LEON BREEDEN RECEIVES HONORARY DOCTORATE OF LETTERS

World famous jazz educator, Leon Breeden, who brought his University of North Texas Lab Bands to international fame, playing for presidents, heads of state and in many foreign countries, received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters at the university's 2009 summer commencement exercises.

Surrounded by fellow jazz educator, Jim Riggs big jazz band, comprised of many former UNT graduates, a brief concert was performed and dedicated to Dr. Breeden.

The University's president, Dr. Gretchen Batzille said in her announcement:

"I was proud to award Leon Breeden, the director of the jazz studies program
and the One O'Clock Lab Band from 1959 to 1981, a Doctor of Humane Letters,
honoris causa, on behalf of the university at the 2009 summer doctoral
hooding ceremony.

"Mr. Breeden, a Professor Emeritus of music, was the jazz
program's second director and under his guidance, the program - the first
of its kind in the country - rose to international prominence. Before he
stepped down, the lab bands had received almost 50 national awards for
group and individual performances. A respected clarinetist, saxophonist,
arranger and composer, he has earned numerous accolades, including being
inducted into the National Association of Jazz Educators Hall of Fame in
1985."

Under" the leadership of Dean James Scott, the University of North Texas School of Music has a prominent world-wide reputation among musicians and music educators. 

For more information about the UNT College of Music:

James C. Scott, DMA

Dean, College of Music

University of North Texas

1155 Union Circle, Box 311367

Denton, Texas 76203

Email: James.Scott@unt.edu

BILL CHERRY REALTORS

DALLAS - HIGHLAND PARK

214 503-8563

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August 12, 2009	Printable version

Leon Breeden to received honorary doctorate at UNT

DENTON (UNT), Texas -- Leon Breeden, who was director of the University of North Texas Jazz Studies Program and the One O'Clock Lab Band from 1959 to 1981, was awarded an honorary doctorate at UNT's doctoral commencement ceremony. The ceremony was Aug. 14, 2009 in the Murchison Performing Arts Center, located along the north side of Interstate 35E at North Texas Boulevard.

The degree is awarded by the university to a candidate who has demonstrated high standards of excellence through his or her scholastic achievements, professional accomplishments, philanthropy or public service record.

Under Breeden's direction, UNT's jazz studies program rose to international prominence. It was during his tenure that world-renowned bandleader Stan Kenton discovered the jazz program, the first of its kind in the country, at the Notre Dame National Jazz Festival. That event is widely considered to be a breakthrough for the program's ongoing international reputation.

During this period, Breeden also took over direction of the One O'Clock Lab Band, a name that developed when he moved the rehearsal time for the premiere band up to 1 p.m. from 2 p.m.

Before he stepped down, the lab bands celebrated many "firsts" under Breeden's direction, such as becoming the first college or university band to appear at the White House by presidential invitation in 1967. The lab bands also received almost 50 national awards for group performance and for individual performance.

In addition to spurring the nation's first bachelor's degree program in jazz studies, Breeden also developed a reputation for himself beyond the university to become a respected clarinetist, saxophonist, arranger and composer. His arrangements were performed by many groups, including the Boston Pops and the Cleveland and the Cincinnati orchestras.

He received an Outstanding Professor honor in 1976 from UNT. The Texas Legislature proclaimed May 3, 1981, "Leon Breeden Day."

In 1985, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the National Association of Jazz Educators. The North Texas Jazz Festival unveiled a Leon Breeden Award for the best middle school or high school big band in 2003.

Now a professor emeritus of music, Breeden was recognized as an Honorary Alumnus at UNT in 1986 and has played important roles at many of the jazz program's celebrations and milestone anniversaries.

Breeden earned a bachelor of arts in music education and master of music education from Texas Christian University. He was awarded an honorary "Doctor of Letters" degree by TCU in 2001.

UNT News Service Phone Number: (940) 565-2108

OK, while even though not of sterling silver, I was raised with a silver plate spoon in my mouth. 

I admit it.

A driver picked-up our laundry every Monday and brought it back on Friday.  His name was Richard.  The sheets were washed, starched and ironed.  My daddy's dress shirts were each folded and individually packaged.

And the laundry man was different than the uniformed man who picked-up and delivered the dry cleaning.  His name was Mr. Wheeler.

Mr. Covini brought fresh eggs and butter every week, Mr. Crawford sent his driver with the prescription drugs, and Bovio's Grocery's barely English speaking delivery man, Beyanke brought our groceries in a big basket on his three-wheel bicycle.

Mrs. Levin at Nathan's would send the store's driver out to the house with several new outfits she thought my mom might like.  Often my mom would pick a couple, then send the others back.

