Biography of Clarence Sawhill

CHAPTER VI - The War Years

The outbreak of World War II during the school year of 1941-1942, adversely affected the Illinois band program just as it did all the universities around the country. The majority of the young men continued through the close of the school year before entering the service, so the anniversary concert of 1942 was in effect the end of an era. Mark Hindsley, assistant director and the conductor of the First Regimental Band, also entered the service, leaving Sawhill as the only remaining assistant.

The three school years during the midst of the war, 1942-1945, were extremely difficult ones for the band program at Illinois. The number of students in the band program diminished to a mere sixty members in the marching band. Only through the participation of servicemen stationed at nearby Chanute Field, could the ranks be filled.

The Illinois Band, like other university bands of this time, was composed of only male members. Due to the lack of performers during the war female members were allowed to participate in the band. By 1944, a majority of the members of the band were women.

During this time, Sawhill became more involved in the administration of the band program. He began taking more responsibility in designing the football shows, helping Harding to maintain all aspects of the band department. He was given the title of Assistant Director during these years which was the position formerly held by Mark Hindsley.

The 1943 Anniversary Concert reflected the feeling of the times with the presentation of many patriotic numbers. Sawhill conducted a group of these numbers with the band and the Men's Glee Club.

The school years of 1945-1946 and 1946-1947, were the last for the Sawhill's at Illinois. The end of the war in 1945 meant the return of soldiers and students to the university campuses.

Sawhill had been active at Interlocken and at various high schools in Illinois, but his first venture as a continuing summer band camp clinician came in 1947. Harold Palmer, a long time friend of Sawhill and the band director at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, asked Sawhill to work at his first camp in the summer of 1947.

Palmer stated, “In the late fall of 1947 I decided to start a Band Camp at the college. The first name coming to mind as the man to direct the top band was Clarence Sawhill who at that time was at USC. I called him and his words were 'Anyone crazy enough to start a Band Camp in Kansas in the middle of August then I am just crazy enough to go along with him. ' Little did either of us then realize that this camp would develop into one of the largest in the U. S. and that Clarence would return every year for the next twenty-five years.”

This exciting first experience with a camp other than Interlocken, gave Sawhill a taste for something that he thoroughly enjoyed; working with young students and helping other teachers to improve their teaching techniques.

In spite of the increased enrollment in the band program at Illinois and a return to pre-war standards, these last two years were difficult for Sawhill due to the pending retirement of A. A. Harding. Mark Hindsley returned in the 1946-1947 year to resume his position as the Assistant Director. He was heir-apparent to the position of director of Bands upon Harding's retirement. On the other hand, Sawhill had remained at Illinois during the war and had become more involved in the internal operation of the Illinois Band program. There was much speculation concerning who would follow Harding into his position.

The speculation ended, however, when Clarence Sawhill announced that he had accepted a position at the University of Southern California, which was to begin in the fall of 1947. After Sawhill left Illinois, he remained in close contact with Harding and they were close friends until Harding's death. Harding made several trips to California to visit the Sawhills and watch his work. J. D. Morsch stated that, "Harding would come out to visit Sawhill at USC and would stand outside the band room until Clarence was finished with rehearsal."

Ralph Riorentine also related, "Some of my fondest memories are those times when Mr. Sawhill left Illinois and came to California. Mr. Harding, after his retirement in 1948, would visit the Sawhills who would have a dinner and a get together at their home for all the Illinois Band Alumni and Mr. Harding. Mr. Harding even visited my home. It was at these occasions, more than any other time, that the mutual respect and love the two men had for each other showed."

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