Mr. Paul P. Semicek

1936 - 2016

KULPMONT - Paul P. Semicek, 79, of 400 Spruce St., passed away Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, at home.
He was born in Butler Township Sept. 8, 1936, he was a son of the late Paul and Matilda (Vrable) Semicek Sr.
He began his music career at the age of 13, playing trumpet in orchestras. In 1953, at age 17, he formed his own band using many experienced musicians from the region. The band played throughout the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, both as a big band and as a combo. Paul then played trumpet and toured Europe for two years in the U.S. Army 3rd Armored Division Band, Frankfurt, Germany.
Paul was a graduate of Susquehanna University with a bachelor's degree in music education. He also performed graduate work at the Peabody Institute of Music in Baltimore, Maryland, and both Bucknell and Bloomsburg universities.
In 1958, he began his teaching career at Mount Carmel High School. He played with several drum corps during the early 1960s. It was during this time that Paul first adapted the drum corps style to his marching band. A quote from Paul, "Drum corps style differs from the traditional marching band style associated with high school and collegiate bands. It is bigger, brighter and more entertaining." By 1966, the transformation was complete with the creation of the Mount Carmel Mounties, who were guest performers at over 65 major Drum Corps Associates contests throughout the eastern United States. They were also in 1962, the first American band to play at a Canadian Football League game. They went on to play 56 halftime shows in Canada.
In 1963, Paul started a Drum Corps Associates sponsored drum corps show in Mount Carmel known as The Festival of Stars. Along with the Drum Corps Associates corps, Paul would also include in the program many great musical artists and groups. Many of these acts performed with Paul's high school bands. Some of these included the original Glenn Miller Band, Doc Severinson with the NBC Tonight Show Johnny Carson Band including Ed Shaugnessey, Tommie Newsome and others who performed with the Mounties. World renowned drummer Gene Krupa and his orchestra also appeared, as well as Maynard Ferguson and the members of his band. Other unique musical groups that performed at The Festival of Stars include The United States Marine Drum Corps and Silent Drill Team, of Washington, D.C.
After 18 years at Mount Carmel, in 1976, he became the band director and music supervisor at Danville Area High School. The Mounties and the Danville Band performed the halftime show at more than 110 National Football League games, many broadcast on national television and included more than 19 NFL cities across the United States.
In April 2011, Paul was awarded "For inspiring others through dedicated service and contributions, receive the title, rights, and privileges of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and throughout the Nation Lifetime member in the PA Drum Corps Hall of Fame."
In 2013, he was inducted into the Ed Romance Hall of Fame. On Nov. 18, 1961, in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Mount Carmel, he married the late Ann M. Yost, who preceded him in death Nov. 5, 1998.
Paul was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
Survivors include three daughters, Lynne Zsido and her husband, Larry, of Kulpmont, Lisa Jaschick and her husband, Fred, of Douglassville, and Leslie Savage and her husband, Ron, of Northumberland; three grandsons, Keifer Zsido, Alec Zsido and Ezekiel Zsido; a sister, Matilda Iannaci, of Warren, Michigan.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a brother, Joseph Semicek, who died in infancy.
SEMICEK - Paul P. Semicek, 79, of 400 Spruce St., Kulpmont.­ Relatives, friends and neighbors are invited to celebrate a funeral Mass at noon Friday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 47 S. Market St., Mount Carmel, with the Rev. Francis Karwacki as celebrant. Burial will be in All Saints Cemetery, Bear Gap. Visitation will be held from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Friday at the C.J. Lucas Funeral Home Inc., 27 N. Vine St., Mount Carmel, C.J. Lucas IV, supervisor. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Paul Semicek Scholorship Fund, c/o Mount Carmel Area School District, 600 W. Fifth St., Mount Carmel 17851. To send condolences to the family, go to www.cjlucasfuneralhome.com.