Lynn High School Assistant Band Director Sharon Fike, Alabama Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger and LHS Band Director Rodney Fike with a check for $5,000 Gudger donated to the LHS band.
State Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger, who represents the fourth district, has given $5,000 community service grants to every high school band in the district, including those in Winston County and Bear Creek, contributing a total of $90,000 to 18 music programs.
He and his team, including Director of Constituent Affairs Randall Shedd, spent all of Monday, Sept. 8, traveling Cullman, Marion and Winston counties to present checks to the majority of the band programs, a few having received theirs previously.
The Addison High School Bulldog Band was the first local band to receive a check on August 28. In a Facebook post, the program said, "We are so extremely thankful for Alabama’s (Senate) President Pro Tem, Mr. Garlan Gudger, visiting with the Bulldog Band today! Mr. Gudger walked in while the band was playing a stand song and leaned over to say, 'This is awesome!' Of course, we didn’t let him leave without playing 'The Horse' for him. It’s once again a great day to be a Bulldog!"
The first in the county to receive a check on September 8 was the Meek Band of Champions.
"We are very grateful to Senator Gudger for the generous donation that we received. It will help pay for instrument repair, equipment purchases, travel expenses and food for my band students,” said Band Director Zach Cleghorn.
See complete story in the Northwest Alabamian.
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