The Beginnings
"We might do something. If you'll get the fellows together, I'll direct. We might do something." The year was 1940 – the speaker was Ingmar Skatrud – The "something" was the formulation of the Harriman Jaycee Band, forerunner of the Harriman High School "Rhapsody in Blue" Band.
According to Max Johnson, a prime mover of the Harriman band program, the Jaycees, then a young organization, were called upon to participate in one of the biggest celebrations this area had ever seen - the Harriman Semi-Centennial. Such a celebration called for a mammoth parade and a parade called for a band! Ingmar Skatrud, a former high school professor of Norwegian descent, came out of retirement and offered to direct, giving Max Johnson instructions to get the "fellows." Seventeen "fellows" (boys and girls – Jaycee members and students) showed up for the first rehearsal on May 28. The first official presentation, a Masonic district meeting, was June 25.
By the time of the celebration parade in July, the band had grown to 26 members and Monday night was firmly established as "band practice" night. In Max's words, "We worked hard on a march 'Our Director' and had it sounding pretty good. No thought was given to marching practice...we were having enough trouble with the music...but we marched in white duck pants, white shirts and high silk hats ...little did we think that when the first chord sounded on May 28 that it would echo..and can still be heard today, perhaps as a finer sound but with no more spirit."
Although the original plan was to organize, march, then disband, the Jaycees put the Harriman band program on the road, so to speak, when they accepted an invitation to march in Chattanooga the following month. The first "band trip" was made in a 1936 school bus and for uniforms – well, to quote Max again – "We all bought overalls and big straw hats ...painted bright red with our white shirts and blue overalls...the first red, white and blue Jaycee Band uniform." This ensemble wearing such strange garb made a big hit in Chattanooga and convinced local citizens that Harriman needed a permanent band with suitable uniforms. Early in 1941 $200 was appropriated by the city for flashy red and white uniforms and band members felt that they were a real band.
Most of the Jaycee members departed for the service following the Pearl Harbor attack in December, 1941. It was then that the beginnings of the Harriman High School – Jaycee Band were made, with Professor Skatrud coming to the school about once a week to give instruction. Upon Skatrud's resignation late in 1945, the school authorities took steps to incorporate the band, hiring Herbert Guy as full time band teacher and director. Arriving in January, 1946, "Pappy" Guy changed the concept of band locally and soon had a fine concert organization underway. In his 18 months "Pappy" introduced Harriman students to state and regional clinics and took the Band to Johnson City for participation in their first festival...they received a Superior rating.
John B. Dodge became head of the High School music department in 1947. During his three year tenure the band, now officially known as the Harriman High School Jaycee Band, changed its look with bright new blue and white uniforms and moved into the first permanent band room located under the stage area of the High School Auditorium...Be it ever so humble, they now had a home!
Under the leadership of John Dameron in the years 1951-1958, the music program in the Harriman school system was greatly expanded. By 1957 Dameron had developed two complete bands, plus training classes with about 150 students taking part in the various phases of the program. It was during his stay that the band marched in Nashville in the inaugural parade of Governor Frank Clement and on their return trip spent the night in their buses near Crossville in a snow storm...the only time the band ever failed to return home on schedule.
