Since the creation of the West Virginia University Alumni Band more than five decades ago, Ed Gilger (Recreation, ’65), a percussionist, has marched in nearly every Homecoming Parade. And at 83 years old, he plans to continue, finding rejuvenation in the familiar tunes the band plays.
“When the band plays the old standards, you feel young again,” Gilger said. “You don’t realize that you can’t march as fast with that 220 run on the field cadence, because somehow, we do it.”
The Alumni Band has helped him maintain a strong connection to WVU; he dedicated time and energy to this cherished group as a founding board member, making the drive from Princeton to Morgantown for every meeting. Gilger noted that most members of The Pride are not music majors, but the shared passion for music creates long-lasting bonds. “You’ll make friendships that will last a lifetime,” Gilger said. “I’ve got friends that I met my freshman year who are still friends today.”
Ed Gilger has returned to WVU's Homecoming to play in the Alumni Band almost every year since 1965.
While times have changed, certain traditions endure. Marching through the tunnel at football games and the newest percussionist carrying out the ladder for the band’s director are traditions that evoke memories of long ago. The campus Gilger knew has changed. In the old stadium downtown, band members marched on a grass field in wool uniforms. He recalls members rolling ankles after stepping in holes and marching in thick mud, but he cherishes those images.
Gilger’s pride in Morgantown, which he considers his second home, runs deep, and his sense of pride and duty to WVU is often reflected in his wardrobe choices — he proudly sports WVU gear wherever he goes. “I’m proud to wear gold and blue,” Gilger said.
Over the years, the Mountaineer Marching Band gained the nickname “The Pride of West Virginia,” and Gilger has delighted in its recognition beyond West Virginia's borders.
Prestigious parades like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and statewide performances have boosted the band’s reputation. Gilger is involved in organizing performances for southern West Virginia and loves bringing The Pride to audiences who cannot travel to Morgantown.
For the young man who once doubted his musical ability, joining The Pride of West Virginia was a life-changing experience. “The band meant everything to me from then to today,” Gilger reflected. As for the next homecoming parade, he plans to continue marching, as a real example of “once a Mountaineer, always a Mountaineer.”
