| Hughes, Arkansas School Faculty Memorial |
| Ralph William Boyden June 3, 1904 – March 23, 1958 Band Director Tenure: 1955-56. |
| Mr. Boyden was the first HHS band director during that time in the mid-1950’s when the Hughes High School administration approved rejuvenation of the band program. A band had been organized in 1933, under the direction of Mrs. Collier, but it is not known how long that program lasted. Some sort of instrumental training existed in the late 1940’s, however, as evidenced by mention in the Student Printz of boy scouts earning music merit badges by performing on band instruments, but no mention is made of an organized band in school during that time. Today’s band program stems from that band organized and led by Mr. Boyden in 1955. He was born in Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, to Meron Floyd Boyden and Mary Arabella “Mayme” (Strickland) Boyden, and he married about 1928 to Esther D. Anderson. Prior to coming to Hughes Mr. Boyden taught band at Parsons College, Fairfield City, Iowa, at a private boy’s school in DuPage, IL, and at the time he came to Hughes, he was serving as the band director at Olive Branch, Mississippi. According to statements made by HHS alumni, Mr. Boyden lived in Memphis and commuted to Hughes twice a week to teach band. He died in Memphis on March 23, 1958. |