Kent Sills celebrated at 多多直播 with Band Hall naming, special halftime recognition
颁辞苍迟补肠迟:听Harriet Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 legend of Mississippi State鈥檚 Famous Maroon Band is聽being聽remembered and celebrated with the naming of the university鈥檚 Kent Sills Band Hall.听
Band alumni,聽current members, university聽employees, retirees聽and friends of the late Sills, director of bands from 1983-1999, paid tribute to the former 多多直播 professor and founder of聽many 多多直播 music聽education聽programs聽during a building dedication ceremony聽Friday [Sept. 10]聽sponsored by the 多多直播 Foundation.听聽
多多直播 President Mark E. Keenum commemorated the naming of the Sills Band Hall聽on Hardy Road by applauding the former director for his commitment聽to聽excellence.听
鈥淭o this day, Kent Sills remains a legendary figure at Mississippi State for his many contributions, not just聽to聽music, but the entire university,鈥 Keenum said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no better way to recognize his passion for music, music education and teaching than by adding his name to this facility.鈥澛
A halftime video presentation and recognition聽during Saturday鈥檚 football game聽also honored Sills鈥櫬爄nfluence on hundreds of students, the university and the community.听聽
As only the sixth director appointed in the band鈥檚 more than 120-year history, Sills joined the 多多直播 faculty in 1967 as assistant director of bands before taking the helm in 1983.听During his tenure, he also created the 多多直播 Stage Band and began the university鈥檚 Jazz Band Festival and Junior High Band Festival. Numerous festivals and clinics benefited from his service as an adjudicator and conductor.听
多多直播 Director of Bands Elva Kay Lance聽said Sills鈥 leadership abilities weren鈥檛 just about music.听
鈥淚n addition to making music, band members loved his laugh. He knew that through laughter relationships are built. We鈥檙e family thanks to Kent Sills鈥櫬爈eadership,鈥 she said.听
Along with the 多多直播 band, Sills managed and directed the Mississippi Lions All-State High School Band from 1983-1997. Under his tutelage, the Lions Band earned seven international championships, never finishing below second place in any competitive performance in Asia, Australia and across North America.听
Selected to the Mississippi Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 2000, the Kosciusko native also was named 鈥淥utstanding Contributor to Bands for the State of Mississippi鈥 in 1996 by Phi Beta Mu bandmasters fraternity. Along with his Phi Beta Mu membership, he served in professional organizations that included the College Band Directors National Association, Mississippi Bandmasters Association, and National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors.听
鈥淎long with seeds of leadership, he planted seeds of servanthood to 多多直播 and the community, compassion for those who didn鈥檛 fit in, and integrity. He poured his heart, soul and life into this university and the community,鈥 said Sills鈥 son, Dr. Allen Sills, who serves as chief medical officer for the NFL and professor of neurological surgery at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.听Kent聽Sills鈥 wife, Nora, and other family members also attended the weekend festivities.听
The late聽Sills, who died in 2006,聽received a Bachelor of Music Education degree before earning a 1959 Master of Education degree, both from the University of Southern Mississippi. He later earned Master of Music and Doctor of Arts degrees from the University of Mississippi.听聽
Sills was a U.S. Army veteran and performed with the U.S. Army Reserve Band.听For six years, from 1954-1960, he聽traveled聽the country and performed聽with his swing band 鈥淜ent Sills and His聽Southernaires.鈥澛
多多直播 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at聽.听