The BGSU Band Alumni Society will celebrate its 50th anniversary at Homecoming this year. The group, established in 1976 with 81 members, has grown significantly over the past five decades. (BGSU photo)
A milestone anniversary with a special pregame performance
The BGSU Band Alumni Society will celebrate its 50th anniversary at Homecoming as nearly 300 alumni join the 600-member Falcon Marching Band for a special pregame performance. The alumni society’s anniversary comes as the Falcon Marching Band is experiencing historic growth, earning the title of America’s largest college marching band.
Key Highlights
50 years of marching band tradition
The BGSU Band Alumni Society first took the field at Homecoming in 1976 with 81 members and will celebrate its milestone 50th anniversary this year.
Nearly 900 members performing together
Nearly 300 alumni will join all 600 members of the Falcon Marching Band, America’s largest college marching band, for a special Homecoming pregame performance.
A lifelong connection
Alumni from every decade will return to perform, including many who graduated in recent years. At least two alumni will return to perform for the 45th consecutive year.
“There’s really something special about being in the Falcon Marching Band. The people are what draw so many of us back year after year. You’re together a lot in band, and the culture is so welcoming. Many of us made lifelong friends in the band, and Homecoming is our chance to reconnect and share old memories.”
KATHY MCGRADY '81
PRESIDENT, BGSU BAND ALUMNI SOCIETY
The Bowling Green State University Band Alumni Society will mark its milestone 50th anniversary at this year’s Homecoming with a pregame performance bringing together nearly 900 current and former Falcon Marching Band members.
Nearly 300 alumni band members are expected to join all 600 members of the Falcon Marching Band to perform “Happy Days Are Here Again,” a song the band frequently played in the 1970s under longtime director Mark Kelly.
The alumni society’s anniversary comes as the Falcon Marching Band is experiencing historic growth, earning the title of America’s largest college marching band.
“There’s really something special about being in the Falcon Marching Band,” said Kathy McGrady ‘81, president of the Band Alumni Society. “It’s wonderful to welcome back all of our alumni, and it’s especially thrilling this year to be joining all 600 of the band's current members on the field as we celebrate our 50th anniversary as an alumni society.
“The people are what draw so many of us back year after year. You’re together a lot in band, and the culture is so welcoming. Many of us made lifelong friends in the band, and Homecoming is our chance to reconnect and share old memories.”
The first alumni band debuted during Homecoming on Oct. 16, 1976, with 81 members. Membership has grown significantly over the years, reaching a record of more than 460 alumni in 2023 to celebrate the Falcon Marching Band’s 100th anniversary.
McGrady said a large contingent of alumni band members returning for this year’s Homecoming graduated in recent years, underscoring the strong connection they formed with the University as members of the Falcon Marching Band.
They’ll be joined by alumni from every decade, including the 1970s when the alumni band was formed. McGrady knows of at least two alumni who will be returning to march for the 45th year in a row.
Paula DeSalvatore ‘81 is one of them.
“I just love the University,” she said. “I don’t know if I can explain it. It’s a feeling of pride, and every time you play the fight song or alma mater, you get that same good feeling again.”
McGrady said the Homecoming performance offers alumni, many of whom do not have music careers, a chance to reconnect with their passion.
“There’s a lot of excitement in being back on the field, marching and playing the fight song alongside your friends,” McGrady said.
The BGSU Band Alumni Society was formed by a small group of band enthusiasts, including Thom and Wendy (Burkett) Headly, Rick and Cindy (Eldridge) Brechmacher, Chuck and Carol (Weiss) Miller, Gary and Pauline (Sich) Stemple, Carol (Hall) Bebout and Karen Kelly.
“Our students are proud to represent each and every one of you, and to uphold the great history and traditions that you all helped to create,” Director of Marching and Athletic Bands Jon Waters wrote to the alumni society members. “The new generation of Falcon Marching Band represents new tradition and new innovation – all built upon the foundation set forth 50 years ago and even well before that.”
Related Stories
Updated: 09/21/2026 02:08PM