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Music with honors

Posted on September 6, 2007 by Staff


Simeon Holloway introduces members of the B-1 Navy Band during a ceremony honoring the group at the Franklin Street Post Office.  Photo by Kirk Ross

By Kirk Ross
Staff Writer

They stood on the steps of the Franklin Street Post Office and received a key to the Town of Chapel Hill. Later, they filed into the building that served as their barracks some 65 years ago and had praises heaped upon them by a grateful community.

The reception given the B-1 Navy Band — know affectionately in town as the Navy Preflight Band — was vastly different than their first march through the streets of Chapel Hill, when they were met with jeers, insults and, reportedly, handfuls of flying mud as well.

But last weekend they stood proud — just as residents remember they did during their days in Chapel Hill, where they were on the front lines of the integration of the U.S. Navy and an inspiration to a community just coming to grips with the fact that its time as a segregated society was nearing an end.

Most of the men are now in their early 90s, and of the scores who served in the band, their number has dwindled to 14.

But despite their age, they climbed the post office steps on a warm Saturday afternoon and stood patiently while they were given their long-awaited due.

The day before, UNC Chancellor James Moeser offered an apology for the band’s treatment by the university, which was all-white at the time and did not want them in the barracks on campus with the rest of those involved in the Navy preflight school. It was an apology, Moeser said, that was 65 years too late.

At the post office, Mayor Kevin Foy echoed that sentiment, and in presenting bandleader Simeon Holloway with the key to the town said the town was proud of their efforts as leaders at a time when Chapel Hill was still segregated.


John Clark and his mother, Rebecca Clark, talk over old times with B-1 band member Calvin Morrow. Photo by Kirk Ross

Moses Carey, chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioner, noted that he is only the second African-American to hold that office and that it would not have been possible were it not for efforts of those like the men from the B-1 Band.

“We appreciate the sacrifice they made to help us get to where we are today,” Carey said.
The band members themselves were gracious, but didn’t hesitate to remind those in attendance what they had endured.

“Sixty-five years ago when we came to this town, it was lily white as far as we were concerned,” Calvin Morrow said. “We are happy to be here to see this town as it is now. It is a different town and thank you for welcoming us to this town as it is now.”

While they were shunned by all but a few few members of white society — the notable exceptions being Frank Porter Graham and Rev. Charles Jones and friends — the band was embraced by the town’s black community.

Later on Saturday, the group convened for a celebration at the Hargraves Center, which served as their home during their three years in town.

Master of ceremonies for the event was Rebecca Clark, who had a first cousin who served in the band and whose sons John and the late Doug Clark learned to play music from band members, who were among the best musicians in North Carolina.

The B-1’s musicians were recruited from all over the state, mostly from black colleges. Some even came from high schools, including Hillside High in Durham. While the band played major ceremonies and daily for the preflight cadets, small jazz and swing groups made up of its members played dances at the Tin Can and other campus spots.

After the war, many returned to college and several became music teachers around the state.
Prince Taylor, longtime singer with The Hot Nuts and other local groups, said he learned from band members when he attended N.C. A&T. At the Hargraves tribute, he performed an a cappella version of the World War II classic “You’ll never Walk Alone.” After the ceremonies, while the bus was waiting to take the band members to Kenan Stadium where they were honored at half-time during Saturday’s football game, Holloway and Hargraves director Nate Davis took a tour of the basement of the Hargraves Center where the band bunked.


Simeon Holloway and friend Francell Morgan during a tour of the Hargraves Center basement, where the band had its sleeping quarters. Photo by Kirk Ross

The basement now serves as a pre-school, just as it did right after the departure of the band.
Holloway was delighted.

“This is really something,” he said. The band has been holding reunions regularly since 1977, he said, but this year seemed really special.

“This is the big one – this one’s 65 years.”

Before heading back to the bus, he paused for a moment to take it all in one more time.
“We called it the ship,” he said of the barracks at Hargraves. “It’s good to be back on the ship.”

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