Jimmie Howard Reynolds

Jimmie Howard Reynolds



SHREVEPORT, LA - Jimmie Howard Reynolds died on January 19th, 2013 in Shreveport, Louisiana at the age of 87. Jimmie was born in Wichita, Kansas on February 19th, 1925 to Charles Franklin Cracraft and Orpha Edith (Howard) Cracraft. (His father died when he was 2 years old and he was later adopted by his stepfather, John McCormack Reynolds. Jimmie grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana and received degrees in Music from Louisiana State University and the University of Michigan. After teaching in public schools in Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana, he served as Director of Bands at Peabody/Vanderbilt University, Director of Bands and Head of the Department of Music at Louisiana Tech University and Director of Bands at Iowa State University. From 1980 to 1985 he was Director of Youth Music for the Municipality of Jerusalem, resident conductor of the Israel National Youth Band, and Music Consultant for The Rothschild Foundation, Israel. He also taught courses in Music Education at Tel Aviv University and the Reuben Academy of Jerusalem. Upon his return to the United States, he was Band and Orchestra Director at Byrd High School in Shreveport, LA, the high school from which he graduated 45 years before. After he returned to Byrd High School, he became Conductor and Musical Director of the Byrd Alumni Band, predecessor of the Shreveport Metropolitan Concert Band. He was later Coordinator of Bands for the Caddo Parish (Louisiana) Schools. Reynolds was a past president of the Southern Division of the College Band Directors National Association and member of many other national and regional band associations. He served honorably in the United States Navy as a Lieutenant JG.

As a lifelong educator spending much of the 1950's and 60's in the Deep South, he held a firm belief in the work of the Civil Rights movement often taking stands that put him at odds with the political and social climate of the times. He instilled in his five children the value of all people regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or economic status. He had a deep appreciation for great music and was an enthusiast of amateur radio holding the radio calls W5JFO, W5MBC and W0ONU.

Jimmie is survived by his children, Jonathan Howard Reynolds of Denton, Texas, Christin Reynolds Fagan of Newfane, Vermont, Patrick Allen Reynolds of Dayton, Ohio, Lauren Reynolds Rea of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, Daniel Shlomo Reynolds of Kalamazoo, Michigan and his three grandchildren, Thomas Patrick Fagan, Brendan Dwight Rea and Katherine Elizabeth Rea. He is also survived by his wife, Arlene Burney of Petaluma, California and his dear friend, Patricia Harris.

A memorial service will be held at the Holy Cross Episcopal Church, 875 Cotton St. in Shreveport on February 2nd, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. A burial will be held at a later date in Wichita, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorials be made in Jimmie's name to Grace Home in Shreveport.