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RGV HALL OF FAME INDUCTEEStacey Dunn was born in Belvidere, Illinois and he was raised by his parents. David and Marilyn Dunn. His parents moved to Poplar Grove, Illinois (population 450) and he along with his younger sister, U%u2019lette Dunn Becker grew up there. Stacey had a love for music from a very young age. When he was 7 years old his mother saved S&H Green Stamps and bought him a cardboard guitar. These stamps where given to you after purchasing groceries. Stacey%u2019s mom and dad had a very strong work ethic and he learned at a very young age the importance of hard work. Both his parents were raised on a farm and at 11 years old Stacey went to work on the neighbors ranch for $1 an hour.When he turned 16, Stacey went to work for Green Giant running corn pickers and pea combines. From June through August he worked 12 hour shifts, 7 days a week for $2.25 per hour. Stacey wanted to join band in the sixth grade but his dad got laid off from work and they couldn%u2019t afford an instrument. For about 3 months Stacey watched other children leave the classroom for band, so he decided to visit Mr. Rund the band director.He told the band director that his parents didn%u2019t have the money for an instrument but he still wanted to join band. Mr. Rund pointed to an instrument in the corner of a small practice room and said, %u201cIf you will play this sousaphone, I will let you join band and you can tell your dad it%u2019s free.%u201d The sousaphone was so beat up it didn%u2019t have one smooth piece of brass on the horn. Stacey picked that sousaphone up and took it home that day without a case and started polishing it the minute he got home. Three months later Stacey was in the top band and attended his first Junior High Band Contest. Stacey achieved first chair tuba from 7th grade through his senior year at North Boone High School, Poplar Grove, Illinois. His High School band director was Bill Carol and he knew how to motivate Stacey. Bill had such an impact on Stacey and guided him through many difficult situations. Bill is the reason that Stacey decided to Major in Music education at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois. Bill was a trumpet player who studied under Adolph %u201cBud%u201d Herseth and graduated from VanderCook College of Music.Stacey recalls that Bill Carol used to encourage the band students to attend the Chicago Symphony. Chicago was 90 miles away and Bill encouraged the students to ake the train from Harvard, Illinois to Chicago. This when Stacey heard the famous tuba player Arnold Jacobs. At the end of Staceys junior year he decided to major in Music Education. That summer Stacey got the idea to try and call Arnold Jacobs and ask for tuba lessons. The only way to possibly get Mr. Jacobs, number was to dial 411 (Phone Directory Information). When he called the fifth time a very kind lady answered the phone. Stacey said, %u2018Hello my name is Stacey Dunn. Is this the Arnold Jacobs who plays with the Chicago Symphony?%u201d She said, %u201cwhy yes it is. Would, you like to talk to him?%u201dAt that point Stacey said Hello to Mr. Jacobs, and explained that he wanted to take lessons from the best tuba player in the world. From that day on Stacey could call Arnold and get a lesson on any Saturday. During his senior year Stacey made the Illinois All State Band on Tuba and performed at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago.Stacey Dunn attended VanderCook College of Music from 1978 to 1983. Mr. Dunn studied directing techniques and pedagogy under H. E. Nutt and studied tuba under Clyde Bashand, Forrest Bucktel, Arnold Jacobs, and Rodger Rocco. Upon graduating from VanderCook, he was hired to the position of Assistant Band Director at Oliveira Intermediate School Brownsville ISD under the direction of Paul Flinchbaugh. In 1987, under the direction of Paul Flinchbaugh Oliveira was selected as the Texas Music Educator%u2019s Association CC Texas State Honor Band and performed at the TMEA convention. The following fall, Stacey Dunn was hired as the Head Band Director at Perkins Intermediate School, where his band advanced to the TMEA Honor Band Competition in 1989 and 1991. In 1991, Stacey moved to the Assistant Band Director position at Pace High School. In 1993, Mr. Dunn was appointed the Head Band Director at Lopez High School. While at Lopez, the band was named Texas State Honor Band Finalist in 1996, 1998, and 2000. The Marching Band also advanced to the Texas State Marching Contest three times. In the year 2000 Stacey accepted the Head Band Directors position at Southwest High School in Fort Worth, Texas. During his tenure at Southwest, the band was a Texas State Honor Band Finalist in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016.The Southwest Band also advanced to the Texas State Marching Band Contest in 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2017. In 2015 the Southwest High School band was selected to perform at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. The Midwest Clinic performances are presented by a variety of musical groups from around the world. In 2017 Mr. Dunn accepted a position at Fort Worth Independent School District as an Administrative Music Specialist and is currently in his 41st year teaching. Mr. Dunn is a member of TBA, TMEA and Phi Beta Mu and Kappa Kappa Psi.Stacey Dunn and his wife Mary Ellen reside in Fort Worth, TX. Their son David is the assistant editor of %u201cSouthlake Style%u201d magazine. Stacey%u2019s mother lives on a ranch in Athens, Texas and he credits his mother and father with his determination and work ethic.Stacey is forever grateful to his wife, Mary Ellen and son David Anthony DunnThroughout his career Mary Ellen and David have been supportive through long hours, long days and long years of work. He considers himself very fortunate to have the love and companionship of his wife Mary Ellen and his son David and his wife Meagan.Mr. Dunn continues to clinic and adjudicate throughout Texas. He has a deep commitment to his students and believes that hard work, determination and persistence are key to being successful in whatever you pursue.RGV HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE