Jimmie Howard Reynolds died on Saturday, January 19, in Shreveport,
Louisiana at the age of 87. Jimmie was born in Wichita, Kansas on February
19, 1925 to Charles Franklin Cracraft and Orpha Edith Howard. His father
died when he was 2 years old and he was later adopted by his stepfather,
John McCormack Reynolds. Jimmie grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana and
received degrees in Music from Louisiana State University and the
University of Michigan. After teaching in public schools in Florida,
Mississippi and Louisiana, he served as Director of Bands at
Peabody/Vanderbilt University, Director of Bands and Head of the
Department of Music at Louisiana Tech University and Director of Bands at
Iowa State University. From 1980 to 1985 he was Director of Youth Music
for the Municipality of Jerusalem, resident conductor of the Israel National
Youth Band, and Music Consultant for The Rothschild Foundation, Israel.
He also taught courses in Music Education at Tel Aviv University and the
Reuben Academy of Jerusalem. Reynolds was a past president of the
Southern Division of the College Band Directors National Association and
member of many other national and regional band associations. He served
honorably in the United States Navy as a Lieutenant JG.
As a lifelong educator spending much of the 1950’s and 60’s in the Deep
South, he held a firm belief in the work of the Civil Rights movement often
taking stands that put him at odds with the political and social climate of the
times. He instilled in his five children the value of all people regardless of
race, religion, ethnicity or economic status. He had a deep appreciation for
great music and was an enthusiast of amateur radio.
Jimmie is survived by his children, Jonathan Reynolds, Christin Fagan,
Patrick Reynolds, Lauren Rea, Daniel Shlomo Reynolds and his three
grandchildren, Thomas Fagan, Brendan Rea and Katherine Rea. He is also
survived by his wife, Arlene Burney. A private memorial service will be
held at a later date in Wichita, Kansas.
My father was an avid ham from his teenage years in
Shreveport until his recent passing. As busy as he was
as a music educator, he used ham radio as a welcome
relief from a busy day. And my interest in radio was
nourished by hearing his rig all fired up on early
mornings at home!
This photo was taken at the Bolinas, CA transmitter site
for KSM/K6KPH.