Mayor honors ASU band director James Oliver

Thursday, Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange stood by Alabama State University Mighty Marching Hornets band director James Oliver on the steps of City Hall and proclaimed that it was "Dr. James Oliver Day," honoring the longtime faculty member and Montgomery native. Nearby, a select group of ASU band and dance team members performed and a crowd of ASU supporters stood cheering.

But this proclamation will reach far beyond Montgomery. At the ceremony, a group of professional camera operators roamed through the crowd and another stood high up, back and center behind the scene, catching every moment. The footage likely will become part of "Bama State Style," the A&E network reality TV series about the ASU band that began filming in mid-August and is tentatively set to begin airing in January.

Taking the stage, Strange recounted his early days as mayor, attending his first ASU football game. He'd seen state Rep. John Knight at the game and wanted to go over some business with him.

"I said, 'Maybe we'll have a chance to visit at halftime," Strange said, adding that Knight's reply was, "Not on your life. Obviously you have never been to an ASU football game.' I stayed and I watched, and I was wowed at what goes on at halftime with ASU on the field," Strange said.

Elton Dean, chairman of the Montgomery County Commission, introduced Oliver on the stage.

"This is but a memento of the great things he's done," Dean said of Oliver, who has directed the band since 2000.

The band played the school's fight song as Oliver took the podium. He noted that among the countless times he'd heard that tune, he'd never before heard it played in his honor.

"I am so honored. This is my home — I was born and raised here in Montgomery," said Oliver, who also earned his bachelor's degree in music at ASU. "This is just the beginning for us. We're going to continue to move forward. I want my students to know that this is for you. All of this is for you. I couldn't have done it without you."

From beside the stage, several band members responded: "Thank you, Prof." "We love you, Prof."

Oliver shared some of the motivational quotes he calls upon to spur his band to success, citing, among others, Maya Angelou's statement, "Success is liking yourself, liking what you do and liking how you do it."

Words from Tommie Stewart, dean of ASU's College of Visual and Performing Arts, and Knight followed Oliver's acceptance.

"We know who he is, we know how he prays for the students," Stewart said of Oliver. "We know how he gathers them together and is always ready to hear what you need and what you want and where you want to go."