From Chris John to Mr. Heffron

Dear Doyle,I heard you left us. I heard that you went to a better place.
Here is what I heard about this place:* Trumpets are not the loudest instrument in the band.* Everyone leads with their left foot.* Bag pipes stay in tune.* Perfect 8 steps for 5 yards* You don't have to cut anyone's hair* Sheer perfection
Congratulations!You reached your pinnacle.You did that here too.I do have a couple of questions though I hope you can help me with.
I was a band geek. But it was cool. You made being a band geek cool.How many band Geeks shake the hand of the President of the United States?
We were a team and you were the head coach.How many head coaches lead more than 300 people to victory?
Personal reasons took me away from the band too early.I missed it every day.My dad, now in his mid 70's, still talks about how proud he was of me. How proud he was that I strived to be my best. You taught me that. You taught all of us to set a goal and pursue it.
I came into the Band in '75 and already had a reputation. Coming into the band out of the 8th grade I was a little intimidated. Ok, downright scared.Did you see it?
You must of.You came up to me my first day and shook my hand. You looked me straight in the eye and said "I've heard a lot about you. I hope it's all true"Did you mean it?
When you said that did you notice my chin get a little higher, my back a little straighter, my knees a little higher?
Did you say that to everyone?
You know when a coach wins a Super Bowl the media likes to say something like. "He is a product of _________: ""He trained under: ________"
So my final question Mr. Heffron is:How may people do you think would be able to say "I'm a product of DOYLE HEFFRON"?
Suddenly that perfect line from the side line while playing "Alud Land Syne" doesn't seem to be the only thing you were after does it?
On second thought Mr. Heffron you don't have to answer these questions I think I know the answers now.
Not sure if you heard it enough. I know I didn't say it. It's not too late. So here goes.
THANK YOU MR HEFFRON
Chris JohnSAX '78

Reflections

There is no doubt, Doyle left his mark on me, as well. He gave me a chance to be part of something special ( . . . even though I had never played a band instrument until the day my brother brought home this monstrous brass tuba! . . . ) He treated us like adults; he set a high bar for performance, and wouldn't accept second best from any of us. We learned that hard work DOES pay off! . . . . And, when some of us got caught committing the usual 'high school high jinks', he made sure we accepted the consequences for our mis-deeds, but then put it behind and moved on with life. I think lesser men would have given some of us the 'boot', but Doyle stuck by us and gave us the chance to make it up. Through the years, I've tried to be as understanding. . . . This weekend (Labor Day 2008) marks 29 years since I moved to the Twin Cities; hard to believe!! . . . . Looks as if I may be able to attend the 'Meet & Greet'; Hope to see some of you then . . . . Ron

