He wanted me to play the alto sax, so I did. He wanted me to write and present a middle school report on the Erie Canal because we were working on a song about it, so I did. He wanted me to play the baritone saxophone for concert season, so I did. He asked me to try out for majorette, so I did. He complimented my twirling skills and told me I “looked like a feature twirler” even though I was still young on the line, and he asked me to one day try out for feature twirler, so I did. He raked me over the coals more than once for not being the best I could be...I had rather get in trouble by my parents than Mr. Strickland! He always required our best and although he retired when I was a sophomore and I wanted him longer, I had him from 6th-10th grade and that was enough to help me remember what he expected whether he was around or not! Rest In Peace Robert Strickland and enjoy directing your Heavenly band!

He taught me self discipline, pride, and perseverance! Not to mention what it was like to be a part of the best band around ! Green Machine was truly the best!!! He will be remembered, missed, and forever in my heart ! RIP Robert Strickland!!!

I was in Mr. Strickland's first beginning band class when he came to Seminole County in 1963. He helped me discover that I had some musical ability which became the basis of my desire to become a band director. He was a great friend and mentor, and his patience and guidance is still remembered and appreciated to this day. I want to express my condolences to Mr. Strickland's family, and I hope it is of some comfort to them that he is fondly remembered by so many of his former students.

With best regards and with a big WAR EAGLE!
Robert McLeod, Class of 1971

Rest in peace, Mr. Strickland!  Thank you for being a friend and teacher and for instilling pride in so many members of the SCHS Green Machine, including me.  You will never be forgotten and neither will your legacy at Seminole County High School. Green Machine member, 1970 - 1975

I have said many times that Mr. Strickland taught me more about life than any teacher I had! He certainly instilled in us Pride and how to work as a team. It takes every section to be a great band! I was not a great clarinet player but I'm sure after every tryout and playing my scales for him, he knew  all I really wanted to do was twirl a baton! I taught baton lessons for  35 years! And every time I talked to him or sent him a Christmas card, I thanked him for his years here at Seminole County.  He was a great leader! Class of 1979

I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Mr. Strickland. I just found out. He was my band director in Seminole County from 6th-12th grade. I consider him one of the best teachers that I ever had in school.  Not only did I learn how to play an instrument, but also he taught me life skills and how to have pride in what I do.  I will cherish his teachings forever.  Seminole County hasn’t had a band director as great as Mr. Strickland since he retired.  The “Green Machine” was well known throughout our area and everyone loved to hear our band play.  I hope the family will find peace and comfort in the coming days.  Mr. Strickland was a teacher treasure!💚
Sincerely, Libby Register 
Class of 1986

The best band director an excellent mentor. A special place that you left in all your students heart including mines. Thanks for all the things you done through your hard work  and you are a very special teacher that introduced a new vision while teaching music and lessons that helped us grow into successful students. The knowledge you shared through your teaching showed that you cared a great deal. You taught from the heart and changed so many lives. R.I.P. Mr. Strickland (Seminole County Green Machine) You will be missed dearly!!!!

Rest in peace Mr. Strickland.  You were a major influence in my life and I will never forget the support I received from you.  

I have so many memories of my time under Mr. Strickland.  6 years of band and to this day I get chills when I hear a big, loud, well disciplined, filled with pride and did I say loud?? band!!  We loved him and he loved us.  All of us sometime and some of us all the time..lol  It was an honor to learn under the best Band Director of all times.  We gave him 100% all the time and if we didn't, he would politely tell you - LEAVE.  He instilled values and self pride in everyone of us.  We were all honored to play under his direction.  

I just can't say enough about this man due to so many of my school years involved him.   And as much as he loved Auburn and I loved his arrangement of Auburn Fanfare - I understand now his love he had for Auburn.  

BRAVO Mr. Strickland....you were awesome to so many people.  With love and admiration always,

Toni Chapman
1976-1982 - Seminole County Concert Band
1978-1982 - Seminole County Green Machine Marching Band


What do I say? He was not only a mentor, he was a friend. He would call me and say "let's go to the beach" and off we would go. I would call him Mr. Strickland and he would say it's still Bob, so that's what I called him "Still Bob". A very large part of who I am, is because of his influences. Just want to say "thank you Still Bob.

