Longtime local high school band director gets Rose Parade honor

The building that houses the band at Lassiter High School is already named for legendary “director of bands” Alfred Watkins, so being honored is not something totally new for Watkins.

At this years rendition of the New Year’s Day Rose Parade, Watkins will be honored yet again.

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Watkins will be one of a select few high school band directors riding atop a float during the parade, flanked by some 270 marching band members during the five-plus mile parade through Pasadena, California.

“At one time, Eastman Kodak called it the most photographed event in the world,” Watkins said.

Channel 2′s Berndt Petersen visited Watkins before he left for the Golden State. While not someone who likes to “toot his own horn”, Watkins could barely contain his excitement.

“When you’re representing the whole breadth of school band directors around the country,” Watkins said. “It’s something that is an honor there are no words for.”

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Watkins has overseen the band at Lassiter for the past 37 years. He no longer teaches classes at the school but still leads the band. He took the Marching Trojans to Pasadena four times, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York City three times and won two marching band national championships during that time.

“Whenever we travelled we carried the name Georgia, Cobb County, metro Atlanta, and Lassiter High School with us,” Watkins said.

We didn’t see Watkins being saluted during ABC’s broadcast of the Rose Parade Saturday morning, but we have no doubt he allowed himself to have a little fun and be appreciated for everything he has accomplished.

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