Orange Bowl Capers

Tommy Towery

LHS '64

Lee High School Band at the 1963 Orange Bowl

On January 1, 1964, the Lee High School Band from Huntsville, Alabama proudly performed at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida—a prestigious national stage that coincided with the football matchup between Nebraska and Auburn. Their appearance was part of the halftime festivities, which traditionally featured top-tier high school and college bands from across the country.

Commemorative Vinyl LP: Their performance was memorialized in a special vinyl record titled: Lee High School Band LP Alabama 1963–1964 Orange Bowl. This LP captured the spirit and musical excellence of the band during their Orange Bowl appearance. It’s now a rare collector’s item, occasionally found on resale sites like eBay.

Yearbook Connection: The 1964 Silver Sabre yearbook—Lee High School’s first—also documents this historic moment. Scanned and archived by Tommy Towery, it offers photos and reflections from students and faculty during that landmark year. You can explore it on the Internet Archive.

Cultural Significance

• Performing at the Orange Bowl placed the Lee High Band in front of over 72,000 spectators, alongside national television coverage.

• Their selection reflected the band’s reputation for precision, musicality, and showmanship.

• The event was a major milestone for the school, which had only recently opened in 1957.

 1964 Orange Bowl – January 1, 1964

The 30th Orange Bowl, played on January 1, 1964, in Miami, Florida, featured a showdown between two top-ranked teams: the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Auburn Tigers. It was part of the 1963–64 college football bowl season and marked a historic win for Nebraska.

Game Summary

• Opening Play: Nebraska quarterback Dennis Claridge scored on a dramatic 68-yard run just minutes into the game.

• Field Goals: Kicker Dave Theisen added two field goals (31 and 36 yards), giving Nebraska a 13–0 lead at halftime.

• Auburn’s Response: In the third quarter, quarterback Jimmy Sidle ran in a 13-yard touchdown, narrowing the score to 13–7.

• Defensive Heroics: Auburn nearly scored again late in the game, but Nebraska linebacker John Kirby deflected a crucial fourth-down pass at the 11-yard line to preserve the win.

This victory was Nebraska’s first major bowl win, under head coach Bob Devaney, and broke the SEC’s six-game winning streak in Orange Bowl matchups.

This story was first published in The Traveller on January 06, 2014

We’re Going to the Orange Bowl (And You’re Not)! 

A Band Trip Confession

by Rainer Klauss

Class of ‘64

( Note from Rainer in 2014 : I wrote this story 10 years ago (when it had been 40 years ago that we made that trip). Now we’re a bit further down the road on our own parade, but still marching together in many ways.)

        Forty years ago, in the early evening of Friday, January 3, 1964, the Lee High School Band rolled up in front of the school, having completed its duties as Alabama’s Official Representative at the Orange Bowl Festival in Miami. Greeted by the welcoming fanfare of our families, we proud but weary ambassadors swarmed out of the three buses, picked up our gear, said goodbye to our friends and lovers, and headed back home for de-briefings and familiar comforts. In our nine-day musical odyssey through three states, we had gotten an early thrill, strutted our stuff before a national television audience, enjoyed prime seats at a major bowl game, and, in general,  had given a good account of ourselves while we experienced as much fun and pleasure as a healthy group of teenagers could (given that we were chaperoned). For those of you who were lucky enough to participate in the trip, I hope the following reminiscence sparks your memory and reminds you of the good times. For those of you who had to stay behind in the cold, here’s a condensed, expurgated version of what happened.

        I am fortunate that my mother saved the booklet that the Band Parents Association created for this trip. It’s the blueprint of a bold and ambitious venture. This seventeen-page document is, in its very comprehensiveness, an indicator of the many complexities and details a project of this nature had to address and resolve.  Since the author or authors are anonymous, I don’t know who to praise for this manifold document. It’s an itinerary, history, organization chart, passenger manifest, code of conduct, vision statement, and public relations pamphlet all rolled into one. Much of what I relate here comes from its pages.

