new shs band director begins new era

Rhett Butler, the newly-hired Seymour High School band director who was introduced last week to replace the highly-regarded Michael Carter, will have his hands full this summer as he begins the process of getting the SHS band ready for the 2008/2009 school year.

To say Butler has big shoes to fill would be an understatement. But with a name like Rhett Butler, he’s no stranger to big expectations.

Butler won’t have to sweep a regal southern belle off her feet like his mustached motion picture icon namesake did in the classic movie “Gone with the Wind”. If only it was that easy.

He’s taking over for a man who directed the SHS band to a top 10 national ranking during the last four years and was looked upon in the same light for his band’s accomplishments as popular Seymour athletic coaches like Randy Moore and Scott Norman.

“I’m not going to say he’s going to be another Mike Carter,”said the SHS band’s booster club president John Staser. “Mike Carter (had) been here for 12 years and in my opinion is one of the best band directors on the face of the planet.

“But Mike had to do the right thing and that’s what he did.”

Staser, who said the booster club’s objectives going into the search for Carter’s replacement was to find a young and talented band director with a background in this area, feels the booster club hit a homerun.

“Mr. Carter was great but Mr. Butler was exactly what we were going after,” said Staser. “He fits what Seymour is looking for to a T. He’s young, energetic and talented. He’s going to be a hotshot.”

Staser said the red carpet is being rolled out for Butler in an effort to help him become comfortable with his new job.

“We’re just trying to cover this guy up with old fashioned Seymour love,” said Staser. “We’re letting him know what Seymour is all about. He said he plans on being here for a long, long time so we want to help make him comfortable.”

Butler previously worked for nine years as the band director of alma mater, Karns High school. He was the percussion captain of the University of Tennessee’s Pride of the Southland Marching Band while in college.

Butler is aware that he has big shoes to fill replacing Carter.

“My job is going to be to maintain what Mr. Carter has left here and try to build upon what he’s done,” Butler, a certified K-through-12 teacher, commented.

Butler said his plans for the next couple of weeks include meeting all the members of the SHS band’s booster club and getting all the band’s loose ends tied up before the annual band camp this summer. He said perhaps his greatest challenge this summer will be finding someone to lead the band’s color guard.

“Evidently, the young lady that they had decided she didn’t want to do it this year,” he said. “That kind of puts a wrinkle in things because that’s a hard position to fill. But I’ve already called some people I know and we’ll work hard to bring in the best we can find to fill the position.”

Butler said he’s been impressed with the positive vibe surrounding the SHS band since his arrival.

“I’ve already met a couple students and the ones I’ve met have been really excited and they seem very respectful of what’s gone on here,” Butler commented.