SLS 14RS-1341 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 45
BY SENATOR LONG AND REPRESENTATI VE BROWN
COMMENDATIONS. Commends William "Bill" Brent as the inaugural inductee in the
Mrs. H.D. Dear Sr. and Alice E. Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts Hall of Fame
and recognizes his many years of dedicated service to Northwestern State University.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To commend William "Bill" Brent as the inaugural inductee in the Mrs. H. D. Dear Sr. and2
Alice E. Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts Hall of Fame and recognize3
his many years of dedicated service to Northwestern State University.4
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that the Legislature of Louisiana and the citizens5
of Louisiana recognize Bill Brent as the inaugural inductee in the Mrs. H. D. Dear Sr. and6
Alice E. Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts Hall of Fame and recognizes his many7
years of dedicated service to Northwestern State University; and8
WHEREAS, Bill's fascination with music began at an early age, playing the piano9
at age six, and the trombone at age ten, and was a section leader in the Bonham, Texas, High10
School Warrior Band; and11
WHEREAS, in 1974 Bill earned a Bachelor of Music Education at the University of12
Texas at Austin and in 1981 a Master of Music in Conducting; and13
WHEREAS, Bill's first jobs as a band director were in Austin, Texas, at Pearce14
Middle School and McCallum High School, where the marching band was twice named in15
the top five in the University Interscholastic League "State Marching Contest" and the16
symphonic band was named in the top ten in the Texas Music Educator's Association "Honor17
Band" competition; and 18 SCR NO. 45
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WHEREAS, after earning his master's degree, he returned to Louisiana joining the1
staff at Nicholls State University; and2
WHEREAS, over thirty years ago Northwestern State University (NSU) made the3
wise decision to hire Bill Brent, and Bill's dedication and enthusiasm have been a huge asset4
to the university because his commitment and superior teaching techniques have earned NSU5
numerous awards and accolades; and6
WHEREAS, Bill has served as Director of Bands, Director of CAPA and Conductor7
of the NSU Wind Symphony, and through three presidents, numerous vice presidents and8
alumni directors, he built one of the best marching band programs in the nation; and9
WHEREAS, during his tenure at NSU, the band program has grown from forty-eight10
members to more than three hundred members, and with his leadership, the School of11
Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) has been endowed with more than $2.5 million in12
private scholarship funds and $4 million in grants, and in addition, all academic programs13
in the School of CAPA have been accredited by their national accrediting agencies, and the14
Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System has designated the School as15
an "Area of Excellence"; and 16
WHEREAS, among his professional organization memberships are the Louisiana17
Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, Texas Music18
Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association and Phi Beta Mu, and he was19
elected into the prestigious and elite membership of the American Bandmasters Association;20
and21
WHEREAS, Bill has received many distinct honors which include the National22
Council of Kappa Kappa Psi honoring him with the A. Frank Martin Award in 1997 and in23
2002; he received the highest honor bestowed by NSU to members of the faculty when he24
was presented with the Northwestern "Distinguished Service Award" in 2007, and25
recognized as an "Honorary Alumnus" of Northwestern State University in 2011 and in26
2012; he also received the Outstanding Bandmaster Award from the International27
Bandmasters Fraternity, and was inducted into the Louisiana Music Educators Hall of Fame28
and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame along with such Louisiana music legends as Bill29
Conti and Ellis Marsalis; and 30 SCR NO. 45
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WHEREAS, the distinction of being named the inaugural member of the CAPA Hall1
of Fame is one of many accomplishments in Bill's thirty plus years as a music educator and2
mentor to thousands of Northwestern State students and colleagues, and the Band Hall in the3
A.A. Fredericks Creative and Performing Arts Building at NSU has since been named in his4
honor; and 5
WHEREAS, he is in constant demand among his colleagues as a clinician, guest6
conductor, and adjudicator in Louisiana and across the nation; and7
WHEREAS, the success of the state of Louisiana, the strength of our communities,8
and the overall vitality of American society depend, in great measure, upon men like9
William "Bill" Brent who share their extraordinary talents and gifts and dedicate their lives10
to guiding and teaching others to find and share their gifts and talents with the world; and11
WHEREAS, the State of Louisiana wishes to honor William "Bill" Brent for his12
success and the positive impact he has made on education, music, Northwestern State13
University, the City of Natchitoches and the state of Louisiana.14
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby15
honor, commend, and congratulate William "Bill" Brent as the inaugural inductee in the Mrs.16
H. D. Dear Sr. and Alice E. Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts Hall of Fame and17
recognizes his many years of dedicated service to Northwestern State University.18
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be presented to19
William "Bill" Brent.20
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Tammy Crain Waldrop.
DIGEST
Long SCR No. 45
Commends William "Bill" Brent as the inaugural inductee in the Mrs. H. D. Dear Sr. and
Alice E. Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts Hall of Fame and recognizes his many
years of dedicated service to Northwestern State University.