The Road to the Rainbow | 1956-1973

1956 – Greenwood Director Verne Jacobs

The 51 members of the Greenwood Marching Woodmen needed a new director in the spring of 1955. Director Jerry Holeman had resigned after two years. The vacancy was filled by Verne Jacobs. Jacobs had his Masters from the Jordan College of Music and taught privately in local schools for several years before accepting the band director position at Elwood Public School in 1951.

The fall of 1955 saw Greenwood back at I.U.’s High School Band Day. The event added 22 more bands and nearly 1,000 more musicians than the previous year. In January 1956 Greenwood again competed in the Solo & Ensemble contest at the I.U. School Music Association. It’s notable that the program was coordinated by Dr. Maurice Shadley who began Greenwood’s band program 20 years earlier.

In 1947, the Indiana State Fair began a band competition that continues to this day. The Indiana State Fair Band Day competition began small, but it wasn’t long before it became the competition to win in Indiana. Greenwood first competed in the State Fair competition under Verne Jacobs in 1956. The contest was a “track show” divided into a preliminary round and a finals round. Bands would perform a much shorter show (three minutes) than the field shows of today and they performed in more traditional marching band formations on the fairgrounds race track. The top 16 groups in the prelims, the “Sweet 16,” made up the finals competition. In another couple of decades, this show would really put the Marching Woodmen in the spotlight. Until then, Greenwood competed, but didn’t make it past the preliminary round. They finished in 40th place in 1958, 28th place in 1959 and 33rd place in 1960.

In 1959 the Greenwood Junior / Senior High School expanded again by adding a cafeteria and eighteen new classrooms. Also in 1959, the Greenwood Stokely-Van Camp facility relocated to Indianapolis. Formerly the J. T. Polk Canning Company, the business had been a fixture in Greenwood since the late 1800’s.

The 1960 Greenwood Marching Woodmen

In October of 1961 Greenwood returned to I.U.’s High School Band Day and joined 6,000 players from Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

The 1961 Greenwood Marching Woodmen

New in the fall of 1962 was the Greenwood Pompom Corps. The precursor to the Irish Guard of today, they joined the Greenwood Majorettes on the field. In several years, they would be under the direction of future Greenwood mayor, Jeanette Surina.

1965 – Greenwood Director Karl Krueger

In the spring of 1964, Verne Jacobs decided to relinquish his role as high school band director in favor of taking over the junior high band. He also taught instrumental music to fourth, fifth and sixth graders, as well as vocal music for grades one through six at the Central and Northeast Elementary Schools. Greenwood’s choral director, Karl F. Krueger, added to his duties by also becoming director for the high school marching and concert bands.

1964 Greenwood Centennial Parade – Johnson County Museum of History

August of 1964 marked Greenwood’s Centennial. The celebration ran from the 8th to the 15th. The highlight of the last day was the large parade. Of course, the Marching Woodmen participated. Krueger next led the band at the State Fair contest in September and they finished in 52nd place. Center Grove finished in 44th under the direction of David Van Veld.

Karl Krueger left Greenwood after the 1964-1965 school year. Center Grove’s director, David Van Veld made the move to GHS in the spring of 1965. One of his first duties was directorship of the Greenwood summer music program which included instruction courses for fifth through twelfth graders. The program began July 6. Then preparations began for the State Fair competition which was held September 1. The 14-year-old event was one of the largest in the nation and boasted 92 bands that year.

1966 – Greenwood Director David Van Veld

Competing in the district solo and ensemble competition in February 1966 were Vic Miller, Warren Miller and Emily Faye Burdsall. Vic received a first division rating, while Warren and Emily received second division ratings. Also receiving a second division rating was the ensemble composed of Cindy Crump, Sandy Day and Sue Stretchberry.

In April the concert band won a second place finish at the State School Music Contest held at Ben Davis. In May, Superintendent Stanley Porter announced that David Van Veld had been named to the newly-created post of director of music for all students in grades one through twelve.

In a unique foreshadowing of things to come, a Greenwood concert in November was titled “The Rainbow Musical.” Debuting at the concert was Greenwood’s new Gold ‘n Blues stage band — a forerunner of today’s Jazz Ensemble. Like today, Greenwood had two concert bands. The concept was the same, but the names were swapped. The Greenwood Concert Band was made up of younger students, while the Symphonic Band required auditions for membership like the Wind Ensemble of today.

The 1967 Greenwood Marching Woodmen

In 1968, the annual Greenwood August Festival featured music, rides, food and attractions. It also featured a massive, 2-hour parade from the Greenwood Center (later Greenwood Park Mall) down Madison to the high school. Greenwood won the award for best Marching Band, and Greenwood majorette, Annie Koch, was crowned Miss Greenwood 1968.

