August 31, 1997

Ralph Sackett Recalls FHS National Band Champs of 1923
August 31, 1997

Thousands of Fostorians were gathered around the B&O train station on South Main Street. As the train from Chicago pulled into the station, the crowd sent up a tumultuous ovation. Factory whistles all over town screeched their welcome.

It was June 1923 and Fostoria High School's band was returning triumphant in the very first National Band Contest in Chicago. One of the musicians in that national champion contingent was junior percussionist Ralph Sackett.

"We left by train at midnight for Chicago," said Ralph. "We had a whole coach. And we were supposed to sleep. We were going to have a parade the next morning. We didn't do much sleeping, I'll tell you."

A pack of high school boys on a midnight train, some of them going away from home for the first time? Understandably, sleep was probably not of immediate concern.

The 62-piece band's Chicago adventure did not get off to an auspicious. They were put up at the "Navy Pier" where the accommodations and food were less than adequate. That matter was quickly put aright by FHS Band Director Jack Wainwright.

Wainwright was a remarkably gifted, but somewhat overbearing man.

"He was a tough guy to get along with," said Ralph. "When he said something, it went. But he knew what he was doing. When he went to the superintendent and said, "I want this done or I want that done,' it got done. He ruled the roost. He had an awful temper. You didn't dare horse around with him."

Wainwright came to Fostoria from Oberlin in February 1919 at the age of 29. He had visited Fostoria once before with the Navy Reserve Band on a Liberty Bond drive in World War 1. In addition to organizing the FHS music program, he was instrumental in establishing what is today the All-Ohio State Fair Band and the Ohio Music Education Association.

A year after FHS captured the national band championship, he arranged for Fostoria to host the Ohio State School Band Contest. After leaving Fostoria, Wainwright established his own music camp.

Wainwright selected several pieces for the band's national champion performances - the Spirit of Fostoria March (which he wrote), Then You'll Remember Me, and for the finale, the Bohemian Girl Overture from the opera of the same name by the Irish composer Balfe.

Performing bands played a number of outdoor and indoor venues such as along Michigan Ave. And in the Chicago Theater. One outdoor performance brought on a crisis for the band. They were playing Then You'll Remember Me when, through faulty scheduling, another band came marching up the street vigorously playing a march.

"We were playing our piece. The judges were listening to us," said Ralph. "Here this band comes down the street."

Wainwright, ever alert, scanned the music in front of him. Fortunately, in a couple of bars there was a hold followed by a rest. He would save the situation if his young band would precisely follow his directions.

"Well I don't know how it happened," continued Ralph. "Wainwright, he just came down like that and said, ‘Stop!' and everybody quit. There wasn't a soul played a note. He waited until that band got past. Then we started up again."

That poise won much admiration from the judges. The band won more accolades when they performed Bohemian Girl, a piece most thought too difficult for a high school band.

But according to the Fostoria Daily Review, "But the boys had not played five bars before the eyes of those critics started to pop out and they slid over to the edge of their seats so as not to miss a single note."

Wainwright charges earned 34 points on a 40 point scale and brought the national championship to Fostoria.

Following the judges decision, Captain William Santelman of the U.S. Marine Band pinned the first prize blue ribbon to Wainwright's chest. In addition, the band won $1,000, a set of tympani, a silver flute and a Selmar clarinet.

In the final performance of the contest, Wainwright ascended a platform and led 2,000 high school musicians in the playing of the Star Spangled Banner before an audience of 75,000.

The National Band Contest was the idea of the Band Instrument Manufacturers Association.

In addition to playing in the national competition, the band entertained in other spots as well and to large audiences. On the night of their arrival, they played before a crowd of 10,000 near the Navy Pier.

"We played in hotels, in the lobbies," said Ralph. "We had a chance to stay in Chicago another week. They wanted us to stay. Wainwright said there was only one way we'd do that. We'd take a vote among the band. We went home. We had too many kids get homesick."

The trip to Chicago cost around $2,000. The Rotary and Exchange Clubs contributed to the cause. So did the Mothers of the Band Boys, whose bake sales helped fund the excursion. Finally, the band itself gave a series of Sunday concerts to raise money. Those concerts were also opportunities to practice the pieces the band would play in Chicago.

Ralph was married for many years to his wife, Lillian. They have one son, Ralph Jr., who also lives in Fostoria.


