The Boerne Star (Boerne, Tex.), Vol. 95, No. 81, Ed. 1 Tuesday, October 10, 2000 Page: 7 of 15
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Page 7
Tuesday, October 10, 2000
The Boerne Star
CON
KENDALL COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15 • 2-5P.M.
Everyone is encouraged to attend
this festive 140th anniversary of the Band!
1888
Dienger coordinated both musical groups from 1860
to 1885.
Ottmar von Behr, who came with his family to
Sisterdale in the 1840's, was a strong influence in the
band. Two of his children, Jennie and Ottmar, played
with the band, and Jennie's husband, Fritz Fisher,
taught his nephews, Ottmar, Jr., Arthur, and Oscar, to
1926
w
Boerne
ite
e “Band tok
ye
The Boerne Village Band was organized in 1860 by Karl Dienger to provide the music needs of Boerne,
county seat of Kendall County. Having previously organized the Boerne Gesang Verein (singing club),
Dienger organized the band to compliment the singing festivals in Boerne with band music.
1900
i ply musical
I instruments. In
I time, both Oscar
g and Ottmar Behr
g would become
I directors of the
1 band. Later,
Oscar's daughter,
I Roma, married
| Alvin Herbst, and
I their son
Kenneth Herbst,
y a veterinarian in
" Boerne, became
the band's direc-
- tor. His sons,
Kenneth, Jr., and
Clint also became
. members. In all,
the descendants
of the von Behr
family have rep-
- resented four
1905
generations of musicians and three generations of band directors
for the Boerne Village Band.
The Boerne Village Band managed to stay organized and practiced in barns on farms during the diffi-
cult Civil War period. After the war it continued to practice and play at various events in and around
Boerne. During World War I and World War II the band was less active but remained organized. After
World War II a new group assembled with Erhard Ebner, Henry Schrader, Eugene Ebell, Carl Grosser,
Fritz Grosser, Alvin Grosser and others participating.
In 1989, the Federal Republic of Germany recognized the Boerne Village Band for its contribution to
the German heritage in Texas and America by donating its much traditional German music and a magnif-
icent tenor horn. For the band's 130th anniversary in 1990, Peter Fihn, a noted German composer, dedi-
cated and presented his march, "Grusse an Texas", ("Greetings to Texas") to the band. In 1991 the Texas
Legislature adopted a resolution (H.C.R. No. 171) to recognize the Boerne Village Band for "keeping alive
German music as part of our heritage." The City of Boerne and the Boerne Area Historical Preservation
Society have also recognized the band for its contribution to the German heritage of Boerne.
In 1988, the Federal Republic of Germany presented Dr. Kenneth C. Herbst, Director of the Band since
1972, with the prestigious Friendship Award. Mr. Otto Schicht, a special friend in Bavaria, helped obtain
authentic uniforms for the band, which were first worn during its 1986 Texas Sesquicentennial perfor-
1885
1900’s
1902
1920
5
"Kapellmeister"
mances. ROpeueisTCT
On May 2, 1992, Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Herbst C. Herbst and other invited guests attended a luncheon Dr. Kenneth C. Herbst
given by the President of Germany, Richard von Weizsaeker, during his state visit to Houston, where he
commended the German musical tradition in Boerne. Acclaimed as "The Oldest Continuously Organized German Band in the
World outside Germany itself", the Boerne Village Band continued in 1993 to practice weekly. Composed of sixteen members
and several associates, the band continued to perform regularly at the Texas Folklife Festival, the New Braunfels Wurstfest,
; I FORMER BOERNE VILLAGE BAND MEMBERS PRIOR TO 1950: E.E. Ebner, clarinet; Carl Grosser, the Kendall County Fair, the Boerne Berges Fest, Boerne Abendkonzerte (summer evening concerts), and
/ clarinet; Fritz Grosser, alto horn; Alvin Grosser, drums; Ottmar Behr, tuba, also band director; Henry many other regional events.
Schrader, trumpet; and Eugene Ebell, baritone.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
• BAND MEMBERS SINCE THE 1950 GROUP, now retired from actively playing in the Boerne Village
Band: Milton Jungmichael, Cyndi Dagget Northern, Karen Tucker, Lynn Ann Norris, Clint Herbst (still plays
when needed), Kenneth Herbst, Jr. Larry Schmidt, Sean Schmidt, Ruth Henderson, Fred Saenger, Chuck
Lewis, Ray and Frances Prevott, Rudolf Scheffrahn, Sherry Matter, Jim and Stella Morgan, Dean Sultenfuss,
Sharla Flournoy, Sharnell Flournoy, Webb Dickey, Casey Gabriel, Gail Tolliver and Allan Love.
SPECIAL SERVICE TO THE BAND, PAST AND PRESENT: Philson Freeman, retired U.S. Army Band
Director and Boerne Village Band guest conductor for the band's summer Abendkonzerte. Robert
Thonhoff, the band's 'Master of Ceremony' and best remembered for years as the band's 'Professor
5 Katzenjammer' at the Abendkonzerte.
N Al Gray, a past master of ceremony and Ken Nietenhoefer, the band's present talented 'Master of
1 Ceremony' during the Abendkonzerte. Rudolf Scheffrahn, the band's historian and his wife, Lia, who
I helps him. The creator of the band's musical folders and band manager until 1998.
2 THE BAND'S BEST FRIEND AND SUPPORTER:
1 The Honorable Patrick Heath, mayor of Boerne, the band's best friend and supporter. He was the
/ initiator of the Abendkonzerte and was instrumental in getting the historical marker of German music
in Boerne, next to the gazebo. He helped secure the band's permanent location for musical rehearsals
. For his achievements for German culture music, he was honored by the German government with
'German-American Friendship Award.'
2000
2000 BAND MEMBERS: ARIZMENDI CRUZ, GARY BANNISTER, BOB BARKER, JOYCE BOWMAN, ED BROWN, WILLIAM CORCORAN, EDWARD CREEK-
MORE, *PINKY DAVIS WEBB DICKEY, ‘DARVIN DIETERT, DON EDMONDSON, ‘SHARLA FLOURNEY, ‘SHARNELL FLOURNEY, ‘DOUGLAS FRANTZ, MARCIA GILBERT, PHILIP GROTA, DALTON
A HARBERS, ‘CLINTON HERBST, KENNETH HERBST. GARY JOINER. AMOS JONES, DAVID JONES, HORST KLAUSER, JIM MANZO, GEORGE MILLS. ‘RICHARD NAUJOKS, CHARLES REILEY,
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Keasling, Edna & Fierro, Jennifer. The Boerne Star (Boerne, Tex.), Vol. 95, No. 81, Ed. 1 Tuesday, October 10, 2000, newspaper, October 10, 2000; Boerne, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1694151/m1/7/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Patrick Heath Public Library.