someone’s driveway! I got out and saw the tie rod had been broke so I took some bailing wire from the fence, wired it up and drove on to Webb City.

            Shidler memories also hold some bittersweet moments because of the on – going World War. It was common to see some sad faces on the kids because of someone they had lost in battle. We alternated combined band rehearsals between Shidler and Webb City on Wednesday evenings and one evening a band student was walking slowly down the road headed to practice. He lived near Webb City and refused the offer of a ride with me. He said he had just gotten news that his older brother was killed in action and just wanted to walk down the same road they used to walk together as kids one more time. So I got out of the car and walked with him and we wept together.

            I have never stood in front of a band as powerful as the Shidler Band and was always so impressed with the support given by the school and the community to me personally as well as professionally. It’s been a joy to see what some of these band “kids” did with their lives. I can still see Mr. Ward casually strolling in to rehearsal. I could feel the mounting tension among the students as he stood there rocking back and forth with his arms folded. Pretty soon he’d grin and say, “Just dropped by to see how the best kids in the country are doing. Carry on!” At age 88 I still remember the chills I got time after time as I stood before such a magnificent group of young musicians. I am terrible at remembering names but so often I can look into their eyes and tell even today what instrument they played.

            I can’t say enough what a privilege it was to spend part of my life in Shidler and Webb City. Without a doubt, there are still students coming along with just as much potential and will make us proud. So, Shidler Alumni, CARRY ON!

Sincerely,

Ashley Alexander

                                    P.S. Please accept our $100.00 donation – wish it could be more.