Gary DeShazo

Gary DeShazo began playing the cornet at the age of six in the Pampa School System. He participated in Region and A11-State bands while attending Kermit High School. After high school he attended Sul Ross College on a football/band scholarship transferring later to Hardin-Simmons University to play in the HSU Cowboy Band. After graduation in 1950 he returned to Kermit as an assistant to G.T. Gilligan, his former high school band director.

His teaching career with the Kermit schools was interrupted by the Korean war. During this time he served in the US Army Counter Intelligence Corps in Germany He later taught several years in the Ballinger Schools before joining Caldwell Music Company in Abilene as a road rep. He later became manager and purchased the company in 1969 from James Caldwell. Additional stores were added in San Angelo, Odessa, and Midland Texas with a strong emphasis on brass instrument repair. The repair plant in Abilene is one of the largest in the US. serving schools in Texas, the Southwest, and the Nation for many years.

In 1992, Gary turned the company over to his son Gil, his daughter Donna, and two long-time employees, Bill Scott and Rick Miller. He continued his work there until 2000 when they merged with the Brook Mays Music Group. He continued with Brook Mays/Caldwell Music until his retirement in 2005.

Gary and his wife joy celebrate 53 years of marriage in August of this year. Joy, Donna, and Gil have all been a driving influence in the success of Caldwell Music through the years. Gary and Joy have four grandchildren of whom they are very proud.

DeShazo served on the board of directors of the National Association of School Music Dealers for several years. He became an associate member of the American Bandmasters Association in 1988. In 1982 he received the "Outstanding Contributor to Bands" award from Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Mu. He and his son Gil were featured in Music Inc. magazine in 1996.

Gary has served several terms on the Better Business Bureau Board of Directors. He also spent time on the Civic Abilene Board and was president of the Cactus Lions Club of Abilene. Caldwell Music received the Small Business Salute from the Abilene Chamber of Commerce in 1991. Dr. Charles Trayler, Mike Berry, and DeShazo organized the Abilene Community Band which still performs today.

Gary attended his first TBA meeting in 1950 and has been a strong supporter through his 50 years of service to the schools of Texas.