ROBERT L. MADDOX, 89, passed away at his home in
Burnet, TX on July 9, 1996, with burial at Evergreen
Cemetery in Ballinger. He was buried next to his wife
who died in 1976.
Born in Ballinger, TX, Mr. Maddox began his teaching
career after graduating from Baylor University. His first
teaching position was in Ranger, TX where he met his wife,
Margaret Parker, who taught French and Spanish at Ranger
High School and Ranger Jr. College. They were married
in 1932. He was the band director at Ranger High School
during the late 20s to the middle 30s. As music was
becoming a more accepted part of the school curriculum,
he moved to Cisco, TX in 1936, then to Mexico in 1939.
Mr. Maddox accepted a position in Odessa during the early
boom years and became band director at Odessa High School
in 1945. In 1948 he helped organize the Odessa Symphony
and was its conductor for five years. During the years
in Odessa schools, the system grew from one high school,
one junior high and three elementary schools to three high
schools, seven junior highs and twenty-three elementary
schools. As the system expanded, so did the music program.
In 1960 he became the first Supervisor of Music for the
Ector County Independent School District.
The Odessa High School band won twelve sweepstakes awards
during his 15 years as director. His groups had many honors,
including being named the official band from Texas for the
Lions International Convention in New York city in 1949,
receiving commendations from the President of the United
States and the Governor of Chihuahua for "People to People"
concert tours in Mexico, and making concert tours through
Colorado as well as many parts of Texas.
Honors awarded him for his contributions to music include
president of Texas Music Educators Association, life member-
ship of Texas Band Association, TBA bandmaster of the year
in 1957, member of the American Band Masters Association,
member of Phi Beta Mu, Kappa Kappa Psi, Who's Who in Music
and Executive Secretary of Region VI UIL. In the spring
of 1990 the Robert L. Maddox Instrumental Music Building
on the Odessa High School campus was dedicated.
After 44 years in the teaching profession, Mr. Maddox retired
in 1972. Upon retiring, he and his wife spent a good part of
their time traveling and working on their cherry orchard on
Flathead Lake in Montana. He served on the board of directors
of the Flathead Cherry Growers Association, supported the
Bigfork Playhouse, and shared his musical expertise with many
of the area schools and students.
During the 46 years that Mr. Maddox lived in Odessa, he was a
member of the First Baptist Church and served as a deacon. Mr.
Maddox moved to Burnet, TX, in 1992.
He is survived by by his son, Robert L. Maddox, III, of Charlotte,
NC; daughter, Virginia M. Hankins, born in Ranger, & her husband
William J. Hankins, of El Paso; daughter, Carolyn M. Johnson, &
her husband Bill M. Johnson of Burnet, five grandchildren, and
four great-grandchildren.