The Catawissa Military Band
Richard E. Martin
(From The Press-Enterprise, November 17, 2002)
Richard
E. "Rick" Martin, 50, of 230 Third St., Benton, died at 8:57 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 15, 2002, at his home. He was in failing health for 16 months.
Born
in Mahoning Township, Montour County, Aug. 19, 1952, he was the only child of
the late Harold A. and Kathryn E. (Rarig) Martin. He lived in Slabtown until
moving to Benton in 1975.
Mr.
Martin was a 1970 graduate of Southern Columbia Area High School and a 1974
graduate of Temple University, Philadelphia. He received his master of arts
degree from Ithaca College, Ithaca, N.Y.
He
was the instrumental music teacher at Benton High School since September 1975.
Mr.
Martin was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Numidia.
Current
president of the Columbia County Band Directors Association, he was also a
member of the National Band Association.
Mr.
Martin was a member of the Bloomsburg University Orchestra since 1977. A member
of the Sacred Chorale since 1980, he was its director since 1999. He served as
director of the Benton Christian Church Choir since 1976. Also a member of the
Catawissa Military Band since 1966, he served as director since 1974.
Mr.
Martin was employed at Knoebels Groves swimming pool since the age of 16.
He
enjoyed building model boats, creating model train layouts and gardening.
Earlier in his life, he did oil paintings.
Mr.
Martin and his wife, the former Cecile C. Stiner, would have celebrated their
15th wedding anniversary Dec. 26. Also surviving is a son, Cyril Alexander
Martin, at home.
Memorial services were held at 3 p.m. Thursday, November 21, in St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Numidia, with the Rev. Gordon E. Smith, interim pastor, officiating. Private interment was in St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery. The Dean W. Kriner, Inc., Funeral Home, Benton, was in charge of arrangements.
Biography
Richard E. Martin, Director of the Catawissa Military Band, is a music teacher and band director in the Benton Area School District. A graduate of the Southern Columbia High School, he attended Temple University in Philadelphia where he studied horn with Kendall Betts and conducting with Jonathan Sternberg and Larry Wagner.
Upon graduation in 1974, he returned to the Catawissa area to fill in as band director and teacher at the Southern Columbia High School while Ralph Wolfgang was on sabbatical leave. Rick agreed to take the Military Band on an interim basis and was confirmed as permanent Director the following year when former Director Wolfgang resigned to become Associate Director.
Since 1975, Rick has taught in the Benton Area Schools. He received a masters degree from Ithaca College where he studied horn under John Covert and conducting with Frank Batisti and Pamela Gearhart. He is a member of the music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, having served on the District VIII Board for 10 years and the State Executive Committee for 3 years.
Rick is also the principal horn of the Bloomsburg University/Community orchestra and a member of the Sacred Chorale of Bloomsburg. He has been the Music Director of the Benton Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) since 1977 and is the Choir Director for both the District and Regional Assemblies.
Rick lives in Benton with his wife Cecile and son Alex (a violin student) and enjoys gardening, winemaking and building model ships when he is not working at the Knoebel's Amusement Resort pool in Elysburg.
The earliest memories Rick has of the Catawissa Military Band are riding to engagements in the equipment truck with long-time driver Vince Dreisbaugh and Skinny (Carl) Bucher's hot dogs served at band picnics. He also enjoyed playing under Bruce Rhawn, Director for 28 years, and in the horn section with one of his teachers, Butch Linn.
Over his 25 years as Director, Rick has broadened the band out from its roots as a traditional community band into a successful concert organization. The Military Band has performed at Bloomsburg University and in benefit concerts for the Bloomsburg Theater Ensemble. Joint concerts have also been performed with the Bloomsburg University Concert Band, the Luzern County Community College Band, and the Repasz Band of Williamsport.
The band continues to play a wide ranging repertory that includes traditional 19th century band pieces, contemporary symphonic works and popular music of all eras.
Other Related Links for Rick Martin:
A Testament by one of Rick Martin's First Students
This page last updated 1/3/2010