Stadalsky: Retiring band director leads the charge

Minooka’s Homecoming parade on Friday was more than a pregame celebration for the MCHS football team; it was a crowning moment for band director Rick Anderson, who will retire next year.

Anderson not only got to lead his students in the parade, as grand marshal he got to lead the entire parade.

Alongside him in his ride up front were his parents, Andrew and Nancy Anderson, who both graduated from Minooka High School in the late 1950s.

Andrew Anderson, in fact, was one of the original members of the Minooka High School band in its founding year 1949. To this day, Andrew still is proud of that fact.

Rick Anderson also was in the Minooka High School band, and he graduated from MCHS. Both of his brothers were in the band as well.

“The Anderson family is the epitome of Minooka band,” said assistant band director Gina Wych. “[Rick’s] legacy is in Minooka band.”

When Rick Anderson returned to his alma mater to teach nearly 28 years ago, he put new life into the high school band program. What was once a 24 student band has morphed into about 230 students.

Along with Wych, Anderson directs concert bands, jazz bands, pep band, the pit orchestra and marching band. Indoor percussion in the winter is directed by Jake Coon.

“I guess we are about 10 times bigger now,” Anderson said.

Band members Joe Martinez and Gina Russell are both juniors and have had Anderson directing them since they started high school.

“We got to experience three years with him,” Russell said. “It’s cool to be able to watch him end his career here on a good note.”

Martinez called Anderson’s teaching and directing style “straight forward.” He is always direct with what he wants from his students.

“He was the one who brought the band together and built it up,” said Martinez. “His family is deeply rooted in Minooka Band.”

For Anderson, this will be the first time he hasn’t had to walk the Homecoming parade, and given the 90-plus degree weather, he was happy for it.

Anderson has a bit more work to do before he can retire at the end of the school year. There’s the Grundy County Corn Festival Parade on Oct. 1, four field show competitions coming up this fall and the University of Illinois marching competition on Oct. 21.

He and his students always love the Corn Festival Parade, he said.

“We are always excited to represent our community and our school.”

• Kris Stadalsky writes about people and topics in areas southwest of Joliet. Reach her at writestuff56@comcast.net.