        The idea of pursuing a bid to participate in the Orange Bowl Parade was introduced at one of the committee meetings of the Band Parents Association in December 1962. Robert Becks, the father of Sylvia (’64) and Roger (’65), provided much of the vision, drive, and experience that helped make the dream come true. His co-chairman was C. M. O’Bryant, the father of Richard (’64). These two men were ably assisted by Mr. Foley, the band director, whose main responsibility was developing our musicianship.  A lot of the essential work of organizing this expedition was done at another level: many of the smart, talented and dedicated parents of the band members stepped forward to make things happen through committees and individual initiative.

This story was first published in The Traveller on February 5, 2018

Band Bus Trip!

Terry Barnes

LHS ‘66

    I think that one of the most amazing bus trip stories is one that involved many members of LHS.  In late December of 1963 the Lee High School Marching Band met at the school before daylight on a cold and icy day.  My memory was that there were three buses, chartered Greyhound or Trailways I think, to carry us all as well as a vehicle pulling a horse trailer that carried our mascot, Traveller.  We were heading for Miami, Florida, and the Orange Bowl Parade, which I remember as being held on New Year’s Eve 1963, and to attend the football game played on New Year’s Day 1964.

    This all comes from my almost 70 year old memory of an event that occurred 54 years ago so any corrections or additions to my account would be greatly appreciated.

    My recollection of this trip is that the prime mover in making it happen was Sylvia (1964) and Roger (1965) Becks’ father.  I believe that us bandmembers started hearing about the possibility of such a trip in the spring of 1963 when I was a 9th grader and band member at LHS.  I can only imagine in hindsight the tremendous amount of planning and negotiating with LHS administration, the school board, concerned parents, etc. that must have gone on.

    What didn’t require hindsight was fundraising because us bandmembers were in the thick of that.  I suspect that substantial funds were raised from sources that we bandmembers weren’t aware of but we were tasked to sell a 33 1/3 record of the band playing various tunes.  Some folks showed up in the band practice room one day during band period and it was explained that they were getting a preliminary recording to check for proper microphone position, sound levels and so forth.  Well, under the direction of Mr. James B. Foley, the band played its collective heart out and that “preliminary” recording turned into the final recording (I’m sure that was the plan all along) and thence into the vinyl 33 1/3 record.  There was a $50 prize for the bandmember who sold the most records.  I went at it with a vengeance in the Lakewood subdivision area in the NW part of town and won that prize.  I suspect some of you out there might still have a copy of the record.  Yep, just checked, there’s one for sale on Ebay!  Search Ebay for “Lee High School Band Album”.

    Somehow, someway it all came together resulting in that early morning, pre-daylight gathering at the school to load up and head for Miami, Florida to march in the Orange Bowl Parade and attend the 1964 Orange Bowl.  Saying we met to “load up” is a bit of an oversimplification.  We had instruments ranging from flutes to sousaphones, suitcases, personal items, chaperones, etc.  Well it didn’t get off to a good start….as we headed south on US Highway 431 the roads going down the back side of Monte Sano were iced over.  The buses were unloaded and we all walked down the highway until the roads were clear enough that the road was safe to drive on.  The aforementioned 70 year old memory believes that poor Traveller was badly hurt, or maybe even died, when the horse trailer/tow vehicle combo slid off the icy road.

    Anyway, off we went, heading for Miami.  It was certainly not a one day trip but I don’t remember where we spent the night.  It might have been around Ocala, Florida.  I also don’t remember where we had our meals as we made our way south.  Just the logistical hoopla for the meals sounds like a nightmare task.  I don’t remember if there was a requirement for each band member to bring some cash for meals or if it was funded as part of the trip.

We stayed in a hotel on Biscayne Boulevard in Miami I believe.  Biscayne Boulevard was the main portion of the parade route.  We marched in the parade and went to the Orange Bowl game the next day.  These were the days of just a few bowl games (Rose, Cotton, Sugar, Orange) and the parades were extravagant events.  Times have changed with bowl games galore and I think the only remaining parade of any substance is the Rose Bowl Parade.  On New Year’s Day, we watched from field level in an end zone corner sitting in folding chairs as Auburn played Nebraska and came up on the short end of a 13-7 score.

