Honoring Charles Ross Strickland
MOREHOUSE PARISH, La. (KNOE 8 News) - A former Morehouse Parish man broke racial boundaries in the 60's helping countless students live out their musical dreams. He was the former band director of Morehouse Parish Training School and he took his teaching one step further.
"Charles Ross Strickland, he was a instructor, music man, we called him the band man, the snow cone man, he was everything to the kids around in the 60's," says Ricky Dickerson.
Strickland taught at Morehouse Parish Training School from 1953 to 1969, but he did a lot more than just teach, he transformed the schools music department.
Ricky Dickerson was one of Strickland's band students in 1964, he says just eleven before he came to the school there was no band program at all.
"He came under disguise as an English teacher and math teacher," said Dickerson.
Dickerson says at that time the school didn't have the funds for a band teacher so Strickland worked as the band teacher in his spare time.
"In order to get the money for uniforms, the sheet music, the cases, the instruments, so he started selling snow cones and that put him right in the heart of all the kids," says Dickerson.
William Alexander taught at Morehouse Parish Training School with Strickland in the 1960's he says Strickland touched the lives of every student at the school.
"None of the kids when through this school without getting introduced and exposed to music," says Alexander.
"He was our home town hero, yes he was definitely a home time hero," says Dickerson.
Dickerson is a member of the Committee of Strick 66, a group working to honor Charles Strickland. The committee received approval to place a monument of Charles Strickland on Morehouse Junior High campus and name a building after him.
Source: Knoe TV
"Charles Ross Strickland, he was a instructor, music man, we called him the band man, the snow cone man, he was everything to the kids around in the 60's," says Ricky Dickerson.
Strickland taught at Morehouse Parish Training School from 1953 to 1969, but he did a lot more than just teach, he transformed the schools music department.
Ricky Dickerson was one of Strickland's band students in 1964, he says just eleven before he came to the school there was no band program at all.
"He came under disguise as an English teacher and math teacher," said Dickerson.
Dickerson says at that time the school didn't have the funds for a band teacher so Strickland worked as the band teacher in his spare time.
"In order to get the money for uniforms, the sheet music, the cases, the instruments, so he started selling snow cones and that put him right in the heart of all the kids," says Dickerson.
William Alexander taught at Morehouse Parish Training School with Strickland in the 1960's he says Strickland touched the lives of every student at the school.
"None of the kids when through this school without getting introduced and exposed to music," says Alexander.
"He was our home town hero, yes he was definitely a home time hero," says Dickerson.
Dickerson is a member of the Committee of Strick 66, a group working to honor Charles Strickland. The committee received approval to place a monument of Charles Strickland on Morehouse Junior High campus and name a building after him.
Source: Knoe TV