Douglas E. Fry

DOUGLAS E. "FESSOR" FRY, SR. Douglas Fry, Sr., 95, of Abilene passed away on Friday, March 16, 2012 at Hendrick Hospice Care. Private graveside services will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery in Tyler, Texas. A celebration of "Fessor" Fry's life is planned for a future day in Abilene. Local arrangements are being made by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene. Douglas was born in Spicewood, Texas, on July 15, 1916. He began his schooling in Burnet, Texas, but later moved to Levelland, graduating from high school in 1934. Doug enrolled in Abilene Christian University where he played trombone in the band directed by D. W. Crain. He graduated from ACU in 1940 and became band director at Conroe. "Fessor" enlisted in the Navy shortly after Pearl Harbor and spent 39 months in the South Pacific, serving as band officer on Admiral Halsey's staff and conducting USO shows for Bob Hope and Eddie Peabody. After working a year for the Gretch Band Instrument Company, he became band director at Brady in 1947, building the 7-piece high school band into a large award-winning organization. In 1953, Abilene Christian University hired Doug as director of bands, and for 17 years he directed the "Big Purple," taking them on concert tours in 14 states and Mexico. Some 100 band directors studied with him during those years. After his tenure at ACU, Douglas worked for King Music Company in San Angelo and then directed the band at Robert Lee before becoming band director of the Cisco Junior College Wangler Band for five years. In 1979, after retiring from active teaching, he was active as a clinician throughout Texas, and he served as executive secretary of region 7, where he and his wife Mary Frances, coordinated the regional UIL music contests. He also retired from the Navy and Naval Reserve with 22 years of service. He was named Director Emeritus of the ACU band in 1983. Douglas Fry is survived by his wife, Mary Frances; a daughter, Nancy Hammes of Searcy, Arkansas; a son, Doug Fry, Jr., of Austin; a sister, Jence Morgan of Conroe; and a grand-daughter, Whitney Hammes of Searcy Arkansas. Memorials may be given to the Fry-Crain Music Scholarship at ACU. The family of Douglas Fry wishes to express sincere thanks to Bob Scott and Ed and Kathy George who have been like family for the last two years.