    Mission accomplished we all loaded up again and headed north and I do remember that we spent the night in Jacksonville, Florida.  Meanwhile, back in Huntsville, a fairly significant snowstorm had occurred and it seems that it may have affected out return timing.  It might have been that we had to spend two nights in Jacksonville because of the snow situation in Huntsville.

    I thought that someone would respond to the “bus story” request with something about this trip.  When I didn’t see something show up I knew had to send something in.  It was really an extraordinary undertaking on many levels.  There are surely a number of side stories about the trip that are out there as well which would be fun to hear about.  I lose track of the grade track/sequence at Lee during those times but I think that the band members that made the trip were all '64, '65, or '66ers.  Did the class of ’67 attend LHS as 9th graders?  In any event most of the folks on that trip were part of our “special” group.  Just another piece of our history that makes the '64-'65-'66 crew a special part of the LHS Fami-Lee.

"Orange Bowl Capers"

Music Created By Tommy Towery With AI Music Generator

[Verse]

On the bus to Miami with dreams in our hands

Lee High’s finest

The Generals’ band

Drummers tapping

The beat won’t stop

Majorettes spinning like a soda pop

[Prechorus]

Brass is blazing

Hearts are racing

The parade calls

No time for pacing

[Chorus]

Orange Bowl Capers

We’re marching in line

With the rhythm of history

The moment’s divine

Trumpets sing and the crowd goes wild

Generals’ pride

Every note’s our style

[Verse 2]

George Wallace helped us with our plan

But it’s our show now

We’re taking command

The snares roll sharp

The tubas roar

Feet hit the pavement

They’re begging for more

[Prechorus]

Flags are flying

Drums are crying

This beat’s electric

There’s no denying

[Chorus]

Orange Bowl Capers

We’re marching in line

With the rhythm of history

The moment’s divine

Trumpets sing and the crowd goes wild

Generals’ pride

Every note’s our style

The Wayback Machine

"Radar Men from the Moon"

 02 Molten Terror

Now tell me you don't like that song! I never played in the band so I know I missed a large part of being a high school student. The only instrument I ever played in school (and that was many years and classes before high school) was a little black flute. I think the only song I could play was "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." That was before days of band practice, concerts, and bus trips. 

Last Week's Questions, Answers, And Comments

Joel Weinbaum,  LHS ‘64, "Reflecting on Huntsville's delights of years past may be more important than we give credit with all the changes continuing into this modern age of growth. The bus fare between Sheffield and Florence was 25 cents back when I was 12 years old. Taking a trip by Greyhound or Trailways was even more special. Delighted with the smell of the bus terminal.  One school bus trip I recall was from Sheffield to the Goldsmith-Shiffman field for a football game against Lee before we moved. But getting to school was by walking, bicycling, or motorbike. And first kisses... or first loves...iBots will never replicate that!"

Lynn Bozeman Vanpelt, LHS ‘66, "I worked at the Lyric the summer of '66,  Ronald Martz (Ken’s older brother) was the manager,  Kenneth Finley was the usher and I sold the tickets.  I must confess Kenneth and I allowed more  “free” admissions for Lee High friends than I care to admit.  One major perk was getting to go see any movie at the other theatres, the Martin was directly across the street from the Lyric."

Wayne Gentle, LHS ‘65, "Tommy, the song about the bus system is great and the result is right on. My sister and I use to ride the bus to the theater and then ride back. I can still hear the old windows rattling in the bus. Thanks for all your great efforts every week!",

Mary Ann Bond Wallace, LHS ‘64, "I moved to Huntsville my second semester of the 7th grade. It is wonderful to read your newsletter each week that provides me with info about life in Huntsville before I moved there. Also, so many things you write about renew and add to my memories in Huntsville. The city bus drove down Oakwood to Stanhope  Drive, my street. Our home was the 3rd house from the bus stop. I remember riding the bus with my brother, Al to see a movie or go to the swimming pool. Thank you Tommy for your dedication to keeping the these memories alive  and remind us of the students of the early years of Lee High School."