After thirty years, J.W. Nixon High School band director will be passing on his baton. Carlos Luna will be handing down all duties and responsibilities to a new band director and Orlando Garza explains how his love for music and education has earned him the respect from his community and students.
It happened over thirty years ago, J.W. Nixon High School was searching for a man with direction and ambition and Nixon's first band director, Elmo Lopez, remembers. "we were searching for new leadership here at this school and I asked the administration to bring him in to interview and to look at the facilities and we all agreed and then he was hired."
This is in reference to the hiring of Carlos Luna all those years ago, who has since made a name for himself in the community, for his devotion to education and music. Now he's stepping down as director of the mighty Nixon band for a different position, the Director of Fine Arts for the Laredo Independent School District. New band director, John Spillane says he is aware of Luna's accomplishments and is honored that he was Mr. Luna's first choice, “it's really big shoes to fill I mean I'm really flattered that he would consider me to be his choice to take his place I'm eager to get in gear and get going and continue the success he has had here." Spillane said..
Apart from the twenty-eight sweepstakes Nixon has won under the direction of Luna, the students say they will miss his work ethic and enthusiasm the most.
Band Student Uziel Araiza said, " I think mainly his enthusiasm and dedication to our band because he was always here for us and he wont be her in person am pretty sure he will be here spirit wise."
Luna hopes that his legacy continues and he knows that the school and students are left in good hands. Luna said, “they have to continue the tradition and theres no doubt in my mind that Mr. Spillane will be able to do that with the help of the students and the other two directors that are here no doubt in my mind."
New band director John Spillane is a former student of Luna and tomorrow is officially his first day.