William "Bill" Dean, Jr.
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William "Bill" Jay Dean, Jr. of Leander, Texas passed away on January 19, 2022 at the age of 97. He was born on September 7, 1924 in Sapulpa, Oklahoma to parents Jay and Margie (Miller) Dean.
The Dean family moved to Tulsa where Mr. Dean, at age 10, started his clarinet studies and continued the lessons until he graduated from Tulsa Central High School in 1942. He then enrolled in Baylor University in Waco, but only stayed for one semester as he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served with the 80th Division -3rd Army in Europe from 1943-1945 and received a Purple Heart. In 1945-1946, he joined the Seventh Army Headquarters Band in Heidelberg, Germany and played at General George Patton's funeral. He returned to Baylor in 1946 and graduated with a B.B.A. degree in 1948. Mr. Dean continued his education at Baylor, receiving a Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1950. While at Baylor, he played clarinet in the Baylor Band, Baylor Symphony, and the Waco Symphony.
Mr. Dean started his teaching career in 1950 as the high school band director in Haskell, Texas. He remained in the position for three years, and then moved to Odessa, Texas in 1953 where he started his long and outstanding career in the Odessa public schools. His first position was that of Assistant Director of Bands at Odessa High School with Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame member, Robert Maddox. He moved to Bowie Junior High School as head director in 1956 and taught there until 1959 when he returned to Odessa High School as Director of Band and Orchestra. The Odessa High School marching bands received First Division ratings at UIL Marching Contest for 31 consecutive years. They appeared at the halftime of seven Dallas Cowboy games and made two Cotton Bowl half-time appearances. The Odessa band won UIL Sweepstakes Awards for twenty of the last twenty-two years that Mr. Dean directed the band. The concert band was named Outstanding in 5-A class at Six Flags over Georgia, Six Flags Over Mid-America, and Mountain states Music Festival in 1975 and 1980. The marching band was named Outstanding Marching Band in 1978 in Canyon City, Nevada. At the Tri-State Festival in Enid Oklahoma, the band was named 5-A winner in field marching, concert stage, and parade. The band was also given the Best Dressed Band Award.
Mr. Dean retired from teaching in 1981 and became store manager for the May and Duncan Music Company in Odessa, Texas. After a year, he knew in his heart that he missed teaching. He returned to music education as the Associate Director of the Texas Aggie Band and director of the Texas A&M Symphonic Band. He retired the second time in 1988.
Mr. Dean was the oldest living past President of Texas Bandmasters' Association (TBA), past President of Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Mu, past band division chairman and vice-president of Texas Music Educators' Association (TMEA,) and an All-State Band organizer in 1969 and 1970. Mr. Dean was honored as the Texas Bandmaster of the Year by the TBA in 1987. He was very active as a clinician and adjudicator after he retired. In 2014, Dean was inducted into the American Bandmasters Association. Mr. Dean was a truly outstanding band director and music educator in the state of Texas. He has a long list of Odessa students who went on to teach music and direct instrumental groups.
Dean is survived by his two daughters, Robbie Edwards Maness and husband James and Becki Novak and husband Doug. He is survived by five grandchildren, Phillip Edwards and wife Kristin, Natalie Young and husband Steven, Scott Edwards and wife Megan, Lauren Novak and husband Justin Beish, and Chris Novak. He is also survived by seven great-grandchildren; Brynlee Young, Elle and Prescott Edwards, Zoe, Lucy, and Emma Edwards, and Hannah Novak.
Mr. Dean was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie (Williams) Dean and two sisters, Dorothy Woodson and Helen Webb.
The service for Bill Dean will be held at 1:00 pm on February 1, 2022 at Beck Funeral Home in Cedar Park, Texas to be followed by military honors at the graveside at 3:00 pm at the Veteran Cemetery in Killeen, Texas.