Passed on to me today from Buster:
Here's one thing I remember about our winning visit to New
Orleans. Apparently, every group had someone locally (in New Orleans)
as a sponsor. The gentleman who was our sponsor was very excited when
we won the title of Greatest Band in Dixie. He gave Mr. Basden a
hundred dollar bill and told him to do something for us kids. We had
some free time, so he decided we could go see a movie. The movie
selected was "Charade" with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. Here's where
Mr. Basden's sense of humor comes into play. Now, you have to remember
that this was February, 1964, when a hundred dollars went a looong
way! As we approached the theater box office, Mr. Basden got all of us
to hide around the corner just out of sight of the lady in the booth.
He walked up and announced he needed to purchase tickets to "Charade."
She, of course, replied "How many, sir?" He said she almost fell off
her stool when he answered "80, please." I can see him laughing so hard
right now!
Also, during the parade, we stopped in front of the
mayor's reviewing stand for the trophy presentation. I seem to remember
that the mayor planted a wet one on Elizabeth Goodale, but you'll need
to ask HER about that!
I guess most young people have someone they admire
and look up to. I certainly hope so. I was lucky enough to have more
than one adult like that, but Bill Basden was my hero. He was more than
my band director and tennis coach. He was a mentor and life coach. I
played piano duets with his older daughter and played on the tennis team
with his older son. I was flattered when I was asked to play oboe at
his daughter's wedding. Decades later, when he was so ill, I played a
solo recital in Houston, and I really was playing it with him in my
heart. Not too long after, I was back in Camden and went to see him in
the hospital. He looked up and said, "Well, Robin, I heard you were in
town. I was wondering when you were coming by." I was able then to
give him a recording of the recital. His wife wrote me after his death
to tell me how much he enjoyed listening to the recording many times and
that he said how proud he was of me. Boy, that got the tears flowing.
I was so glad I was able to have that last visit with him in the
hospital and give him that recording. I know I am only one of many whom
he touched and influenced. We were all lucky to have had him in our
lives.
Robin
