BOBCAT BAND STAFF
Bobcat Band Staff
all instructor
BOBCAT BAND STAFF
Campus: High School
Phone Extension: 4133/4136
Campus: High School
Phone Extension: 4133/4136
Sherri Morgan is the Music Supervisor for Hallsville ISD and Director of Bands. She is the 1970 Salutatorian of Hallsville High School, earned a Bachelor of Music Degree from SFASU, a Master of Education Degree from SFASU, and has been teaching at Hallsvi lle for 50 “Golden” years. Her bands have received numerous awards and recognitions on the state and national level. Sherri has been honored with Teacher of the Month for HISD, Bobcat Pride Award, Texas Music Educator All State Alumni Band, Who’s Who amo ng High School Teachers and the 2005 Distinguished Alumni Award. Sherri and her husband, Keith have celebrated 48 years of marriage and have 4 children, Shannon Johnson and her husband Ben; Jason Morgan and his wife Stacy, Jodie Fortiz, Laurie Hardy and 1 3 grandchildren, including Beaux & Blake Chamberland, and Scarlett & Asher Johnson; Maggie Morgan (the newest) and 2 great – grand children, Cady and Levi Chamberland. Sherri is a collector of baseball cards and 50’s memorabilia and enjoys going to Canton Tr ade Days, Southern Gospel Music and spending time with family and friends.
Jerry Wayne Smith is a native of Upshur County. His undergraduate and graduate studies were at Kilgore College and Stephen F. Austin University. Mr. Smith holds an Associates of Music Degree from Kilgore College, Bachelor of Music Degree from Stephen F. Au stin University, and a Masters of Music in Instrumental Conducting from Stephen F. Austin University. Mr. Smith was Director of Bands at White Oak ISD for 20 years before moving to Kilgore College as Director of Bands for 10 years. Under his baton at White Oak, Mr. Smith’s Wind Ensemble earned 17 UIL Sweepstakes awards, numerous Region Honor Band awards, and was a 3A State Winner for Outstanding Concert Performance by ATSSB. Before moving from Hallsville Junior High to Assistant Director of Bands at Hallsvi lle High School, his HJH Wind Ensemble earned the TMEA Region Honor Band Award. Mr. Smith is a former President of the Longview Symphony League and currently serves on the Longview Symphony Foundation Board and the Longview Symphony Board of Directors. Mr. Smith and his wife, Romauld, have been married for 47 years and live on ancestral family lands in Union Grove. Wife, Romauld (Rome), is a Fine Arts teacher at Ore City Elementary school, a veteran teacher of 45 years. Son, John Paul Smith resides in Bro oklyn, New York where he is a free lance theatrical writer and Associate Professor of Latin American Theater at Bard College, New York. Daughter, Sarah Deaton, lives in Union Grove, mother of two sons, and works freelance in the local music industry.
Ashley Madewell is the secretary of Bands. She is a 2005 graduate of Marshall High School, where she played flute in the band and a majorette. She has had the honor of judging for several Junior High and High School Auxiliary tryouts. Ashley and her husba nd of 18 years, Timothy have 3 children that are in the Hallsville family. Faith is a 9th grader, majorette and clarinet player in the HHS band, Taylor is a 6th grader in the Beginner Band and Kayden is 3rd grade. She enjoys reading, loves everything mus ic, spending time with her family, and all things related to the beach.
Rami Purdum is in his second year at Hallsville ISD . He is married to Anna Purdum who is a minister and also teaches music at First Christian Prep School. He is the father of three children. Lily who is an aircraft pilot, Carolyn who is an award winning film producer and Israel who is an aspiring electri cal engineer and, of course, all are musicians. He is a 2001 graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University. He has been in music education for 22 years and was the head of the Harmony band program for 18 years which has received numerous awards at regi onal, area and state levels. In addition to teaching, Mr. Purdum also enjoys vehicle maintenance, restoration, RVing and bus conversion.
Keaton Box serves as an assistant director and the percussion director for Hallsville ISD. He graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in percussion performance and also received his masters in percussion performance from Southern Methodist Uni versity. After attending university he traveled to Los Angeles to get a certificate in film scoring from UCLA. He has been fortunate to play in some of the world’s most prestigious ensembles, including the University of Texas wind ensemble, and has compose d music for multiple short and feature films. If he’s not teaching or practicing, he enjoys lifting weights, watching movies, and spending time with his animals and loved ones
Jennifer Puckett is an assistant band director and 6th grade band coordinator. She is a graduate of Hallsville High school (class of 93) where she played the flute and piccolo, was a majorette and drum major in the Bobcat band. J ennifer was also a 3 year All – state band and orchestra member. She was chosen as a member of the All – American band that performed for the grand opening of EuroDisney. She graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a bachelor of music education degree. While teaching brings her much joy, performing as part of an ensemble for an audience is something that is very satisfying as well. She has been a member of several professional ensembles including the East Texas Symphony, Longview and Marshall Sy mphonies as well as a local community band, East Texas Symphonic Band. Jennifer is beginning her seventeenth year in HISD. Jennifer has 4 children, Reagen, Brock, Dane and Kiran. She is a member of Mobberly Baptist Church. She enjoys playing the flute and piccolo, reading and spending time with family and friends.
