Eldon A. Janzen was born March 21, 1928, in Medford, OK, to Jacob G. Janzen and Sara Schroeder Janzen. He died Saturday, December 10, 2022, at the age of 94. At the time of his death he was a resident of Oxford Glen Assisted Living in Owasso, OK. He was born into a musical family and was baptized into the Mennonite Church where his father served as choir director and organizer of the Mennonite Men’s Quartet. For many years they were the musical group of choice for funerals and community events. He considered this opportunity to grow up in the community of wonderful people in Medford a valuable foundation for a person from a family of less-than-modest means. His father was the village ice man; his mother had a nice singing voice but died at an early age of cancer. The influence of his parents, band directors, and teachers (especially former coach and superintendent Howard Wellborn who offered him his first teaching job) was critical to his initial success.
Eldon’s early formal music training began on cornet in the 4th grade; he later switched to trombone when an instrument became available on loan. Eldon was fortunate to have teachers who recognized his musical interest and talent. Two band directors in particular were very helpful. Jack Norman gave him his first lessons on trombone and arranged for a “Band Mothers” bake sale (which netted $25) to help him purchase his own instrument—a newly reconditioned trombone. Later, Delvis Roberts found him an upgraded trombone and loaned him $112 to make the purchase. The loan was gratefully repaid with Eldon’s earnings working in a local grocery before the summer was over. High school choral director, Madge Warzyn, took him on as a voice student, developing his natural vocal talent.
Janzen was active in both music and athletics during his high school years. He played in the band, sang in the glee club, played on the Medford class C State Championship Football Team, and was named to the Oklahoma High School All-State Football Team in 1945. Upon graduation in 1946, he chose a music scholarship over an athletic scholarship and enrolled at Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State University). After earning his bachelor’s degree in 1950, he began a life-long career playing, teaching, and conducting bands. He first served as Band and Choral Director in his home town until he was called into the Armed Forces in January 1951. While stationed at Red River Army Depot, in Texarkana, Texas, he served as Band Leader and Chaplain’s Assistant. He also organized his own dance combo and played regularly at the Army USO and Service Clubs.
Janzen was united in marriage in 1952 to the former Nelda Routon of Texarkana, AR. After the loss of their first child, they became the parents of two children, Jana Kay and Jay Scott. Both followed in their dad’s footsteps, pursuing careers in music at the University of Arkansas where they had the privilege of playing in their dad’s band. They had lifelong careers as band directors, as did son-in-law, David Gorham, who is a composer as well.
Upon discharge from the Army in 1953 Eldon enrolled in graduate school at North Texas State University. He served as assistant to Director of Bands, Maurice McAdow, before receiving his master’s in 1954.
For the next 15 years, Janzen served as band director in New Boston, Greenville and Irving, Texas. His reputation began to develop with an invitation to the New Boston band to participate in the pre-game of the nationally televised Cotton Bowl in 1956. He was subsequently asked to conduct the halftime show the following year. In 1959 he accepted a job in Greenville, where his work with the band program led to his appointment as Director of Bands in Irving in 1962. His Irving band was chosen for the Texas Music Educators’ Convention to demonstrate the contrasting style and sound of the symphonic band versus the wind ensemble by the world-renowned conductor Frederick Fennell. The distinctive sound of the symphonic band that Janzen had developed began to spread across the country and accelerated the demand for him as adjudicator, clinician and guest conductor.
After five years as director of the Irving High School Band, he was appointed Director of Music Activities for the Irving School District, which had grown to more than 25,000 students. During his years in the public schools, he established band programs which received national acclaim from notable conductors including W. Francis McBeth, Dr. Frederick Fennell, and Dr. William D. Revelli.
In 1970 he began his 25 year tenure as Director of Bands at the University of Arkansas, directing the Razorback Marching Band, as well as the Symphonic and Concert Bands. The Razorback Band appeared in most major bowls during his leadership including the Cotton Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Holiday Bowl, Liberty Bowl, and Orange Bowl. The Symphonic Band performed at College Band Directors National conventions twice, at the Bicentennial National Music Educators convention in 1976, and at the American Bandmasters convention in 1983. In 1985 he was appointed Coordinator of Music Education, supervising student teachers, and Professor of Graduate Instrumental Conducting.
Janzen served as president of Texas Bandmasters Association, Arkansas Bandmasters Association, Southwest Division of College Band Directors National Association, and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, where he established a record of leadership in the North American Band movement, continuing as a member the International Board of Directors.
After retirement in 1995, Eldon continued to work as an adjudicator and guest conductor throughout the United States and Canada. He served as president of the University of Arkansas Retirement Association and the Red River Army Association of Korean War Veterans. One of his favorite activities was assisting the Community Meals Program which was supported by the Central United Methodist Church of Fayetteville, where he and Nel attended since 1970. It provided hot lunches for less fortunate individuals in the area. Janzen’s favorite role was “dishwasher.”
Throughout his 45 year career as band director and music educator he found time to direct Methodist church choirs in three communities, organize and conduct an adult community band known as the Arkansas Winds, and provide counsel and help to dozens of his former students who are now professional educators. His book, The Band Directors Survival Guide has been used in college methods courses throughout the country.
In 1985, he was invited to membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. He was inducted into the Arkansas Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 1992 and was named Lifetime President of that organization in 1998. He was installed into the Phi Beta Mu International Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Texas Hall of Fame in 2019. The expanded rehearsal facility in the Lewis E. Epley Band Building is named Eldon A. Janzen Rehearsal Hall in his honor. He received numerous awards in recognition of his career including those from his high school in Medford, Oklahoma State University, and Kappa Kappa Psi Band Fraternity. The Razorback Marching Band received the John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Trophy in 2006 as one of the outstanding college marching bands in the nation.
Mr. Janzen was preceded in death by Nelda, his wife of 67 years, his parents, Jacob G. and Sara Schroeder Janzen, and his brother, Norman. He is survived by his two children: Jana (David) Gorham of Owasso, OK, and son, Scott (Detra) Janzen of Tyler, TX, grandson Brant Gorham of Tulsa, OK, nieces Robin Gartee of Texarkana, AR and Cindy (Mike) Griswold of Cocoa, FL, and nephew Mark Janzen of Wichita, KS.
Eldon was admired and respected by all who made his acquaintance. He loved people and he loved God. He was a gentle, hardworking man who never gave up. He was loved and will be dearly missed by his family, friends, and former students.
A memorial service will be held at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville on January 13, 2023, at 2:00 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the Eldon A. Janzen and Sanford I. Tollette Scholarship Fund at the University of Arkansas, 525 Old Main, 1 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701 http://bit.ly/EldonJanzen-SanfordTollette-BandAward
We remember him well at rhe basketball games we attended and how he and his students likely played a big role in the Hogs’ 1994 NCAA championship!