"Memories from the outside looking in" by W. Gade

That's how it felt for me back then.
Quiet kid...always protected in a way by my "big older brothers" Kim Bruhn (did I also say "LOUD!") and lead piper Dale Johnson. Both guys, among many others, took me under their wing - as so many other Scots did for so many other goofy looking freshmen.
Playing as part of the pipe drum section with Dale and Kim and so many others was a treat because as we all know - drummers are always known for _______________ off (you fill in the blank). We had some serious fun and Dale with the pipes and Kim with the drum squad were both good for leading...in the goofing as well as those many other times when we needed (because Doyle was headed our way with a head of steam) to kick it into gear.
Quiet kid...not always understanding what all the hoopla was about, all the stuff that made the Scots THE SCOTS. Only later did I get it. By nature, I'm still not a shouter and flag waver, but I do get it.
And now 34 years later, having been a band director for over 30 years (and now a music director at a church), teaching kids (mostly middle school...you didn't think I'd be doing all that marching, did ya???? - add smiley) about the "joys" of music and the value in practice and importance or working together for a common goal - I got it!
And while any young musician/athlete/scholar, etc "gets" what it takes to win, to excel, to take center stage...it's seems safe to say that no one who hasn't worn that cockeyed hat/tam and woolie skirt and felt the "chills" of a St. Patrick's parade in Chicago, or the chills when marching with incredible focus down the Main in St. Petersburg or Traverse Bay or standing on stage at Hemmens Auditorium and felt the real CHILLS when Amazing Grace is played - can really get what our combined experiences were really like.
And to think that it took some guy (DH) with a wild idea: to buy some kilts and convince high school aged boys (and girls) that this is what they were going to wear in summer competitions; to teach some pretty decent clarinetists, etc, to give up those horns to play (in tune, even) the pipes; to convince a girl that the drum head really was going to hold her when she was going to dance on it at the center of the field - some would say that old bass drum never was put to better use; to convince a whole town and high school culture that it really was "cool" to be a Scot; to prod a multitude of students to give up tons of time each spring/summer to learn (on a parking lot, no less) drills year after year; to convince moms and dads and kids - not me...remember I was quiet - that it was fun and cool to smell like onions and seasoning for a week after the hoagie sale (and we all know we have never had a sandwich that was as good as those 3 or 4 fresh hoagies we would wolf down the very day they were brought home); to convince young musicians that they really could play soft on a football field...
That took lots of vision, guts, chutzpah, smack - you name it.
I would love to have seen the looks on some of those early faces (Rich Levault/Don Stroup vintage and beyond) when Doyle came up with this wild haired "scheme".
I, and you, if you're reading this, really did get it.
Thanks Doyle, and thanks so mch to the Carl Radde's, all the band semi drivers; and all the screaming drum majors; and Kim and Teresa; and Rich and Don; and Dale J.; and now all these current band geeks and event organizers that keep these memories fresh enough to revive and relive the honor felt by standing together for something better. As a fortunate father of a young musician (9 yr. old piano student, about to start up on a band instrument) I can only hope he gets what I got.
And since my wife knows what it's like to be married to a band goof, my heart also goes out to Judy and her/their children...because their's too was perhaps the greatest sacrifice - Thanks for sticking with a guy with some pretty wild ideas! And, when Doyle first came home to share this "thought", for not saying "Settle down Doyle, it can't/won't work!" Judy, you surely were Doyle's finest idea and best sounding board! Blessings to you!
Alas, I had no intention of writing so much, but quiet guys are sometimes better in writing than speaking.
Looking forward to seeing the faithful in a few weeks.
Peace,
w.gade

HOW QUICKLY TIME PASSES!

I can't believe that this much time has gone by! Now seeing all of
these names again makes me feel, in some ways, that it was only
yesterday we were all searching for uniform parts and helping each
other get ready for each performance. As I sit here writing this I
can remember vividly the smell of a school bus full of soaking wet
wool when we were leaving Soldier Field. My two sons look at me
rather oddly as I tear up watching the reunion video and trying to
even explain what those days were like. With one on his way to
college this year and one a senior they have had experiences and made
high school memories I know; however, nothing I have ever encountered
with them seemed to have had the camaraderie that we all had....I
believe that was because of the special man who led us. Actually,
he not only led us but bled with us, cried with us and cheered with
us. We became his children and he became our mentor. The countless
hours on the practice field, the times at the assembly line for
hoagies (which I have never found one to ever compare to ours!) the
bus rides and all of the amazing performances have indelibly been
etched forever inside all of us. I cannot hear a bagpipe or the song
Amazing Grace played to this day without getting goose bumps. Mr.
Heffron brought to a little town in Illinois the most amazing
experience with his belief, commitment and enthusiasm. I know his
own family probably suffered many times for us and hopefully knowing
how many lives he touched will give them comfort in their grief. I
know that all of the lessons learned by his hand made all of us, who
were lucky enough to have been a part of this extraordinary group,
truly blessed.

Like Dave (Hi Dave!), I brought so many of Doyle's lessons with me as I moved through life.

Shortly after I became a drum major he told me, "If you have any friends left at the end of this year you won't be doing your job." His prediction scared the daylights out of me at first, but I suspect he said that to challenge me to find a way to do both. From him, I learned that toughness can be combined with kindness. Granted, I didn't really figure that out during my band years, but over and over again I have recalled his words when I needed them the most.

