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Charter Members
Jacqueline Hunt
Donna M. Wirth
Marilyn Sanders
Master Sergeant Ramona J. Meltz
Sara Nell McBride
Jean Howard
Eleanor Beatty Padley
Elsie E. Maylath
Nora C. Harris Arquit
Lucille Dillinger Alexander
Dorothy Dugger
Jacqueline Hunt
Jacqueline Hunt is a Past President of WBDI (1980-1982) and is currently serving WBDI as Curator of Historical Information. She is director and clarinetist with the Grace United Methodist Chamber Ensemble in Kokomo, Indiana and retired from the Northwestern School Corporation where she was Director of Fine Arts (1972-1988) and Middle School Band Director(1969-1988). She started her career as band director at West Fulton High School, Atlanta, GA (1964-1966) and North Springs High School, Fulton County (1966-1969). Her Indiana middle school bands were consistent in receiving first division ratings and her high school and junior high woodwinds received numerous superior ratings.
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Donna M. Wirth
Donna M Wirth’s teaching experience began in Wild Rose, teaching vocal and instrumental music in grades 1 – 12. Donna then taught at Elkhart Lake Public School in Elkhart Lake, WI teaching vocal and instrumental music in grades 5 – 12.
Donna was assistant director of the Kiel Municipal Band which performed at Mid-West Clinic in 1954.
Donna was a member of the All-American Bandmasters Band at the Mid-West National Band Clinic in 1955 and 1956. She was the first woman to guest conduct at a Wisconsin Bandmasters Association Convention held at Lakeland College in 1969. She has served as an adjudicator for the WSMA music festivals and served as a counselor and instructor and section leader at the Lakeland College Summer Music Recreation Camp.
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Marilyn Sanders
Marilyn Sander’s career has included starting band programs at Thistlewood Elementary in Mounds, Il and at McKinley Elementary in Mound City, Il. She has also directed Junior High and Senior High School Bands. Marilyn began 75 beginners each year in the Meridian districts.
Marilyn also served as choir director for her church and has a lifetime membership in NEA and is also a member of IEA and IMEA.
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Master Sergeant Ramona J. Meltz
Master Sergeant Ramona J.Meltz was the conductor of the Women’s Army Corps Bands, WAC Division, Fort McClellan, Alabama. She began her position in 1962. She was the only woman service band conductor in the United States at that time. The Women’s Army Corps Band is indeed unique in that it was the only women’s service band. The band consisted of a concert band, a precision marching band, a dance band, and Dixieland band and several combos. It performed under the competent baton of Sergeant Meltz at concerts, parades, and television appearances throughout the United States. A few highlights were: during the Cuban Crisis the band toured Florida to entertain troops, served as honor guard for President Kennedy, performed at the New York World’s Fair, and in November 1967 the band played at a command performance at the White House for a bill-signing ceremony.
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Sara Nell McBride
Sara Nell McBride was the director at Central High School of Lunenburg, VA. The band participated in the Annual Virginia Beach Music Festival. Sara was the second woman to participate in this event since its beginning in 1961. The marching band was selected to march in the Tobacco Festival Parade in Richmond, VA and have received other invitations since.
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Jean Howard
Jean Howard had ten years of teaching experience which included the following schools: Ashley High School, Ashley, MI (1960 – 62), Patterson High School, Patterson, CA (1962-65), University of Arizona (1966), Lawndale, CA (1966-68), and Apollo Jr.High, Anaheim High School District, Anaheim, CA (1968-71). While at Arizona, 1966, she published two articles and held a trumpet clinic for the Southern Arizona Elementary Band Clinic. Jean’s marching and symphonic bands have won top honors in many Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association sponsored events. She was elected WBDNA President but never served. She died of breast cancer in 1977.
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Eleanor Beatty Padley
Eleanor Beatty Padley has over twenty years of successful teaching experience in the state of Iowa. Some of the school systems where she has directed bands are Wilton Junction, where she organized the first band, Tama, Shellsburg, Atkins, Alburnett and Miles. Hundreds of 1st ratings have been awarded to Eleanor’s students in State Solo and Ensemble Contests, both in Senior and Junior High Divisions. Her concert bands have won numerous first ratings at State Band Contests and her marching bands have achieved first ratings at State Marching Band Contests, as well as prizes and awards for parade marching.
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Elsie E. Maylath
During her first seven years Elsie E. Maylath taught at the Nameoki Elementary School made up of grades 4 – 6. She then taught at Prather Jr. High in Granite City, IL. The emphasis at the Granite City School has been on solo and ensemble rather than band competition. Elsie took about half of her students to the District and State Solo and Ensemble Contest where they have consistently made excellent showings, over 90% have received superior ratings. Her bands throughout the years have averaged 90 in number.
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Nora C. Harris Arquit
Nora C. Harris Arquit was the first Vice President and State Chairman of WBDI. She guest conducted in USA, Canada, and Europe and holds the distinction of having been the first woman to direct the U.S. Air Force Band. She has guest conducted the USAF band and the US Navy Band. Nora holds a long list of superior ratings with her high school band, soloists and ensembles. She was a representative to the North America Band Directors Coordinating Council and she is a member of ASBDA, (American School Band Directors Association). She has been a member of the National Band Association and has served on the board of the Modern Music Masters. Nora was President of WBDI from 1973-76. Her publication “You Too Can Be a Band Director” was in the National School Musician Magazine.
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Lucille Dillinger Alexander
Lucille Dillinger Alexander began teaching at the age of 20 in Berkeley City, MO. She has taught for over 20 years directing bands in Missouri, Iowa, Connecticut, Puerto Rico, New York, and New Jersey. Besides band music Lucille is an instructor of ballroom dancing, dramatics and vocal music. She is a member of NBA, NAJE, NSOA, NEA, NJEA, MENSA and WEA.
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Dorothy Dugger
Dorothy Dugger began teaching in 1963 in the Sesser, Illinois school system. Dorothy taught beginning band, cadet band, stage band, Jr. High Chorus, and classroom music. Dorothy’s groups participated in many parades, band days, and contests. She has also done some adjudicating of music groups. Dorothy belonged to MENC, Illinois Music Educator’s Association, NBA, Illinois Grade School Band and Orchestra Association, State Chairman, Illinois and WBDI.
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