I have greatly enjoyed watching coach Jeff Littleton’s fine Bainbridge High School Bearcats football team perform at home and out of town this season.

My attendance at the out of town games has been made possible by my dear friend and Decatur County School System Director of Bands and award-winning Bainbridge High School Band Director Paschal Ward and his assistant James Sewell, who is director of the award-winning Bainbridge Middle School Band.

Since getting hit by a shot put throw and undergoing a hospital stay, I am just not as steady on my feet as I used to be. Paschal and so many other great friends and colleagues were so nice to visit me when I was in the hospital. I know that their support and prayers along with the prayers of so many friends at Bainbridge and Decatur County churches were instrumental in my recovery.

In the weeks when the Bearcats are playing out of town, Paschal and James allow me to ride in their van with James and other adult Marching Bearcat Band instructors. James, who drives the van, and the other instructors are so kind to put out the step stool and help me get in and out of the van. The band’s half time performances are always outstanding under the field direction of drum major Grace McIntosh. I enjoy watching them and congratulating the young musicians and core line members when they are over.

Each spring at the Bainbridge High School Bands concert and awards program, Paschal and James are so nice to present a character award in my name to a deserving band member. I greatly appreciate that.

In the past, I have been to New York with the band when they performed outstandingly at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Year in and year out, you will not find a more talented and outstanding group of young people in the Decatur County School System than the members of the Bainbridge High School and Bainbridge Middle School Bands. They are correctly named The Pride of Decatur County and I take great pride in watching them perform during the concert and marching seasons.