Texas Bandmaster Hall of Fame member Van Ragsdale grew up in Pampa, Texas and received his B.M.E. and M.A. degrees from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales. During his 33-year career as a music educator, his bands earned numerous state and national awards, including his distinction of preparing two Texas State Champion Honor Bands for the Texas Music Educators Association clinics at both the junior and high school levels. He followed his public school career on the band staff at East Texas A&M University in Commerce. Van was twice awarded the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence and is listed in the World’s Who’s Who of Musicians. He served six years as Texas Chair of the National Band Association and four years as Southwestern Division Chair. He was President of Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters’ Fraternity and later was elected International President. In 2008 he was presented the Distinguished Alumni Award by Eastern New Mexico University, and in 2018 was presented the Texas Bandmasters Association’s Meritorious Achievement Award. As a member of American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), he has several compositions on the Texas UIL music list as well as numerous published march editions. His music has been performed at the Midwest Clinic, Carnegie Hall, and throughout the world. His A Walk With McCarley was featured in the independent film Bluebird at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2014. Van and his wife Jean live in San Antonio, Texas where Van continues to consult with several band programs.
