It will be a homecoming for Mineola reunion band

Plans have been made for an exciting Saturday evening Sept. 14 at Mineola Civic Center for the Mineola All-School reunion capping off two nights of fun and reminiscing.

Alumni being honored are Lou Wagner from the Class of 1956 and Glenn Dossett, Class of 1964. Dinner will be served and the Gary Patrick Band will rock Yellowjacket Alumni into the night.

Patrick’s Band members include Bob and Bill Scott who are Mineola graduates and drummer Jeff Shelton from Lindale. Bill Scott is a retired high school band director, and his first job was as band director at Alba-Golden. Shelton currently directs the drum line at Tyler Grace Community High School in Tyler.

Patrick moved to the West Coast after graduation from Alba-Golden High School in 1989. He played the bar circuit in Southern California and eventually landed a gig as the house band at the world famous Mirage and Bellagio Casinos.

Patrick stays busy playing all over East Texas and the Southwest. He is playing the Americana and Texas Music circuit.

Patrick is excited about the upcoming show at the Mineola All School Reunion. “I can’t tell you how excited we are to be playing at the Mineola reunion with a couple of Mineola grads who I have been playing with for so long. I’m really looking forward to doing a great show at the civic center for everyone,” Patrick said. “Being an Alba-Golden graduate, and spending summers playing baseball in the area while growing up, I got to know a lot of Mineola folks and am excited about seeing some old friends.”

Patrick met the Scott brothers while still going to Alba-Golden High School and actually played in a band with them as far back as 1987. Bill Scott had one of his first jobs as band director at Alba-Golden when Patrick was a student there and they began playing music together at that time.

Music has been Patrick’s life calling. “I love everything there is about music.  How it makes me laugh, cry and comforts me.  How it pumps me up, reminds me that others hurt too and that the human condition is cathartic. Most of all, I love when music and story are intertwined,” Patrick explained. “If you want to know where I got my inspiration and love for music, you have to look no further than my family. I am the youngest of four siblings from a household that constantly flowed with music.”

Mineola graduate Jeannette Castleberrry is one of the organizers of the event. “We had a successful event a couple of years ago and hope to have another great time. It’s only $25 for the evening. We are having a great meal and it will be fun honoring the alumni and having the band for the dance,” Castleberry said. “You can still get tickets at the civic center.”

Registration deadline is Sept. 6, and wristbands will given out at the tailgate party in the parking lot before Friday night’s game at Meredith Memorial Stadium or at the dinner on Saturday, whichever event you attend initially.

The weekend of fun and memories kicks off Friday afternoon with the annual homecoming parade downtown at 3 p.m.

The tailgate party with hot dogs and the fixings is set to begin at 6 p.m. prior to the 7 p.m. presentation of the homecoming court and the 2019 Homecoming Queen.