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Jack Palmer - From a small town to the big stage

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JACK PALMER palmer@crescent-news.com

Readers often e-mail or call to "set me straight" after reading one of these columns. Most of the time they are very polite.

Such was the case last week, when I received a call from 88-year-old Kathryn Killian of Hicksville.

"I just read your story about the boy from Defiance who is in his first year in the Ohio State Band," said Killian. "Well, my grandson graduated from Hicksville High School -- and he is in his fifth year."

Who was I to doubt Grandma Killian?

Anthony "Tony" Killian, a 2004 alumnus of Hicksville High School, is indeed a fifth-year mellophone player in the OSU Marching Band. He is the son of Derrill Killian of Hicksville and the late Shirley (King) Killian. His maternal grandmother is Mary King, who resides in Payne.

A subsequent phone interview with Tony resulted in a pleasant and interesting conversation about his past, present and future.

"I knew absolutely nothing about the Ohio State University Marching Band before the spring of my senior year in high school," he recalled. "I never went to a game there and never paid much attention to college football. Many of these kids in the band are second or third generation members, but I was never one of those people."

He credits his high school band director, Polly Krause, for encouraging him to pursue band at OSU.

"She told me about an information program about the university's music program held on campus for high school juniors and seniors," said Killian. "I decided to go check it out. We received an inside look at the music and band facilities, including the stadium."

During his high school years, he played mellophone for marching season and French horn for concert season.

"The mellophone is basically the same sound as a French horn, but it's easier to march with," Killian explained.

He spent that summer preparing for marching band tryouts, including trips to Columbus on Tuesday and Thursday nights for practice sessions.

"I was basically starting from scratch," he said. "I never memorized music in high school and the OSU marching style was completely new for me. The marching part was very physically demanding."

Nevertheless, Killian survived the first cut and almost made the band.

"I was disappointed when I got cut, but I was more determined than ever. Since I came so close, I thought I could make it the following year."

He volunteered for the athletic pep band, which played at basketball games, ice hockey games, wrestling matches and volleyball matches. He also became friends with many marching band members.

"During the workouts that next summer, I felt more confident," he related. "When Dr. (Jon) Woods called my name that I made it, it was a huge relief."

His five years in the band have gone quickly. Killian has traveled to Arizona three times for January bowl games and New Orleans once. But his most memorable game came on homecoming during his first year.

"A bunch of friends and family arranged for my mom to come down and see that game," said Killian. "She had cancer and was in a wheelchair. They arranged to have her seated close to the band that day. We took a lot of pictures."

Shirley Killian died the next year, before the start of another marching band season.

"The day she came to Columbus to see me was very special," he said, softly.

Killian will graduate next June with a degree in architecture and minors in music and city/regional planning. He plans to work a few years before attending graduate school.

"Regardless of where you went to high school, I encourage you to try out for the Ohio State Marching Band," said Killian. "We have plenty of members in the band from small high schools, including me."