Strike up the band, promote music literacy, and develop Citizenship! John W Griffith, father of four Alter football players, John ’76, Kevin ’78, Edmund ’80 and Greg ’82, passed away at age 53 from esophagus cancer. A native Daytonian, John was drum major at both Chaminade High School and Bowling Green University. After college he served as an officer in the United States Marines during the Korean War. In Dayton he worked at Tait Manufacturing, the Standard Register Company and was a founding partner of Irongate Realtors. He served as President of the Dayton Area Board of Realtors and served on the Kettering City Council for 12 years, his last year as Mayor of Kettering. The band was his first love and he always said to his sons, “never kick a bandster!” He believed the band is equally important to the school experience as the football team!

Selection will be based upon the candidate’s passion for pursuing music, dedication to instrumental music, participation in community activities outside Alter that develop citizenship awareness and music literacy.