Departments	Ralph Sackett Recalls FHS National Band Champs of 1923 August 31, 1997 Thousands of Fostorians were gathered around the B&O train station on South Main Street. As the train from Chicago pulled into the station, the crowd sent up a tumultuous ovation. Factory whistles all over town screeched their welcome. It was June 1923 and Fostoria High School's band was returning triumphant in the very first National Band Contest in Chicago. One of the musicians in that national champion contingent was junior percussionist Ralph Sackett. "We left by train at midnight for Chicago," said Ralph. "We had a whole coach. And we were supposed to sleep. We were going to have a parade the next morning. We didn't do much sleeping, I'll tell you." A pack of high school boys on a midnight train, some of them going away from home for the first time? Understandably, sleep was probably not of immediate concern. The 62-piece band's Chicago adventure did not get off to an auspicious. They were put up at the "Navy Pier" where the accommodations and food were less than adequate. That matter was quickly put aright by FHS Band Director Jack Wainwright. Wainwright was a remarkably gifted, but somewhat overbearing man. "He was a tough guy to get along with," said Ralph. "When he said something, it went. But he knew what he was doing. When he went to the superintendent and said, "I want this done or I want that done,' it got done. He ruled the roost. He had an awful temper. You didn't dare horse around with him." Wainwright came to Fostoria from Oberlin in February 1919 at the age of 29. He had visited Fostoria once before with the Navy Reserve Band on a Liberty Bond drive in World War 1. In addition to organizing the FHS music program, he was instrumental in establishing what is today the All-Ohio State Fair Band and the Ohio Music Education Association. A year after FHS captured the national band championship, he arranged for Fostoria to host the Ohio State School Band Contest. After leaving Fostoria, Wainwright established his own music camp. Wainwright selected several pieces for the band's national champion performances - the Spirit of Fostoria March (which he wrote), Then You'll Remember Me, and for the finale, the Bohemian Girl Overture from the opera of the same name by the Irish composer Balfe. Performing bands played a number of outdoor and indoor venues such as along Michigan Ave. And in the Chicago Theater. One outdoor performance brought on a crisis for the band. They were playing Then You'll Remember Me when, through faulty scheduling, another band came marching up the street vigorously playing a march. "We were playing our piece. The judges were listening to us," said Ralph. "Here this band comes down the street." Wainwright, ever alert, scanned the music in front of him. Fortunately, in a couple of bars there was a hold followed by a rest. He would save the situation if his young band would precisely follow his directions. "Well I don't know how it happened," continued Ralph. "Wainwright, he just came down like that and said, ‘Stop!' and everybody quit. There wasn't a soul played a note. He waited until that band got past. Then we started up again." That poise won much admiration from the judges. The band won more accolades when they performed Bohemian Girl, a piece most thought too difficult for a high school band. But according to the Fostoria Daily Review, "But the boys had not played five bars before the eyes of those critics started to pop out and they slid over to the edge of their seats so as not to miss a single note." Wainwright charges earned 34 points on a 40 point scale and brought the national championship to Fostoria. Following the judges decision, Captain William Santelman of the U.S. Marine Band pinned the first prize blue ribbon to Wainwright's chest. In addition, the band won $1,000, a set of tympani, a silver flute and a Selmar clarinet. In the final performance of the contest, Wainwright ascended a platform and led 2,000 high school musicians in the playing of the Star Spangled Banner before an audience of 75,000. The National Band Contest was the idea of the Band Instrument Manufacturers Association. In addition to playing in the national competition, the band entertained in other spots as well and to large audiences. On the night of their arrival, they played before a crowd of 10,000 near the Navy Pier. "We played in hotels, in the lobbies," said Ralph. "We had a chance to stay in Chicago another week. They wanted us to stay. Wainwright said there was only one way we'd do that. We'd take a vote among the band. We went home. We had too many kids get homesick." The trip to Chicago cost around $2,000. The Rotary and Exchange Clubs contributed to the cause. So did the Mothers of the Band Boys, whose bake sales helped fund the excursion. Finally, the band itself gave a series of Sunday concerts to raise money. Those concerts were also opportunities to practice the pieces the band would play in Chicago. Ralph was married for many years to his wife, Lillian. They have one son, Ralph Jr., who also lives in Fostoria.