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WHO WAS JOHN FRANKLIN WITT?
By Marvin Mayer
The simple answer to the title question is, a late 19th century East Texas son of cotton farmers, James and Erma Witt. A better answer might be the incarnation of the title character in the Broadway musical and Hollywood movie, The Music Man.
Born May 26, 1884 in Omaha, Morris County, Texas, his is a story of raw talent bursting through a series of challenges to become known as Tyler's Music Man. Think about life at the turn of the [20th] century in a world many of us today would call "primitive." Then think about being just 13 years old and losing your father. Life was tough, but John was tougher. The story of his youth and adolescence would be too detailed for this short piece, so bear with me as we "fast forward" to the true beginning of his love affair with music.
He joined the Omaha town band where he was assigned a second-hand cornet previously purchased by the band from Sears-Roebuck and Company. He practiced playing the instrument from an unlikely position; seated in the top of a large oak tree in the backyard of his farm home. Playing from this lofty perch for an imaginary audience, he developed the skill and confidence to perform before a live audience.
To further hone his newly found talent, he sought additional formal training when he auditioned for, and was hired as part of, the Mollie Bailey Circus band. There, he learned the temperaments of other military band instruments; knowledge he later used as a music teacher.
In 1908, twenty-four year old John, who had by now adopted the nickname of "Doc," discovered Tyler. And Tyler discovered Doc! Around the turn of the century, a group of young boys from the Tyler area, under the sponsorship of local musicians, were molded into a military band known as the Tyler Kid Band. Now, some 8 years later, the Kid Band was without a leader. Doc answered an ad (for a band leader) he saw in the Dallas Morning News, applied for the position, and immediately assumed the reins of leadership. It was a "match made in heaven."
Under Doc's leadership, the Kid Band expanded its travels to perform before various Confederate [veterans] reunions as far away as Mobile, Alabama and Memphis, Tennessee. The Kid Band also performed in concert formats. "The Tyler Kid Band, led by their splendid director, Professor J. F. Witt" would present a series of 6 concerts beginning November 18 at the old Alberston Opera House. There are numerous other accounts of performances by the Kid Band, far too many to include in this article at this time.
Doc Witt (sometimes spelled Witte) organized the Tyler Municipal Band in 1916. Some musicians from the Kid Band, now adults, formed part of the nucleus of the Municipal Band. Doc Witt took great pleasure in performing free Friday evening concerts in a park-like environment slightly west of the Smith County Court House.
Some unusual and/or anecdotal final comments about the late, great Doc Witt conclude this article.
• He conducted a Sunday school orchestra for the Friendly Class at Marvin United Methodist Church. In recognition of his contributions, the class awarded him their "Degree" of "Doctor of Sunshine." The wording of that certification is found at the end of this article.
• He was the band director and teacher at Tyler High School.
• He created the band at Tyler Junior College.
• He taught many a student how to play a variety of musical instruments.
• He was honored as the outstanding high school band director of Texas.
• The Municipal Band he created was reportedly one of only two municipal bands in the entire nation to be supported by a municipal tax. The other was in Chicago, IL.
• Even though the end of WWI officially came at 2:00 AM local time, Doc assembled his band and spent the rest of the pre-dawn hours circling the public square, playing all types of martial music.
• A commemorative stone honoring him can be found on Tyler's Half Mile of History that encircles the downtown square.
• John Tyler High School's band rehearsal room was named, in his honor, "The J. F. ("Doc") Witt Band Hall.
Tyler's music man went to compete with Heaven's chief trumpeter, Gabriel, on February 7, 1952.
Text of Doctor of Sunshine certification: "THIS CERTIFIES that J. F. ("Doc") Witt, having ever been an Apostle of a happy philosophy of life and the highest type of good fellowship, and having day-to-day gone about scattering sunshine and brightening the lives strown with good will, happiness and smiles, thereby living the spirit of Christmas every day of his life, THE MEMBERS OF THIS CLASS, joined by his host of friends and admirers, have this day conferred upon him the degree of DOCTOR OF SUNSHINE and invested him with all the rights, benefits, privileges, honors and dignities which accompany the same."
"Doc" Witt (Center) and friends
Tyler Kids Band and Tyler citizens after a performance at the downtown square
John Tyler High School's band rehearsal room was named, in his honor, "The J. F. ("Doc") Witt Band Hall.