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Bill J. Dean was born in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, September 7, 1924. The Dean family moved to Tulsa, where Bill, at age 10, started his clarinet studies, and continued the lessons until he graduated from Tulsa Central High School in 1942. He then enrolled in Baylor University in Waco, but only stayed one semester as he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served with the army in Europe for three years, and in 1945-1946, he joined the Seventh Army Headquarters Band in Heidelberg, Germany. He returned to Baylor in 1946, and graduated with a degree in Business in 1948. Bill continued his education at Baylor, receiving a Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1950. While at Baylor, he played clarinet in the Baylor Band, Baylor Symphony, and the Waco Symphony.

Bill started his teaching career in 1950, as High School Band Director at Haskell, Texas. He remained there for 3 years, and then moved to Odessa in 1953, where he started his long and outstanding teaching career in the Odessa public schools. His first position was that of Assistant Director Of Bands at Odessa High School with another Phi Beta Mu Hall of Fame member, Robert Maddox. He moved to Bowie Junior High as Head Director in 1956, and remained there until 1959 when he returned to Odessa High School as Director of Band and Orchestra. The Odessa marching bands received First Division ratings at UIL Marching Contest for 31 consecutive years. They appeared at halftime at several professional football games. The Odessa band won UIL Sweepstakes Awards for 20 of the last 22 years Bill directed the band. The concert band was named Outstanding Band at numerous festivals held throughout the U.S..

Bill retired from teaching in 1981, and became store manager for the May and Duncan Music Company in Odessa. He remained there one year, missed teaching, and returned to music education as Associate Director of the Texas Aggie Band, and director of the Texas A&M Symphonic Band. Bill retired the second time in 1988 to his favorite hobby is golf, golf, golf, Las Vegas, and golf!

Bill is a past President of TBA; past President of Alpha Chapter, Phi Beta Mu; past Band Division Chairman and Vice-President of TMEA; an All-State Band organizer during the years of 1969 and 1970. He was honored as Texas Bandmaster of the Year in 1987 by TBA. He is very active as a clinician and an adjudicator. Bill is truly an outstanding band director and music educator in the State of Texas. He has a long list of Odessa students that are now teaching music and directing instrumental groups ... A great tribute to a great man.