I think Doyle himself was an always-entertaining combination of tough and kind. Remember that penetrating, wordless glare that he saved for those times when all of us knew that some things were better left unsaid? There was no question when we were in trouble, and we nearly always deserved more gruff than we got. At the same time, he could be unquestionably kind. I remember one time in particular when I was in his office while I was dealing with yet another bout of tonsillitis, and he knew before I uttered a word. He told me he could always see it in my eyes.

He taught us the importance of an unrelenting focus on quality. Every line was dressed, every pleat was in place, every note was true. To this day I believe his attention to detail and his drive for success stayed with me as I moved through school and career. I learned that the little things can mean a lot and make the difference between second place and a march to the trophy table.

Most importantly he gave us a sense of belonging, of lasting friendships, and a lifetime of wonderful memories to bind us together. Dave, I remember Molly Mammary (in case you tried to forget). I remember being drug through the boys' shower...can't recall if it was South Milwaukee or Traverse City, but I remember who was caught by surprise (I can be bribed for details). Who can forget dances in St. Pete, visiting the sights in New York, endless practices, or those who were discovered to be 'out of compliance' during kilt checks? How about whistling the theme from Bridge on the River Kwai as we were supposed to be quietly crossing the Oakbrook golf course? There are so many warm, funny and touching memories in our collective history, and Doyle was essentially at the center of all of them. Okay, maybe not the shower.

I was a Scot. I was part of something special, even extraordinary. Thank you Doyle for making that a part of who I am, and who I have become. I will be forever grateful. You were tough, you were kind, you did your job better than anyone, and you will always have friends in the Scots you left behind.

Kilties Drum & Bugle Corps - 1975 DCI from Cyndi Romano

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93YaT7UOIQU

If not for Doyle...

If not for Doyle, I would have missed many things in life. Knowing how to “pick up my knees”, for one. Or how to make a hoagie. I wouldn’t have been as familiar with the plastic smell of a school bus. Or the meaning of “Biffy Break”. Or the feeling of wool on the back of my knees. And other places. I wouldn’t have had the chance to peek behind the curtain where the girls changed before competition, distracting an active adolescent imagination shortly before competition. And I would never, NEVER have ridden into town to the cacophony of car horns, cheers, painted banners, and hundreds of screaming supporters from our community.

Under anyone else’s tutelage I may have learned the essence of leadership. But it was Doyle who gave me the chance to lead. Before I was ready. He knew I could do it before I believed it myself. In looking back through the lens of time it becomes clear that he believed we could rise to a challenge long before we reached that conclusion ourselves. And so we did rise, time after time. Because we didn’t want to let him down, and because he taught us that doing so would also let down the rest of our squad, our section, and our organization.

So I have many reasons to be grateful that I spent time on this planet as a student of Doyle Heffron. But most importantly of all, if not for Doyle I would never have learned to play the pipes.

I still remember the cold fall day when Mr. Heffron dismissed band class with these words:

“Hankla, Radde, Shannon, Parish, Johnson, Bruhn, Chambers,…” upstairs practice room in five minutes! Everyone else, instruments away and back to your seats 'til the bell rings!”

The named members gathered upstairs as commanded. We sat in nervous silence for a while, but as the seconds ticked by, some of us began confessing truly egregious sins – one had gotten caught making out in the uniform closet, another caught smoking behind the van, someone had something to do with getting caught with beer… you know, truly evil things – and we began wondering if our transgressions had earned us a one-way trip to the Scots sideline.

Midway through one such confession, Doyle burst into the room, issued each of us a music book and something wrapped in newspaper, commanded us to “Learn Scotland the Brave by Thanksgiving” and left as quickly as he’d entered. The music books were the standard bag piping primer, and the items wrapped in newspaper our practice chanters. Doyle was always good at using drama to make a lasting impression.

