80 years in the making: Leon High's Marching Redcoats launch scholarship drive
Over the past 80-plus years, Leon High School’s band has performed for governors and at least one president, with thousands of students wearing the red-and-white “Marching Redcoats” uniform. Despite its long and proud history, the band hasn’t had a sustained scholarship program for graduating students.
“It’s a bit overdue. Leon’s chorus and football programs give out scholarships annually, which is wonderful, of course,” said band director Lee Commander. “And now it’s time for band to proudly say the same — but first, we need some help.”
With support from generous inaugural donors, the Leon Band Boosters have raised more than $10,000 and opened an endowment with the Community Foundation of North Florida, the region’s trusted repository for charitable giving. The boosters’ goal is to grow the fund to $50,000, at which point they feel confident they can award a few scholarships for perpetuity.
To make a donation, visit marchingredcoats.com/scholarshipfund. All donations are tax deductible, and a receipt will be sent automatically. Checks can also be mailed Attn: Lee Commander; Leon High School; 550 E. Tennessee St.; Tallahassee, FL 32308. Checks should be made payable to “Leon Band Boosters” with “scholarships” in the memo line.
'Made brighter by the band'
“It sounds like a lot of money, but if even 400 Marching Redcoat alumni gave a hundred dollars each, we’d be at our goal,” Commander said. “But we are counting on the greater Leon community — not just Leon band alumni, but all who support music education — to chip in and make a huge impact for deserving students.
“We know there are countless Leon alumni whose Friday night football games were made brighter by the band,” he added. “And Tallahassee, more than most communities, understands the value of the arts.”
In 2022, Leon band parents self-funded an inaugural class of scholarships. All four recipients attended local schools — TCC, FAMU and FSU — with two joining FSU’s Marching Chiefs.
Cheryl Ann Hobbs Hurt and her family were among the first to support the scholarship. Hurt’s father, Oliver Hobbs, directed the band from 1950 to 1967 and took the program to new heights of musical excellence. Hobbs launched a streak of overall "superior ratings” that remains unbroken to this day — and, at 73 years and counting, is believed to be a state record.
“Dad had high standards, but he really wanted to instill students with an appreciation for hard work and determination, traits that would continue beyond high school,” Hurt said. “He would support this effort to make it easier for students to access continuing education, and take those skills beyond the band room to make a difference in the lives of others.”
Hurt said she knows some scholarships were given out during her father’s tenure, but they fell by the wayside.
“This is good to get it going again and make it secure forever,” she said.
Memorial Spring Concert honors director
Hurt will be in attendance at the annual Oliver Hobbs Memorial Spring Concert, set for 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the Leon High School auditorium. Dr. David Thornton, who was Leon’s director of bands from 2008 to 2012, is visiting from Michigan where he is now associate director of bands at Michigan State University. Thornton will serve as guest conductor. Admission is free, and donations will be accepted for the scholarship fund at the event.
Commander said another benefit of partnering with the Community Foundation of North Florida is that donors can support Leon band in other ways than by giving cash. They can donate stock, make a gift from an IRA, put Leon Band in their will and more.
To learn more about these options or about the scholarship program, email marchingredcoats@gmail.com.
If you go
What: The annual Oliver Hobbs Memorial Spring Concert
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 2
Where: Leon High School auditorium,, 550 E. Tennessee St.
Who: Dr. David Thornton, former Leon band director and current Michigan State University associate band director, serves as guest conductor
Cost: free
To give
Visit marchingredcoats.com/scholarshipfund to donate online, or make a check payable to “Leon Band Boosters,” with “scholarships” in the memo line, and mail it to:Attn: Lee CommanderLeon High School550 E Tennessee St.Tallahassee, FL 32308
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Leon High's Marching Redcoats aim to ‘make a huge impact’
