By Don Rutledge
FPS Associate Editor
February 2, 2010
 |
| Bill Shepherd Jr., who has retired as Director of Bands at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), is shown holding a plaque presented at a halftime football game last fall for his 33 years of service to the School of Music at UNI. |
A 1951 graduate of Carrollton High School has retired as Professor of Music at the University of Northern Iowa.
William J. (Bill) Shepherd Jr., son of the late William (Bill) and Helen Shepherd of Carrollton, was honored at a halftime football game last fall when he was presented a plaque for his 33 years of service to the School of Music at the University of Northern Iowa.
Shepherd was also honored in 2003 in Carrollton when he was inducted into the Carrollton High School Almuni Hall of Fame for his prestigious career in the field of music, having served as both a high school and college band director, adjudicator, clinician and performer.
In fact, Shepherd recently recorded a new CD titled “Christmas in Cedar Falls with the Bill Shepherd Big Band” and featuring his daughter, Nola Shepherd, singing several family Christmas selections.
Shepherd’s musical career actually began while he was a student at Carrollton High School when he formed his own 16-piece orchestra under the legendary music teacher and former CHS Band Director Herbert Jones. Shepherd later continued his music instruction under the late George Toot, who served as band director at CHS from 1952-56.
Upon receiving his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from Ohio University, Shepherd served as band director at McConnelsville, Wellington, Wooster and Sandy Valley High Schools, and as a brass instructor at Wooster College.
His bands were featured at numerous college and professional football games, including the Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Prior to his teaching career, Shepherd toured as a trombonist with the Warren Covington’s Tommy Dorsey orchestra in 1958-59.
He also recorded for Decca Records and was selected to play in an All American Band Masters presentation at an appearance in Chicago with the former conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra, the late Arthur Fiedler.
Shepherd served as state chairman of the American School Band Directors Association and was on the national executive board of that organization.
In 1970, the School Musician (a music magazine) chose Shepherd as one of the top ten music educators in the United States and Canada. In 1971, Shepherd was one of ten college band directors chosen to conduct the United States Air Force Band at a conducting symposium sponsored by the College Band Directors Association at Ithaca, NY.
Another highlight of his career was a performance he gave at a concert of American music at the School of Music at Hertzen Pedagogical University in St. Petersburg, Russia, in May 1999.
Shepherd’s visit to Russia was part of an exchange program which has been in place for several years between Hertzen Pedagogical University and the University of Northern Iowa.
Shepherd says he does not plan to completely retire. He still will continue his Dixieland Band, Combo, Big Band. He also plans to continue conducting the summer concerts of the Waterloo Municipal band which he has directed since 1982.
The University of Northern Iowa has also hired him as an adjunct professor to observe student teachers and the Office of Continuing Education has asked him to teach a Liberal Arts Core course, a music Heritage class, one night a week.
In commenting on his retirement, Shepherd says he plans to “ease out” gradually!
Bill’s two sisters are Mrs. Dorothy Horrigan of Carrollton and Mrs. Betty Walters of Wilmore, KY. |
