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Leaving On A High Note: Greeley Central Teacher Set To Retire After Long, Music-Filled Career
Editor's note: This story also ran in The Tribune.
By Jakob Rodgers
Look to the south of the storied podium at the front of the Greeley Central High School band room and you’ll find about 20 cartoon caricatures hand drawn by former students of the school — each depicting a different person. One shows “Dizzy Davis.” Another “Jeff of the Jungle.” Still one more depicts the venerable “Darth Davis,” asking students to “join the brass side.” But with each picture, the legend of Jeff Davis, band director at Greeley Central, grows. It is a reputation that began back in 1980, when he first set foot in Greeley Central and many of his current students’ parents hadn’t even met. “Some teachers, by the time that they are my age and have taught for 29 years, they’re kind of tired of being there and you can tell in their teaching,” Davis said. “Maybe it’s just me — I don’t get bored.” But everything that has a beginning, has an end — and in May, Davis will set down his baton at Greeley Central for the last time and retire after 29 years at the high school. The decision has been a tough one for the students — many of whom refer to the man as their second father. To be certain, though, his decision is not for the lack of energy that comes with age. No, despite the fact that his signature red afro and crimson beard have long turned white, Davis is just as lively as ever. Stopping the entire band on a mid-afternoon practice in January, Davis points out a whole bar’s rest the trumpet section neglected to adhere to — leaving him to make his way down from the front of the class to pick up a trumpet of his own and play along. Bobbing his head up and down with the beat as he blasts a few notes and directs the rest of the band, he makes sure to always keep a tab on every student — even one trumpet player who commits the sin of using his knees as a place to rest his elbows while playing. “This is God’s instrument,” Davis said to the student, a smile draped across his face as he dives into a (quasi-serious) joke. “Do you see any angels with saxophones in their hands?” So, despite helping to add a little levity to the situation, how does one go about teaching music to students? “You have to figure a way you’re going to teach them what they need to know,” Davis said. “Part of my job is not just playing concerts, it’s teaching these kids a love of music and an exposure to music.” And finding those avenues for learning is a forte of Davis’ teaching style. While nurturing their musical ability, Davis occasionally takes his students on trips to New York, Florida and Europe so as to help them gain a more wide-ranging understanding of their music. And it is for this work, his colleagues and students point out, that Davis has won several teacher of the year awards through the school and other educational entities. Funny thing is, Davis doesn’t seem to care. “He wants everybody else to get the credit,” said Jeff Davis’ son, Justin Davis. Both of Jeff Davis’ sons have gone on to careers in music. “He’ll read this and he’ll be embarrassed.” What he cares about most, Justin Davis said, is simply helping students gain a better grasp of music. When he missed the spring 2009 Big Band Boogie Ball — a fundraiser for Greeley Central he started 20 years ago — due to emergency eye surgery, Justin Davis said it “killed” him. It also killed his students — who still made time to wave to their teacher via video feed. “He has his moments where he’ll be like ‘Hey, you don’t do this’ and yell at the kids,” said Beth Bohnenblust, 16, a sophomore at Greeley Central, a few weeks before the event. “But then you do respect him for it because he gives you respect back,” So, are there any pointers this music man has for the next person to fill these large shoes? “You just do your own thing and be positive,” Davis said. “And show respect to the kids and they’ll show it back to you. And if you teach them really meanly then that’s what they’re going to do to you. “It’s like life, right? If you treat people with respect, then they’re going to give respect back to you and that’s what you do.” Evidently, “Captain Davis” knows best. BREAKOUT: Honoring Jeff Davis Donations are being accepted for a college scholarship fund being named in his honor. Those interested in donating may do so by e-mailing inquiries to bandmom@comcast.net.
Jakob Rodgers