Before their halftime performance at Cordell’s last home football game of the season, the Pride of Cordell paid special tribute to Dean Derieg, who was “The Voice of The Pride” for roughly three decades.
Cordell Band Director Steve Smith read the following tribute to Derieg before presenting his son, Greg Derieg with a plaque in his honor.
“Before the band performs I would like to recognize someone that has been a part of the Cordell Marching Band family for many years, Mr. Dean Derieg. Over the years Dean has become known as “The Voice of the Cordell Band.” He started announcing for the band when our predecessors, Jeramy and Dawn Haas, were the directors here and continued announcing every year since Amy and I have been at Cordell, for what amounts to nearly 30 years. He has been one of our biggest fans and supporters. This year he decided that due to his health he needed to step down as our halftime announcer. We had made plans for him to be here tonight to announce for us one last time, but due to his health and the cold weather tonight he was not able to come out. At this time I would like to present this plaque on behalf of Cordell Schools and on behalf of the Cordell Band in appreciation for his many years of service. Here to receive the plaque is his son Greg Derieg, who was a member of the Pride of Cordell and the graduating class of 1995.”