2020 | Wearin’ of the Green 41
NEW UNIFORMS
ARADE WEATHER IN 2011 CONSISTED OF CLOUDS
and intermittent rain. It was a tough year for the parade
knowing why the parade was at a dead-stop, I garnered a
golf cart and sped to the front of the parade. At the top of
the Overpass Bridge, a truck axle had snapped. Steering the
cart on and off the sidewalk, I moved past a marching band.
The wheels of the cart left the curb and smashed a band
The little girl who had the trumpet was in tears as I attempted
to console her replying, “Honey, I will have a new trumpet
for you on Monday…” I immediately approached the Band
Director, explaining the mishap and hearing his response,
“You’re Pat Shingleton, do you realize that this is the only high
school band that doesn’t have uniforms?” Realizing what I had
just announced to the young girl, I turned to the Band Director
and said, “In six months every member of this band will have a
new uniform!” Another campaign began.
A new friendship also began between yours-truly and Juvon
Pollard, then Band Director of Istrouma High School. The
young lady was Kie’Asha Tate. After the smashing incident, a
spectator told me he had a new trumpet that his son never
used so the following Monday, Keisha received it. Juvon and I
championed the uniform effort with an initial contribution from
The Parade Group, LLC to fuel the campaign. The beginning
response was slow but with some personal requests,
maneuvering and a powerhouse like WBRZ-TV Channel 2
Istrouma High Band with Juvon Pollard
and Pat Shingleton photographed in their
brand new uniforms in 2012.
Juvon, now at Belaire High School,
continues to excel as a band director.
Photographed in 2019 with Pat
Shingleton before the parade.
A SMASHING SUCCESS!
BY PAT SHINGLETON
P
behind the cause, we were just $12,000 short of our $35,000
needed for the 70 new uniforms. Remembering my pledge to
Juvon and my six-month prediction, on the very last day of that
prediction, an anonymous donor visited Istrouma High School
and extended a check for $12,000 to complete the campaign.
There is more to this saga.
Juvon Pollard built a music program at Istrouma that to this
day is admired. Kids from other schools wanted to be there
because of Juvon and his band. But then the school closed.
Juvon became the Band Director at Belaire High School.
musicians to more than 100. The band has performed at four
consecutive appearances at the Louisiana Educational Music
Association district festival, receiving excellent and superior
numerous “Battle of the Bands,” from Baton Rouge to Houston,
TX. They have also performed in Normandy and Paris, France,