Chris Crawford has spent 13 years as a junior high and assistant high school band director and 17 years of helping with the bands each of these years during his time at Hallsville. Before that he, was a band director in several East Texas schools and earne d many First Division and Sweepstakes awards, Region Honor Band and placing in the State Honor Band competition. Mr. Crawford is also a Certified Band Instrument Repair Technician, having earned that certification after 13 months of study at Badger State R epair in Elkhart, Wisconsin. A graduate of Longview High School, he attended Kilgore College, graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education from East Texas State University (now A&M Commerce) and a Masters of Arts in Music from Stephen F. Austin State Unive rsity. He is married to Susan, a retired elementary music teacher, pianist and organist, and he is the father of Jesse Crawford. They attend church at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Kilgore where Mr. Crawford is the Director of Traditional Worship, leading singing, the choir and handbells. In his spare time he enjoys his hobbies of Ham radio and photography.
Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Michael Turpin was salutatorian of Briarcrest High School in 1975. P laying tenor saxophone, he was a two – year member of the Tennessee all – state band and a member of the McDonald’s All – American High School Band in 1974/75. Michael graduated summa cum laude from Lamar University in 1979 with a major in music education. In 19 81, he graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Master of Music Education degree. While at USC, he was a graduate assistant, teaching university saxophone students as well as high school students in the University Preparatory Program. After t eaching middle school and high school band in Gladewater from 1981 to 1984, Michael was hired by Kilgore College as assistant band director and woodwinds instructor. During his 38 – year tenure at Kilgore College, he also served as Director of Counseling, VP of Institutional Planning, and VP of Instruction. In addition to his Texas music certification, he is a certified school counselor. In 2003, he received his Ph.D. in training and development from Texas A&M University. Dr. Turpin has many students who have won positions in all – region and all – state bands, who have received first division ratings at region and state solo – ensemble contests, and who have served as music teachers to a new generation of band students. He has been married to his wife, Terry, a for mer teacher and preschool/children’s minister, since1980.Their two sons are graduates of Texas Tech University and live in the Dallas area: Zach, his wife, Kim, and son, Samuel; and Philip and his wife, Maya. Dr. Turpin is proud to be a part – time assistant band director and woodwinds teacher for the Roarin’ Band from Bobcat Land!
Rhett Pilcher comes to Hallsville ISD after eight years at Gladewater ISD where he built the middle school program into a sweepstakes program. He graduated from East Texas Baptist University with a Bachelor of Music in Education and Kilgore College with an Associate of Arts. He has earned many awards throughout his career including two Superintendent Star Awards from Tenaha ISD and was a TAP recipient for high achieving teachers at Gladewater ISD. Rhett grew up in White Oak and is married. His wife, Nicole, grew up in Gladewater and teaches third grade at Pine Tree ISD. They are expecting their first child on Saint Patrick’s Day of 2025.
Shannon Johnson is the Hallsville HS & JH Auxiliary Line Director and Choreographer. She is a 1997 graduate of Hallsville High School where she served as Drum Major and Majorette for the Bobcat Band. Shannon has instructed and choreographed for Majorett e and Flag Lines throughout East Texas including: Pine Tree ISD, Spring Hill ISD, Union Grove ISD, Van ISD and East Texas Baptist University. She has had the honor of judging for several UIL Twirling Contests as well as numerous Junior High, High School and Collegiate Auxiliary Line tryouts. Shannon and her husband Ben have 4 children: Beaux Chamberland, a 2017 Hallsville HS graduate who is currently serving our country overseas in the United States Marine Corps; Blake Chamberland, a 2020 Hallsville HS g raduate and a senior at SFA; Scarlett Johnson, an 11th grader at Hallsville HS and member of the Bobcat Belles; and Asher Johnson, a 9th grader at Hallsville HS who plays football and baseball and is a member of the HHS Drumline. Shannon and Ben also have 2 grandchildren, Caydence & Levi. This is Shannon’s 22nd year as the Hallsville Auxiliary Line Choreographer and Director.