Atop the admittedly nebulous and constantly shifting list of men I most admire, Teddy Roosevelt enjoys a permanent place. In my mind, at least, his life plays out in a sepia wash of shaking fists and bold gestures, this asthmatic-turned-pugilist (and ultimately president) -- his teeth biting down on his words, ideas big as American expansion -- charging Spanish artillery lines up Cuban hills.
In fact, I'm the type of guy who drives into downtown San Antonio to visit the Menger Hotel's famous bar just to savor the novelty of sipping scotch (or dark ale, at least, damn it!) in the same room where Teddy once rallied up Rough Riders.
So, needless to say, this little tidbit of Texas Tech history caught my eye the other day: I'm abashed to admit that I didn't know this, but our first permanent band director, hired in 1926,
was a veteran of the Spanish-American War who served as Roosevelt's bandmaster in the San Juan Hill campaign.
Of course, Harry Lemaire did a few good things for our Goin' Band from Raiderland as well, including making it the first college band to travel to an away game (thus the Goin' part) and to have its half-time broadcast on radio.
Better yet? Humorist Will Rogers (whose statue now stands on campus, his horse's tail turned toward A&M) helped finance the trip because he wanted Fort Worth to see a "real West Texas Band and hear some real West Texas Music."
Amen, brother.
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