Bust of former BHS band director unveiled during Showband of Arkansas reunion

A highlight of the reunion was a memorial ceremony at 6 p.m. May 5 where a bust of late band director Marshall Townsend was unveiled at the Professional Development Center. The bust was donated to the Benton Athletic Memorial Museum on Saturday.

Townsend’s wife, Janice, will travel from her home in Las Vegas to attend the unveiling ceremony.

“It’s also an opportunity for many of us to pay our respects to the man who led it all. Mr. Townsend was like a father to many of us, and this reunion is dedicated to paying honor to that memory and to keep his heritage alive,” said event spokesperson Tony Gatlin.

The Townsends were involved in music at Benton from their arrival in 1972 through their departure in 1985.

“Marshall directed the Westside Junior High Band from ‘72 to ‘77 when he took over at the high school where he stayed until the spring of ‘85. Janice taught music for all levels of the Benton schools and gave private piano lessons to many students throughout that period.”