Floyd Graham

Floyd Graham
Floyd Freeman Graham (aka 'Fessor) (October 15, 1902 – August 18, 1974 in Denton, Texas) was a US collegiate bandleader and music educator who founded and directed the Aces of Collegeland in 1927, the university dance band, pit orchestra and stage band of the University of North Texas College of Music. He also was a violinist. The Aces of Collegeland was the forerunner to the One O'Clock Lab Band. Graham laid the groundwork at North Texas for what became the first college degree in jazz studies.
Many of the Ace's band members and Saturday night participants became a "who's who" in the performing arts – as members of famous big bands, film, and singers.
Notable Saturday Night Performers with the Aces
Ann Sheridan
Joan Blondell
Louise Tobin
Nancy Jane Gates
Linda Darnell
Pat Boone
Notable "Aces" Alumni
Harry Babasin
Bob Dorough
Herb Ellis
Jimmy Giuffre
Charles W. LaRue
William F. Lee III
William Ennis Thomson
JB Floyd
In 1971, the University of North Texas Student Government Association designated him as "Honor Professor," and upon retirement May 31, 1973, the regents awarded him the lifetime status of professor emeritus. He was the university's first professor emeritus.
Education
Graham earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Texas.
Graham earned a Teachers Certificate from Chicago Musical College in 1927 and a Bachelor of Music degree in violin from Chicago Musical College in August 1931. While attending Chicago Musical College, Graham studied violin with Max Ignatz Fischel (1878–1937) (Head of the Normal Department), ear training with Harold Burnham Maryott (born 1878), music history with Herbert Witherspoon (1873–1935); harmony and counterpoint with Hans Franklin Madsen (1887–1971), and composition, counterpoint, and solfeggio with Wesley LaViolette (1894–1978).
Graham also earned a Master of Music degree from the American Conservatory of Music.
At the American Conservatory of Music, Graham had been a pupil of:
Herbert Dalton Butler (1867–1946) – violin
Leo Sowerby (1895–1968) – composition & counterpoint
In Texas, Graham had been a pupil of:
Carl Venth (1860–1938)
He also had been a pupil of:
Fritz Mahler
Ferde Grofé (1892–1972)
Family and growing up
Floyd Graham was the son of Schyler Colfax Graham (1869–1931), a Denton grocer, and Rockie Virginia Graham (1879–1954) Freeman. Floyd Graham first exhibited his interest in music by experimenting with a cigar-box violin while in grade school.
Floyd Graham married Doris Patricia Howard on September 2, 1942. They had a daughter, Patricia (Pati) (Graham) Haworth.
'Fessor Graham Award for Faculty
In 1958, the North Texas student body established the 'Fessor Graham Award, the highest honor bestowed by the students to a faculty member. The award recognizes one faculty member each year for outstanding and unselfish service beyond the call of duty to students.
Floyd Graham, Music, 1958
Beulah Harriss, PE & Intercollegiate Women's Athletics, 1959
Samuel B. McAlister, Government, 1960
Arthur M. Sampley, Library Service, 1961
William B. DeMougeot, Speech & Debate, 1962
A. Witt Blair, Education, 1963
Chester A. Newland, Government, 1964
Leon Breeden, Music, 1965
William R. Garner, Government, 1966
Clovis Morrisson, Political Science, 1967
Kendall Pinney Cochran (1924–2007), Economics, 1968
Don E. Beck, Speech and Drama, 1969
Student government in transition, no recipients, 1970-71
James Riddlesperger, Political Science, 1972
Charles Foster, Business, 1973
Leo Estrada, Sociology, 1974
Ben Chappell, Speech Communications, 1975
Milan J. Reban, Political Science, 1976
T. Bullock Hyder, Economics, 1977
Anshel Brusilow, Music, 1978
Umesh C. Banerjee, Biology, 1979
Tommie Collins Lawhon, Education, 1980
Douglas P. Starr, Journalism, 1981
David R. Fitch, Business, 1982
Jerry Lee Yeric, Political Science, 1983
John James Haynie, Music, 1984
Lee Knox, Geography, 1985
J. B. Spalding, Business, 1986
John S. Gossett, Communication and Public Address, 1987
Richard H. Wells, Journalism, 1988
Ernest F. Crystle, Foreign Languages and Literatures, 1989
Dan Haerle, Music, 1990
Valerie D. Martinez, Political Science, 1991
Fred Hamilton, Music, 1992
Kenneth Godwin, Political Science, 1993
Robert S. LaForte, History, 1994
Norris D. Fox, Education, 1995
Ann S. Windle, Education, 1996
Donald E. Chipman, History, 1997
P.R. Chandrasekaran, Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Law, 1998
Juliet Getty, Merchandising and Hospitality Management, 1999
William T. Waller, Biological Sciences, 2000
Gladys H. Crawford, Biological Sciences, 2001
Thomas P. Sovik, Music, 2002
Richard Tas, Merchandising and Hospitality Management, 2003
Brian L. Bowman, Music, 2004
David W. Hill, Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation, 2005
Kimi King, Political Science, 2006
Dee C. Ray, Counseling and Higher Education, 2007
Donna Ledgerwood, Human Resources Management, 2008
Lyndal M. Bullock, Education, 2009
Gloria Cox, Political Science & Dean of the Honors College, 2010
Armin R. Mikler, Computer Science and Engineering, 2011
Shahla Ala'i-Rosales, Behavior Analysis, 2012
Andrew Enterline, Political Science, 2013
Brian Lain, Communications Studies, 2014
Bethany Blackstone, Political Science, 2015
Michael Thompson, Philosophy and Religion, 2016
Floyd Graham Memorial Scholarship
The College of Music offers a scholarship as a memorial to Floyd Graham, sponsored by the Floyd Graham Society.
Recipients
2007 — Sam Reid, Saxophone
North Texas Jazz Festival's Floyd 'Fessor Graham Award
The North Texas Jazz Festival established the Floyd 'Fessor Graham Award for the outstanding high school or middle school vocal group. The winner performs during one of the evening's "pro" concerts.
Publications
Floyd Freeman Graham, Public relations in music education, a study, Exposition Press, New York (1954)
Floyd Freeman Graham, For Music Literature, (Unknown Binding) (1965)
Floyd Freeman Graham, For music appreciation; a course outline to supplement the teaching of music appreciation, Denton, Tex., Howard Pub. Co., Denton, TX (1960)
Notes and references
American music educators
1902 births
1974 deaths
American Conservatory of Music alumni
Chicago Musical College alumni
University of North Texas College of Music faculty
American jazz educators
20th-century American musicians