I have so many great memories of Mr. Spencer. The Spencer and Lycan families have been close for many years. I think of how Church, music and high school have linked us together. My earliest music memory of Mr. Spencer was right after I learn how to play alto horn from my grandfather. I went to the Salvation Army music camp at Mt Crags when I was a young elementary aged camper. Mr. Spencer was my beginning band director. I remember, like it was yesterday, how he instructed us in phrasing. I cannot remember the song but I can remember the instruction. I never dreamed then that I would be in high school band or that Mr. Spencer would also be my band director again. Mr. Spencer directed my brothers and me through our high school music years. Much of that time, between Church and high school music activities, I saw Mr. Spencer 7 days a week. Mr. Spencer was the ultimate high school band director. He facilitated an environment for music, camaraderie, team work and fun that could not be surpassed. He encouraged us to be learning other instruments and was always available to teach students new instruments. I watched him train so many beginners with patience during those high school years. The concert band had challenges such as the lean years of budget and class reductions but he always adjusted and the band always sounded good. I always enjoyed his selection of music which was challenging and fun to play. Mr. Spencer also encouraged us to be involved in smaller groups such as a brass quintet, woodwind quintet, Dixieland band, jazz band, pep band and any other combos we could think of and most of us played in as many as we could. Mr. Spencer always opened the band room at lunch for us to hangout, practice or whatever. We knew it was our place to be. Mr. Spencer was always available. Section leaders would have extra rehearsals after school and Mr. Spencer would be there for us. If the student leaders wanted to have a Saturday recreation night in the school gym, Mr. Spencer would make it happen if the facility was available. I am sure it was a great sacrifice for Susan and family but we did not know any better. With all the business of a school band director, Mr. Spencer never missed music commitments with church (unless it conflicted with a school band performance). End of the summer band camps in Idlewild were so much fun and hard work. After breakfast and cabin inspection, we spent morning, afternoon and early evening marching and practicing to get ready for parades and football season. But in the later evenings, Mr. Spencer would let us cut loose and have a lot of fun with shaving cream fights (which he even refereed), dances, recreation, pranks between cabins, pranks within cabins, pranks between girls and guys… Mr. Spencer let us have fun and build team work. Before every camp meal, we sang the doxology (with the best 4 part harmony any high school band could muster). Mr. Spencer could also be stern and I remember a time appropriately during my sophomore year when some of us in the band were acting up during field practice for a halftime show. He was “angry” enough that it scared us. He was done with band for the day. But the student leaders rallied the band to do our own extra rehearsals at lunch and after school to show Mr. Spencer that we were sorry for our actions and disrespect. I think he set us up for good behavior and I do not remember there being any disrespectful actions the rest of my high school years... But we still had a lot of fun. The climax of my high school years was spent with Mr. Spencer the week of my graduation. We had the band banquet, where Mr. Spencer awarded me and my buddies from junior high and high school years the music awards and some goofy ones too. The band banquets were always fun. We then had an impromptu band party at my house where Mr. Spencer dropped by for a few minutes. The next day, Mr. Spencer picked me up on the way to the airport so he and I could fly to Oakland to play that night with the Hollywood Tabernacle Band for a Commissioning event. We flew home late that night after the concert so we could get ready for the high School Baccalaureate service the next day. Then a few days later, came high school graduation. I am so thankful for Mr. Spencer because I think God used Mr. Spencer and music to keep me out of trouble during my high school years. Even though, I was out of high school, I continued to play music with Mr. Spencer (sometimes sitting next to him in the section) in the band at Church until I moved away. Our families played together in the band for many years with my dad and Jim sitting 1st and 2nd chair solo horn for many of those years. I felt so proud when my grandfather told me one day that he also taught Mr. Spencer how to play in the Salvation Army. Wow, my grandfather taught music to me and my high school band director. These were great times with Mr. Spencer and I know he will be missed by his family and friends and many students. I know God has said to Jim, “Well done good and faithful servant.” A few thoughts from Russ Lycan