Graham, Floyd, 1902-1974

...The Aces of Collegeland and the participation of student arrangers in its activities gradually generated an interest in – and a need for – qualified training in stage band work....

It was a rainy Monday morning in Denton and the scheduled speaker wasn't able to attend, but the future of North Texas State Normal College was shining bright. It was spring commencement, June 2, 1919, and in the Main Building’s auditorium, the college was about to award the first four-year bachelor’s degrees in its history.

The historic commencement ceremony began at 10 a.m. June 2. According to the Campus Chat, after the faculty and graduate processional, the program opened with a solo by music teacher Lillian Parrill and a speech by President W.H. Bruce. He was filling in for the Hon. J.M. Allderdice of Waxahachie who had to cancel. Graduates of the Training School received their diplomas first, followed by 400 students receiving first- and second-grade certificates and 100 more receiving permanent certificates and Normal diplomas. These prepared teachers for elementary schools or further university work and were the equivalent of two-year degrees.

Then came the stars of the hour, the five graduates in caps and gowns. After much debate, the state had authorized the teachers colleges to offer four-year bachelor’s degrees in education, preparing teachers for any grade, and these students had now completed that work. One earned a Bachelor of Science and the rest Bachelor of Arts degrees, which required foreign language study...

...First alphabetically came the popular Wynne B. Graham, whose mother had engineered the family’s move from cattle-trail-rough Roanoke to Denton in 1904 so her sons could receive a good education.

Wynne’s younger brother, Floyd, would become a legendary fixture on campus -- a band leader and music professor better known as ’Fessor Graham, who organized the college's popular Saturday Night Stage Shows for decades.

At North Texas, Wynne was a star athlete in football and basketball, president of the senior class, associate editor of the yearbook and a member of the Press Club and Reagan Literary Society. He also had been a top sergeant and instructor in the Student Army Training Corps.

After graduation, he taught and coached in Denton, McKinney and Denison before becoming athletic director and coach at what is now Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant.

In the early 1930s, he and his wife moved to Oklahoma City, where he had a long career as a teacher and junior high school principal. He died there at the age of 73 and is buried in Denison.

"...He joined the NTSC faculty as band and orchestra director in 1927 -- following a stint as Denton High's band director..."

...In 1927 the department voted to ask the city commissioner for fifteen rubber coats, fifteen hard hats, and fifteen pair of rubber boots. Floyd Graham, assistant chief suggested that a standing committee go before the mayor and city commissioner and ask for equipment that was needed. This committee was also to ask in regard of purchasing another pumper and also about the need of a sub station in the west side of town....

In December of 1947 Eugene Cook had to resign as Chief after twenty one years as elected chief and thirty years of service. He then took the position of fire marshal. The reason for his resignation as Chief was because of bad health. Morris Smith was elected to succeed. Eugene Cook. Morris Smith resigned as Chief in 1948 because a head of the department could not work with relatives. Floyd Graham was appointed acting Chief.

In February of 1949 the Fire Department changed to the Civil Service Plan. Tom Robinson was the first paid Chief of Denton replacing the Volunteer Chief, Floyd Graham...

... Much of the success of both the band and orchestra is due to the untiring efforts of Floyd Graham...

... Graham, whose home is in Denton, received part of his education in the Teachers College. He has spent considerable time studying in Chicago....

...The 71-year-old music professor retired in August 1973 after 46 years on the faculty. Often called "Starmaker" by many, Graham was known for encouraging young talent, including Pat Boone, singer Vaughan Monroe's Moon Maids and actresses Nancy Gates, Ann Sheridan and Joan Blondell.

Graham became, athis [sic] retirement, the first teacher ever to be awarded the rank of professor emeritus in NTSU's history. The board of regents honoed [sic] "for exemplary service both as a teacher and as setting the state for the birth of the school's jazz music education program," and as being "the mentor to many notable persons throughout th [sic] years.

Graham organized the "Aces of Collegeland" as a Saturday night dance band for NTSU stage shows after joining the faculty in 1927.

During World War II, "Aces" music was heard across Texas, in personal appearances in the state's military camps and hospitals and over radio from Dalla [sic] station WFAA.

In November 1972, friends and former students formed the Floyd Graham Society to honor him and further to promote musical education.

Graham received the bachelor of msuic [sic] degree from the Chicago Music College in 1931 and the master of music from Chicago's American Conservatory of Music in 1936. He taught at Denton High School in 1926 before joining the NTSU faculty.

He was author of two books which he used in courses he created for the university's music curriculum.

During his tenure at he [sic] university, he was presented the first 'Fessor Graham Award, which was initiated by the NTSU student government in 1958 and is presented annually to an outstanding faculty member.

Graham received a "Friend of the Cityof [sic] Denton Award" in 1969 for his volunteer work with the Denton Fire Department, which he served as chief 13 years.

He was "Kiwanian of the Year" in 1953 and received an award in 1971 for 41 years of outstanding service to Kiwanis.

He is survived by his wife, Pat, and one daughter, Mrs. Patricia Haworth of Fort Worth.

Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Tuesday in First Baptist Church of Denton with burial in IOOF Cemetery here.

Floyd Freeman Graham (aka 'Fessor) (October 15, 1902 – August 18, 1974 in Denton, Texas) was a US collegiate bandleader and music educator who founded and directed the Aces of Collegeland in 1927, the university dance band, pit orchestra and stage band of the University of North Texas College of Music. He also was a violinist.[1] The Aces of Collegeland was the forerunner to the One O'Clock Lab Band. Graham laid the groundwork at North Texas for what became the first college degree in jazz studies.

Many of the Ace's band members and Saturday night participants became a "who's who" in the performing arts – as members of famous big bands, film, and singers.

Notable Saturday Night Performers with the Aces[2]

Ann Sheridan
Joan Blondell
Louise Tobin
Nancy Jane Gates
Linda Darnell
Pat Boone
Notable "Aces" Alumni

Harry Babasin
Bob Dorough
Herb Ellis
Jimmy Giuffre
Charles W. LaRue
William F. Lee III
William Ennis Thomson
JB Floyd
In 1971, the University of North Texas Student Government Association designated him as "Honor Professor,"[3] and upon retirement May 31, 1973,[4] the regents awarded him the lifetime status of Professor Emeritus.[5] He was the university's first professor emeritus.[6]

Graham earned a bachelor of arts from the University of North Texas.

Graham earned a Teachers Certificate from Chicago Musical College in 1927 and a Bachelor of Music degree in violin from Chicago Musical College in August 1931. While attending Chicago Musical College, Graham studied violin with Max Ignatz Fischel (1878–1937) (Head of the Normal Department), ear training with Harold Burnham Maryott (born 1878), music history with Herbert Witherspoon (1873–1935); harmony and counterpoint with Hans Franklin Madsen (1887–1971), and composition, counterpoint, and solfeggio with Wesley LaViolette (1894–1978).[7]

Graham also earned a Master of Music degree from the American Conservatory of Music.[8]

At the American Conservatory of Music, Graham had been a pupil of:

Herbert Dalton Butler (1867–1946) – violin
Leo Sowerby (1895–1968) – composition & counterpoint
In Texas, Graham had been a pupil of:

Carl Venth (1860–1938)
He also had been a pupil of:

Fritz Mahler
Ferde Grofé (1892–1972)[9]
Family and growing up
Floyd Graham was the son of Schyler Colfax Graham (1869–1931), a Denton grocer, and Rockie Virginia Graham née (1879–1954) Freeman. Floyd Graham first exhibited his interest in music by experimenting with a cigar-box violin while in grade school.[10]

Video of cigar-box violin on YouTube
Floyd Graham married Doris Patricia Howard in September 2, 1942.[11] They had a daughter, Patricia (Pati) (Graham) Haworth.

Name: Floyd Freeman Graham
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 39
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Birth Date: 15 Oct 1902
Birth Place: Roanoke, Texas, USA
Residence Place: Denton, Denton, Texas, USA
Registration Date: 16 Feb 1942
Registration Place: Denton, Denton, Texas, USA
Employer: North Texas State Teachers College
Weight: 138
Complexion: Light
Eye Color: Hazel
Hair Color: Brown
Height: 5 11
Next of Kin: S C Graham
Household Members:
Name Relationship
Floyd Freeman Graham Self (Head)

...Graham, the son of a Denton grocer, began his musical career by experimenting with a homemade cigar-box violin while in grade school. He received a bachelor of music degree from the Chicago Music College and a master's of music degree from the American Conservatory of Music....

... 'Fessor will walk out of NTSU this month for the last time as an instructor. He retires May 31.

"My father brought us to Denton when I was two years old," he recalled. "My brother was four years older, and he moved us here so we could go to school."

"I guess we did," laughed Graham, who has been "in school" at NTSU for 46 years. His late brother, Wynne, was the first graduate of the Normal School which was to become NTSU.

Graham has received more than his share of honors during his tenure at NTSU, and retirement is bringing another flurry of awards.

For eample, he recently was one of three men honored by the Denton Boy Scouts for being a member of the first troop ever organized in the city...

... Graham has noted new enthusiasm in present day NTSU students, which he said is due in great part, to the NTSU President C.C. Nolen, who arrived at NTSU two years ago...

...The 13-piece band is known as the "Aces of Collegeland" and "Ambassadors of Good Will." It has been the official auditorium show for the West Texas Chamber of Commerce for the past nine years...

... The band forms the nucleus of the radio ensemble over WFAA, and has been participating in broadcasts for the past four years...

...The stage band was organized and is directed by Floyd Graham, assistant professor of music at the college. He holds his bachelor of music degree from the Chicago Musical College, his master of music degree from the American Conservatory of Music and has done additional study this summer with Ferde Grofe and Fritz Mahler at the Juilliard School of Music. He is also conductor of the college symphony orchestra....

... Teachers College has had a band for several years, but this year's group of musicians, under the direction of Floyd Graham, has been the most successful ever organized...