There were no MasterCards or Visas.  Each store sent their own bill once a month.

And then little by little the civility ensured by door-to-door service has all but vanished, and I don't like it. 

ONE REMAINS: THE SCHWAN MAN

Schwan's has an enormous catalog of frozen foods, from steaks and lobster to garlic potatoes and blueberry cobbler.  The ice cream is of Bluebell quality.

Once every two weeks, our Schwan Man, Luke, comes by in his big yellow-cream colored refrigerated truck and we get our supply -- the basics of each of our orders are strip steaks, skinless chicken breasts and shrimp skewers.

While I understand Schwan's is in most of the larger communities nationwide, in Dallas you can have Luke as Your Schwan Man just like we have.  469 441-3744.

It's time for you to ensure that you are acting like a true conservative Republican, bringing civility back into your life at the same time.  Start by using the Schwan Man.  In Dallas, call Luke.  469-3744.

BILL CHERRY, REALTORS

DALLAS - HIGHLAND PARK

214 503-8563

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MEYER REISWERG -- GALVESTON'S STRAND SURPLUS SENTER

Those of you who visited and shopped Galveston's famous Strand Surplus Senter, also fondly called Col. Bubbies, will be saddened to learn that its owner, Meyer "Col. Bubbie" Reiswerg passed away yesterday.

Bubbie had such a wit that he was brought to New York as a guest on the David Letterman Show.  He brought the house down!

But what I liked best about Bubbie was his ability to debate.  More than once he took the Galveston School Board on.  He was always far better prepared than they were.  The winner was Bubbie in a slam dunk decision.

Meyer "Col. Bubbie" Reiswerg

BILL CHERRY, REALTORS

DALLAS - HIGHLAND PARK

214 503-8563

 

TEXAS DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICE ACT VS "AS IS" 

Some say that the reason the Texas Legislature put in place the Deceptive Trade Practices Act (Chapter 17 of the Texas Business and Commerce Code), was to give attorneys an opportunity to sue for big bucks, win big settlements, and pack their pockets with big legal fees.  Maybe so.

One thing that the DTPA brought was that it completely wiped out caveat emptor ("let the buyer beware") and replaced it with caveat vendor ("let the seller beware").  And along with it came the inability for either or both parties to waive the rights given them under the DPTA.

In 1995, the Texas Legislature amended the statute so that now consumers CAN waive their rights under the statute.  However, "The consumer-buyer must possess equal bargaining power with the seller, and be represented by legal counsel not identified, suggested or selected by the...seller."

So with respect to real estate transactions, property can now be sold "as-is" under certain circumstances.  And while the buyer can still file suit against the seller under the DPTA statute, if the "as-is" notice was properly negotiated and agreed to at the time of the sale, conventional wisdom seems to say that the buyer cannot recover any monetary damages.

There is a voluminous article titled "As-Is" in the April 2009 issue of Tierra Grande magazine that real estate professionals as well as propery owners should read.  It's written by Judon Fannbrough.  Tierra Grande is a publication of the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University.

It seems to me that it would be appropriate for any and everyone selling and buying property within the areas hit by Hurricane Ike to agree that the purchase is an "As-Is" transaction.  Afterall, no one can be sure the totality of damage to any property and further, that the remediation was properly done.

If I were a Realtor practicing in, say, Galveston County, I would advise my listing clients to properly identify their sales as "as-is"

BILL CHERRY, REALTORS

DALLAS - HIGHLAND PARK

214 503-8563

SECURITY MARINE BANK -- THE INDUSTRY'S PARADOX

 SECURITY MARINE BANK'S WORLD HEADQUARTERS

Many years ago, photographer David Thompson took this photograph of a real, existing, operating bank.

Of course the reason he thought the subject intriguing and the image worth preserving was because the building itself was nothing more than a small, frame home that had stuck to its front a scale painting of an elaborate bank building. 

The place is climate controlled by a single window air conditoning unit.

I've shown this picture to many friends and customers over the years, and it always brings a big roaring laugh and a few "I can't believe it," comments.

Of course the irony today is this:  There are banks of this size and caliber all over the US that have worked to exhaustion to retain their customer bases from being proselyted by the big mega banks...the ones in the big multi-million dollar buildings that aren't facaded with painted stage flats.

And those mega banks pay some individual officers -- the presidents and chairmen -- more each year than many of these small banks have in total deposits.

But banks like Security Marine Bank have not asked taxpayers to bail them out...to make them solvent.  They've operated prudently.

So in the end, whether the building's facade is real or a stage set makes no difference.  It's the management behind the desks inside that counts. 

Which group deserves Americans' business?

BILL CHERRY, REALTORS

DALLAS - HIGHLAND PARK

214 503-8563