1968 Majorette

Johnson county was experiencing rapid growth. It was ranked as the third fastest growing county from 1960 to 1970 with a population increase from 43,704 to 61,138. The population growth made it clear that a new school building was needed. Budgets were set, plans were drawn and construction began on Smith Valley Road in the late 60’s. The current junior / senior high building was renamed Greenwood Middle School. Greenwood Community High School was dedicated in 1970. On November 8, the concert band played at the dedication of the new auditorium. The first performance in the new auditorium was the December 13 Christmas Concert.

In April 1971, Greenwood made a “clean sweep” at the ISMA (not ISSMA until 1981) competition in Martinsville. The Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Concert Choir and Girls’ Chorus all received first place ratings in their divisions. From the Daily Journal, “These high ratings are the results of many hours of hard work by all GHS musicians. David Van Veld is instrumental music instructor and Walter Lamble is choral instructor.”

The 1971 Greenwood Marching Woodmen

In the spring of 1971, the highest priority project was the purchase of 175 new band uniforms at a cost of $85 each. The uniforms reflected the new school colors of green and gold. They were styled after the British Grenadier Guardsmen with green coats and black pants. They were trimmed in gold and included a black fur shako (hat). The Greenwood Woolworth store donated 10% of sales on August 26 to the band uniform fund. That was one of the numerous fundraisers. Greenwood’s new band uniforms were purchased, fitted and presented to the public for the first time during the parade competition at the August Festival Days. The Marching Woodmen next presented a preview of their 1971 State Fair show on August 23 on the football field at the middle school.

1971 State Fair Competition

Under Van Veld’s leadership, the Marching Woodmen dramatically expanded their membership from 80 in 1966 to 150 in 1972. While the influx of people to Johnson County certainly played a role, it was also due to the influence of director Van Veld. According to the Daily Journal, “The success of the Marching Woodmen is attributed to the leadership and direction of Dr. David Van Veld, director of the band. In the opinion of students and community residents alike, his vigorous organization and innovation have made Greenwood’s Marching Woodmen band a symbol of community pride.” More students meant more fundraisers. Students sold calendars and magazines. As always, band parents worked the concessions stand for home football games. Another traditional fundraiser was “Tag Day.” A donation to the band would earn you a tag which you wore to show your support. In addition to increasing the size of the band, “Mr V,” as he was known to students, also increased their standing in competitions. At the State Fair Band Day competition in 1970, Greenwood finished in the top 20 for the first time. The following year, they were awarded their first placement in the “Sweet 16” finals round and finished 16th overall. Eighteen thousand spectators watched the competition which was won by Anderson Highland High School. As a thank you for their fundraising efforts, Woolworth proudly displayed Greenwood’s trophy in their store.

1971 State Fair Trophy – 16th Place – Middle School Director Dan Rice, Drum Major Gordon Miller and Director David Van Veld. – The Daily Journal

The band’s next competition brought home another trophy. They placed first in the Ball State Band Day on September 18. According to director Van Veld, “Greenwood has participated in the Ball State contest for the past four years. We began with a seventh place win, then fifth, third and this year first.” Van Veld said the Whiteland Warriors cheered the Greenwood band on during the performance and contributed to the enthusiasm of the day.

The next stop was a Division 1 rating at the Southport District competition on October 9.

In May 1972, the Woodmen performed in the 500 Festival Parade on the Friday before the race. They also marched down the front straightaway of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the parade of bands prior to the race on Saturday. This was before the 500 was moved to Sunday in 1974. Greenwood did not better their State Fair performance of the previous year. They finished 26th in the prelims right behind Center Grove. Of note, the Martinsville Artesian Show Band finished 5th under the direction of Herman Knoll, but much more on him in the next post.

1972 Victor Ramsey

Greenwood senior Beth Ann Thomas was selected to be a member of the 1972 McDonald’s All-American High School Band. This group was comprised of the nation’s top 101 high school musicians. The band was made up of two musicians from each state and one from the District of Columbia. The group performed at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York and the New Year’s Day Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena. Director Van Veld nominated Beth Ann for her exceptional performance with the Marching Woodmen. She was the band secretary and also a double section leader. In addition, Beth Ann was a member of the concert choir, on staff for Timberlines, a member of the National Honor Society and Quill and Scroll journalism Honor Club. Ed Wojtowicz, owner of the Greenwood McDonald’s on County Line Road, as well as president of the Greenwood Lions Club, made the announcement and said, “This is a real tribute to the musical talents of Beth Ann and the other band members and it is with extreme pride that we can have a representative from Greenwood.”

Also in 1972, trumpet player Victor Ramsey was the very first Greenwood student to be selected for the Indiana All-State High School Band under the direction of Dr. W. Francis McBeth.

David Van Veld left Greenwood in the spring of 1973 to teach at Naples High School in Florida. His years as director ensured that the Marching Woodmen were well prepared for the many successes to follow. The band just needed a new director who could see those past successes as stepping stones to even greater achievements. Fortunately, just such a director would be announced in May.

Add your voice to the story. Add a comment below. All comments are moderated before posting.
All contents are © Greenwood Community High School. All rights reserved. Attribution of photographs has been given when known.