Our nervousness turned to excitement, which peaked a few days later when the actual pipes arrived. But our excitement quickly faded into grave disappointment, as our negligible progress proved painful to the ears and worse for the ego. Bless our various families, and the rest of you, who put up with these early practice sessions.

Disaster was narrowly averted when Doyle found a wiry, 5’2”, 72 year-old piper named Tommy Kerr who chain-smoked unfiltered Camels, swore like a sailor, and was the only piper for miles willing to teach our motley crew. And he did. And we proudly played our first public version of “Scotland the Brave” during the holiday parade at Meadowdale shopping center. It was to be the first of hundreds of performances featuring that noble old tune.

Three years later, my parents gave me a set of used pipes for graduation. And I’ve kept up with them over the years. Sort of. Long periods of neglect have been broken by feverish practice sessions in the weeks prior to a command performance – the wedding of a friend, the christening of a baby, or important family events. I piped at my brother’s wedding, and I piped at my own. My chops are shot, and my fingering a bit muddled by the ravages of age and neglect. But every time my case is opened and it exhales the scent of old leather mixed with stale sweat, I think about Doyle, and Tommy, and the rest of you. It’s been a great gift.

Doyle, I thank you.

MISTY & BOB NAAF

Hi Dundee Scots, I wish I was able to come home for the "celebration". It really sounds wonderful. (I live in the past a lot in my head, besides, I just miss home!) Anyway, Bob and I won't be able to come...kids, lack of funds...you get the idea. If anyone cares, Bob's email address is BobNaaf@cox.net and mine is MistyNaaf@cox.net. Our home address is Bob and Misty (Briick) Naaf, 9355 N. 107th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258. Home phone is (480)661-0695, Bob's cell (480)236-9909, Misty's cell (480)239-6905. If I suddenly come into some funds, I'll be there! Thanks, Misty

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Mr. Heffron at Haeger Trophy Opening '75

Press Release:
Our Beloved Director of The Dundee Scots Mr. Doyle Heffron
In memory of Mr. T. Doyle Heffron, formerly of Dundee, Illinois and as a tribute to the beloved director of the Dundee Scots, a memorial tribute will commence on September 6, 2008 at St. Catherine of Siena Church in West Dundee in concert with the Fox Valley Irish Festival at 5:00 p.m.
The service will begin with music from some of the bands original members including pipers and brass in the lower level of the church with fellowship and an audio/video displays.
Mr. Heffron directed the Dundee Scots for 14 years marching many victory trophies home to Dundee. Included in the
long list of 1st place trophies include St .Petersburg 1975, Traverse City 1974 and 1975, Macy’s
Thanksgiving Day Parade 1976.

Mr. Heffron and the Dundee Scots were a unique group as the dedication the members displayed was evident in the bands rank & file both on and off the field. The band was supported by the Dundee Scot Band Boosters, parents, friends, and private donations to enable travel from Winnepeg Canada, Traverse City Michigan, St. Petersburg Florida, Wisconsin, and Illinois.

Mrs. Judy Heffron along with the couple’s children, Matt, Kelly, Holly, and Terry will be accepting the memorial from the Scots. The band has chosen special vase etched with a Scottish Piper to commemorate a man who touched many lives as a teacher, director, leader, and friend.
Heffron’s idea to dress the band in full Scottish attire was well received from the audience and the judges. His military precision and discipline while working with the Scots taught the members many life lessons that have carried forward and will never be forgotten. Please join us at the memorial service as we celebrate the life of Mr. T. Doyle Heffron, with grateful thanks.

The Dundee Scots from Dundee, Illinois

In Memory of Mr. Doyle Heffron

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4e2O6Nbxno

Dundee Scots

Welcome Laddies and Lassies,

Thank you in advance for sharing in this tribute to Mr. Heffron. Feel free to post your favorite memories here and we look forward to seeing you at the memorial service in September.

On behalf of the memorial committee,
Cynthia Romano

Rob Costello
Christine Lullie
Steve Berke
Camron Johnson