Saying Goodbye To The Face Of The Pride Of Cordell

The 2020 school year was definitely one for surprises and adapting to new things for Cordell students, especially for the students of Cordell’s band programs. After 17 years and numerous awards and accolades, Cordell’s band director, Steve Smith, announced his departure from the program in a Zoom meeting with his students April 24, 2020.

During his long run with Cordell, Smith led The Pride of Cordell to the state competition 13 times and earned eight state superior rankings, four in concert and four in sight reading. He won outstanding achievement awards in 2016 and 2018, and superior ratings in the state Jazz Contest, the regional marching band contest (five times) and an incredible 16 consecutive times at the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Jazz Festival.

While the move may come as a shock to many, Smith said it’s something that he and his family have been considering for about three years. He said that he and his wife Amy, who has taught elementary school music and assisted with the high school band for his entire career, felt it was time to make a change three years ago, but decided to take it slow and grow accustomed to the idea of leaving.

“I was beginning to feel like it was more of a job than the pursuit of my passion,” Smith said.

As the bizarre events of this year unfolded, Smith said the pieces just fell into place and they decided now was the time to finally make the move.

He notified superintendent Brad Overton on Feb. 26 that he was looking for a new position and would more than likely be leaving at the end of the school year. He said he wanted school administration to get the news from him directly as a sign of appreciation and respect for their years of support for him and the band program.

His first new job prospect didn’t go as he’d hoped. He submitted his application and then heard nothing back from the school.

But he wasn’t deterred. He spoke with a woman at his church, and she told him it was time to “put his journey shoes on.” That message, he said, confirmed in his heart that he was on the right path.

He took the leap of faith in announcing his departure before he even had a new job secured.

“It’s not faith if you control all the variables,” he said.

Then he decided to apply at Bethel. He interviewed for the job in the week after he announced his departure, and was offered the job just a few days later.

He listed his home for sale, and had a signed contract before he even managed to get a for sale sign in the yard.

“All the pieces just came together,” he said.

Smith came into the Beacon office on Saturday to talk about the change and recalled a few of his favorite Cordell band memories.

One of those memories came from his first game as head of the Pride. It was at a football game at Mooreland.

It was toward the end of the game, he said, and Cordell had a 40 or 50 point lead at the time.

“The game was getting out of hand,” he said. “And we were just playing and having a good time.”

The band, however, didn’t stop playing when it was time for play to resume on the field. While they were playing, Mooreland snapped the ball in the shotgun. It bounced off the quarterback’s hands and was recovered by Cordell.

And the flags flew.

In his first football game, Smith and his band were flagged for playing during game play time. The ruling was that the band’s playing had drowned out the snap count, forcing the fumble.

Smith’s very next game, his first home game at Cordell, brought another lasting memory.

He recalled standing with the band and hearing the long-time “Voice of the Pride,” band announcer Dean Derieg, introduce the band.

“It was inspiring,” he said. “His voice made us all stand a little straighter and march a little better. He inspired us all with the introductions he gave.”

Smith teared up as he recalled another moment from his career at Cordell. He was giving his students a pep talk before they performed at the school’s annual Veterans Day assembly.

During the ceremony, the band plays a medley of the armed forces anthems. As the anthem for their individual branch is played, veterans in the audience stand to be recognized.

Smith told his musicians to play the medley with feeling, calling on his tuba section to really “belt out” their parts during the Navy’s anthem, Anchors Aweigh, telling the students that this gesture held more meaning for the veterans than they would likely ever know.

During the performance of Anchors Aweigh, Smith recalled one aged veteran struggling to rise to his feet, barely making it as the song ended. Looking at his band, Smith noticed one of his tuba players, “a big, tough kid,” with a tear rolling down his cheek.

“You can’t create moments like that,” Smith said while choking back tears of his own.

As Smith moves on from Cordell he thanked the community for its support and love.

“To have the support this community gives so evenly to everything, sometimes I think that is nothing short of a miracle,” he said.