Warren S. Mercer Jr.

As I began working on my own biographical, I could not leave Mr. Mercer out. When I went to research him only to find that he had passed on. I will never forget the opportunities that he had given me in my difficult years in school. He opened doors for me that I never knew existed and he gave me a chance to prove myself. I will never forget the "down the line" in symphony band where I went from 3rd clarinet to 1st in a matter of minutes. Wow.. what an impact on me. Work hard and it will...

To the Mercer Family:

Growing up as a young boy in West View, the memory of being able to hear the sound of the band practicing, ring throughout the community in the early fall evenings, has always been a fond one. When my family starting spending summers at Camp Konokwee and my mom became the band camp nurse, I remember being afraid of Mr. Mercer.

As time went on, and after hearing many choruses of "Mr. Mercer get your elbows off the table", I grew to respect and admire...

Mrs. Mercer, Warren, and Joe,

It is with great sadness that I write this but with great joy that I remember him. A natural born leader-a man passionate about the music-passionate about his band kids-and a man that loved his family. How lucky I feel to have had the privilege of spending 4 years with him-4 years with your family. He has a place in my heart and I feel deeply grateful to him and you Mrs. Mercer for guiding me during those years. I am so very sorry I was unable to get back...

My condolences to the Mercer family. Mr. Mercer had a profound impact on me, too. I'm not sure I would have gained as much confidence in my playing and as a person if he hadn't pushed me along. I can still hear him yelling my name but also remember him putting his arm around me and telling me when I did a good job. He directed me at North Hills and CMU and was really supportive of my playing. I was proud to be one of his students -- hopefully, he was proud of me. He had the foresight to...

An old colleague from his early days at Assistant Band Director at
Thomas Jefferson High School.
My sincere sympathy.

"KNIGHT! Are you asleep back there?" I can almost hear the inevitable admonition for coming in too late. The music stopped as his voice overpowered it and then, complete silence as all the accusing eyes turned towards you. People outside of the Band never understood the affection that all of us knew was behind that tough demeanor. They certainly didn't understand the legendary "chest thump" that I was fortunate enough to have been on the receiving end of only once. I was never in the...

Hi Mrs. Mercer & Warren,

Your husband/father was a great man and he was a great influence in my life as well as all of the other people that have signed this guest book. I have so many fond memories of marching band, symphony band, and the jazz band at North Hills High School. I owe my love for music to him and am grateful to have been in his classes and bands all 4 years of High School. We gave him a silver platter when our Class of 1979 was graduating. I believe it said, "Keep...

What a great individual. I'll second that emotion of him being the third most important influence, behind my parents, up until the completion of high school. I didn't pursue a career in music, but I carried many of the lessons that he taught all of us..preparation,discipline,practice, passion...through to the next level and beyond. How he expected us to do so much more than we thought possible from ourselves. And of course, that stare. And how we, as his students, strove to perform and not...

I am saddened to hear of the loss of Warren Mercer. In my head, he never aged, even though I am now many years older than he was when teaching my class. I still judge a marching band by whether they have memorized the music, guide right and if they just plain don't move when at attention! So very many wonderful memories, such a wonderful man. Please know how much he meant to all of us.
Class of '67