Odessa High School Band

Odessa, Texas


The Directors

 

John Mayo

John Mayo
2018 - Present

Bill Harden

Bill Harden
1998 - 2018

Bill Harden began his teaching career as the assistant band director at OHS in 1988. He moved to Bowie Junior High School in 1990 and taught there for eight years before returning to OHS in 1998. Mr. Harden is dedicated to the members of the Band and orchestra of Odessa High School (past, present, and future) and strives to continue the tradition.

Mr. Bill Harden is now a Assistant Professor of Music and the Director of Bands in the College of Fine Arts at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas.

Pano Mata

Pano Mata
1994 - 1998

Pano Mata graduated from OHS in 1983. He began his teaching career in Amarillo, Texas at Crockett Junior High School. He returned to Odessa in 1991and taught at Hood Junior High School for three years. He taught At Odessa High School from 1994-1998 where he worked with both the band and orchestra. He currently lives in Odessa and is in constant demand as an adjudicator, clinician, and jazz musician in West Texas and New Mexico

Ed Handley

Ed Handley
1981 - 1994

Ed Handley began his teaching career in 1973 as the assistant band director at Odessa High School. After teaching at Nimitz Junior High School for eight years, he returned to OHS as the director of band and orchestra. He also directed the OHS Orchestra in the school year 96-97. He returns to OHS quite frequently to work with both the band and orchestra. He is currently retired and lives in Midland,Texas.

Bill Dean

Bill J. Dean
1959 - 1981

Bill Dean began his teaching career in Haskell, Texas. He then moved to Odessa and became the assistant band director at OHS. He taught at Bowie Junior High School and returned to OHS when Mr. Maddox became the Director of Fine Arts.

He was the director of the Odessa High Band from the early 60's until the late 70's. He currently is retired and lives in College Station, Texas

Robert Maddox

Robert L. Maddox
1946 - 1959

Robert L. Maddox as pictured in the 1947 Corral. He was the director of the Odessa High Band for many years and later the supervisor of music for the Ector County Independent School District

The current Odessa High Instrumental Music building is named after Robert L. Maddox.

No Picture

Robert Fielder
1945 (Oct. - Dec.)

Robert Fielder

Does anyone know about him?

Wesley C. May

Wesley C. May
abt. 1941 - 1945

Mr. May directed the band during the war years. He later founded May and Duncan Music Company.

G. Ward Moody

G. Ward Moody

I got this picture from the 1941 Corral. Mr. Moody was the first Band Director.

Fact or Fiction: One story about Mr. Moody is that he was traveling through Odessa and ran out of gas. He convinced the school board that they needed a band at the high school.