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Robert (Bob) Ferguson was born August 17, 1946, in Austin, Texas. His parents were Raymond and Mickey Ferguson. His father was doing graduate work that summer at The University of Texas, and as soon as he finished the family moved back to Wasco, California. When Bob was in third grade his father got a teaching job at Edwards Air Force Base and this is where he went to school until he graduated from Desert High School. Bob started band in elementary school using his brother’s used Getzen cornet. With the help of his band director Mr. George Thompson and his father Raymond who was a former band director, Bob learned to really love playing music. While in high school he was first chair in the All Antelope Valley Honor Band and his senior year received the Bank of America Award in music. In high school Bob was also involved in sports, lettering in wrestling, tennis, track and playing baseball in the summers.

In 1964, Bob decided to go to his father’s alma mater, Howard Payne University, where he received a music scholarship and studied trumpet under Dr. George Baker. At HPU he was active in the marching and concert band, served as band president and was a designated honor student his junior and senior year. In 1966, the most important thing that happened in college was finding the true love of his life, Martha. On December 28, 1968, Martha and Bob were married in Abilene. Bob was doing his student teaching in Brownwood at this time and was also the band director at Goldthwaite High School. When they returned home from their honeymoon, Bob received his draft notice in the mail. He immediately went to Abilene and auditioned for the Army Band. After the school year was over Bob went to basic training at Ft. Bliss, and upon completion went to Virginia to the Armed Forces School of Music. Bob finished his tour of duty at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, serving in the 77th Army Band obtaining the rank of E-5.

In 1972, Bob became the band director at O’Donnell High School. While teaching there for two years Bob met three people who would influence his life forever. Bill Woods became a mentor to him and to so many other young teachers in the Lubbock area. The friendship that was developed then has lasted a lifetime. Earl Ray owned the music store in Lubbock where all the band directors showed up every Saturday. With Earl Ray’s guidance, this is where young band directors learned what college did not teach them. Coy Cook, the band director at Wilson High School at that time became one of Bob’s very close friends. When Coy got the job at Sunray High School he asked Bob to be his junior high band director. For the next ten years Bob and Coy worked together. Bob credits Coy for teaching him how to make first divisions and how to love the kids you teach. It was in Sunray, with the help of some very good friends, that Bob and Martha adopted a new baby boy named Glenn. He has been a joy in their lives ever since that day.

In 1984, Bob became the band director at Valleyview Junior High in the Canyon school district. For the next twelve years he had the honor of working with Ken Carriere at Canyon and Randall High School. The band program won many best in class at festivals, was a consistent UIL Sweepstakes awards winner and made the top fourteen in the honor band selection every year they were eligible, twice finishing in the top five.

Bob and Martha moved to Abilene in 1996, where the association with Anthony Gibson began. For five years working with the Awesome Cooper Band to the fifteen years with the Allen Eagle Escadrille, his leadership and love for students was an inspiration for Bob and everyone he encountered. When it is all said and done, no one band director can take responsibility for their successes. Bob is so grateful to all the directors he has worked with for their friendship and sharing the love of music together. Bob is or has been a member of TMEA, TBA, TMAA, Phi Beta Mu, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. While in Region I, he represented the region for many years on the UIL-TMEA Advisory Committee, was the middle school region organizer, and hosted the middle school region tryouts, clinic and concert. For many years Bob judged the all-state euphonium tryouts and along with Mr. Carriere was the All-State Concert Band organizer one year.

Bob and Martha enjoy traveling and have been to thirty-one different countries and islands by way of cruising or flying. They love living in Allen and supporting the largest marching band in the world and the Allen Eagle football team. They are members of First Baptist Church in McKinney and cherish all the good friends they have met over the years.
Bob is greatly humbled and honored to be inducted into the Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame.