The Red Regiment presented its first Distinguished Alumni award to Mr. Alfred Watkins, Class of 1972, at the football game last Friday night. During his time at JHS, Mr. Watkins served as Band President his senior year, Trumpet Section Leader for 2 years, Principal Trumpet for 2 years, was a member of the District Honor Band as well as All-State Band finalist and Governor’s Honor’s Program finalist.
He went on to a receive a Bachelor of Science degree at Florida A&M University and an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Music from the VanderCook College of Music, Chicago, Il.
Under his direction, ensembles have performed Midwest Band Clinic (five times), MFA National Festival (six times), GMEA. Convention (six times) and the NBA Convention. His bands have performed in four Rose Parades, three Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades two Orange Bowl Parades and one Florida Citrus Bowl Parade. They are the 2-time Bands of America Grand National Champions and winner of nine Bands of America Regionals. The symphonic band has performed on the college campuses of the University of Georgia (4), Florida State University, University of South Carolina, University of Southern Mississippi and Troy State University. The Lassiter Winter Color Guard was named the 2-time Winter Guard International World Champions and the Lassiter Percussion Ensemble performed at the GMEA Convention, MFA National Percussion Festival twice and won the PAS “Call for Tapes” in 2007.
Mr. Watkins has been selected as a member of the Florida A & M University Gallery of Distinguished Alumni, the American Bandmasters Association, the Georgia Chapter of the Phi Beta Mu Hall of Fame and the Bands of America Hall of Fame. He has received 16 Certificates of Excellence from the National Band Association, the Sudler Order of Merit from the John Philip Sousa Foundation and the Band World Magazine Legion of Honor. In 1996, Mr. Watkins was Associate Director for the Atlanta Olympic Marching Band that performed in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta. In 2008, Mr. Watkins was received the prestigious Turknett Leadership Character Award from the Turknett Leadership Group, a Metro Atlanta Leadership Consultant firm. He was the first public school educator to have been nominated for this award. Mr. Watkins is Co-Founder, Conductor and Musical Director of the Cobb Wind Symphony, an all-adult community band based in the Atlanta area, which in 2009, earned the Sudler Silver Scroll Award presented to outstanding community bands in America and has performed twice at the Midwest Clinic. He is one of the founding members and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Minority Band Directors National Association, an organization formed in the summer of 2011, whose purpose is to serve, promote, celebrate and mentor minority band directors throughout America.