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OU Band Members Give Surprise Trumpet Concert to 103-Year-Old Alum

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group shot 4 current band members posed with Vanderslice, all holding trumpets

OU Band Members Give Surprise Trumpet Concert to 103-Year-Old Alum

Students pose with Vanderslice

A group of students from “The Pride of Oklahoma,” OU’s marching band, did a surprise trumpet performance for a 103-year-old woman who played in the band more than 80 years ago.

Ellen Vanderslice was the first woman to take the field for the Pride back in 1941.

When OU Junior Preston Loeffelholz found out about Ellen from his grandmother, he decided he wanted to do something he knew would make her day.

"I was just thinking like it would be cool, since she still clearly still cared about music, if we went up and played a few things. I thought she would like it," said Loeffelholz.

Loeffelholz rounded up trumpet players Parker Huckabay, Cale Richardson, and Seamus Meehan to go to Tulsa.

Huckabay said he didn’t think twice about making the trip.

"When I heard about that opportunity, I jumped at it, because it's not often that you get to play for someone who had that kind of impact on the Pride, and somebody who was in the Pride that long ago," said Huckabay.

For the complete story, and to see a video of the group’s performance for Vanderslice, check out the full report from KOTV News on 6.

Article Published: Wednesday, January 25, 2023