In 1964, 67 passionate former members of the Longhorn Band (LHB) organized the Longhorn Alumni Band (LHAB) to support the Showband of the Southwest and its legacy. During their early meetings, the group passed a hat to create an informal scholarship fund. By the ’80s, the group wanted to develop a more sustainable plan, including permanent funding for scholarships, so in 1988 they created The Longhorn Alumni Band Charitable Fund. This 501(c)(3) corporation allowed them to offer different levels of recognition and tax deductions to contributors.
Alan W. Ford, BBA ’72, and J.P. Kirksey, BBA ’65, helped form the Charitable Fund; Alan provided technical assistance and J.P. served in leadership positions. Their friendship, which spans more than six decades, began while they were band members in the late ’60s. J.P. came from a small West Texas town and Alan grew up in Austin, but both found a sense of place at UT.
“The Longhorn Band is a great camaraderie organization,” says Alan. “It teaches kids to perform their personal best while working as part of a team.”
The past meets the future annually on Band Day when LHB and LHAB — now more than 4,000 members strong, spanning 12 countries — each perform halftime shows separately and then together. It is an amazing sight as upwards of 1,000 former and current band members march the field at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.
In addition to Band Day activities, LHAB drives school spirit and pride in unique ways. One of the LHAB’s many high points was a 2019 trip to Normandy to honor the 75th anniversary of D-Day. “After two days of solemn memorial services at American cemeteries,” recalls Alan, “about 275 of us, ages 20-something to 80-plus, marched in a jubilant parade.”
The group’s impact on new Longhorns has grown dramatically through the years. In 2023, they distributed nearly $330,000 in scholarships, and to date, the LHAB and its members have donated millions for LHB scholarships. The goal is for future generations to experience the incredible life-changing experience that comes from being part of the band.
“Through the Longhorn Alumni Band, we have cultivated friendships and continued our musical ability, and it all grew out of the affiliation with a truly magnificent organization. Being part of the Longhorn Band is a following that you have for life,” says J.P.
