Michigan State College

Michigan State University

(1952-1960)

In his testimony about Leonard Falcone, Stover mentions that the two first met in 1947 at a college band directors meeting in Chicago at an Music Educators National Conference. That MENC meeting is known today as The Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic and meets every year in Chicago. That meeting of college band directors grew into the College Band Directors National Association. Stover met Leonard Falcone in 1947 and almost undoubtedly Falcone recruited Stover to start an Ed.D. degree at Michigan State. Stover definitely began summer coursework by 1950, however, may have taken a class in 1949 (both years indicated in scrapbooks). A May 8, 1952 article in the a local Coffeyville newspaper indicates  he was giving his final concert with the Coffeyville Junior College Band that evening, along with twelve graduating sophomores, before taking a leave of absence to finish a degree at Michigan State. Stover had recently been named teacher of the year by the Coffeyville Junior Chamber of Commerce. 

Stover played trumpet in the marching band during the fall term. During the spring term of 1953, the trumpet professor at Michigan State College resigned abruptly and Stover took over the teaching duties of that position. This led to an appointment that fall as Drill Master of the Marching Band and Assistant Director to Dr. Leonard Falcone, Director of Bands. 

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The videos below are from the original drobnakbrass website. They contain photos and items from Stover's scrapbooks. Pictures of the Michigan State Charting Books from the 1950s are on subpages.

This is an updated version of the 1952-1953 movie.

This is the second version of the 1953-1954 slideshow. It includes charting from the 1954 Rose Bowl performance and other images. Music has also been added to the background. 

This is the second version of the 1954-1955 slideshow. Music has been added to the background.

Another Rose Bowl Trip Year!