Mr. Strickland was the best band director. He influenced so many lives through music and his teachings. He instilled commitment, hard work, pride and dedication in all of his students. I am so thankful that he was a part of my life because he taught me so much. He will always be remembered as a great teacher, a great band director, and even greater man. Thank you Mr. Strickland for all you have done to impact my life and all the lives you touched....R.I.P Mr. Strickland, Gone but Never Forgotten!
Lori Donalson Green Machine 1985-1989

Praying God will give you all perfect peace and understanding.  Mr. Strickland will be  miss  I started in band in the 5th grade never thought i would like music and the percussion area. I played the bells. Xylophone  and later the keyboard. Yes he had passion and he was dedicated to each one of us and each section making sure we took pride in what we did and the music we played. I was member of the Green Machine 1992-1995. He was the best band director in the south.

I am so sad to hear of  Mr. Strickland's passing. I was a charter member of the Green Machine, reorganized under the direction of Hunter Parker. When Mr. Parker left Seminole County, Mr. Strickland, who had just graduated from Auburn, took his place. He was not much older than some of his students, and he learned as much from us as we did from him. I continue to be amazed at what he was able to accomplish with a group of wild, crazy kids who came to love him for his passion and commitment to teaching us how to make good music, both on the football field and on the concert stage. He fostered the desire and love of competition that made us want to continue to work to become better musicians. I totally credit him with my lifelong love of singing, as he was the first person to realize that at 15, I was a budding lyric soprano in spite of my mediocrity as a clarinetist. I majored in music education at Wesleyan, and although I ended my teaching career as a literacy specialist, my lifelong avocation and first love has been choral singing. My brothers, Robert and Joel McLeod, as well as my sister-in-law, Patricia Williams McLeod also benefited from his tutelage.  Robert followed in Mr. Strickland's footsteps and learned to play the French Horn, marched with the Auburn band, majored in music, and became a band director. Joel learned the trumpet and baritone horn, and has sung in church choirs since he graduated. I studied voice and have sung with church choirs and symphony choruses in Savannah, High Point, and Winston Salem. Patricia, who was a drum majorette, has sung in church choirs since graduation. Mr. Strickland had a great influence on my entire family, as he enabled us to discover, enjoy, and explore the musical gifts with which we were born. I regret not having taken the opportunity to say these things to him in person.  His teaching continues to bless the lives of many who grew up in Seminole County, and I will cherish his memory forever.

Mr. Strickland was the best band director, mentor and friend!  He taught all of us what it meant to work together, have pride in all things & never (I mean NEVER) let the other teams’ band out play you!  😁.  God bless! ❤️🙏💚🖤

I appreciate all he did for me. Though and fair. I was very proud being a member of the Green Machine.

Mr. Strickland was a one of a kind man and teacher. He instilled in us the love of music. As our band director, he taught us discipline and pride that we all carry through our every day lives. Not only will he be remembered as the best band director in Seminole County, but he will always be remembered as a friend.  He helped forge the life long friendships that most of us have because we were members of the Green Machine.  Until we meet again. RIP  Mr. Strickland.

Mr. Robert Strickland instilled in me the love of music. He was and will always be the best  band director of the Seminole County Green Machine. We took much pride on and off the field. Thank you Mr Strickland. 

He was a great man and I learned alot through him teaching band 

Robert was a good acquaintance.  I had the privilege of working with him a couple of summers when the Seminole County Band practiced at the school. He was a very good musician, kind and caring. We always got along very well.  One of the best band directors in Georgia I had known. Prayers for his family.

Mr. Strickland  was large part of who I am today, being a member of the Seminole Count High School band (The Green Machine) and band President 1978  he gave us discipline, pride and the love of music,  I have played bass guitar in bands that have opened for some of the biggest groups in world and every night I think of him and him saying tonight give it you heart and soul, RIP my friend till we meet again.

I send my sincere condolences to your family! I will always remember you as A Majestic band director you were! Seminole county band member of class 92-95 I really enjoyed the time.

Sincerely,

Tukessa Henry Hopson

He was by far the best band director of Seminole County. My prayers go out to his family and friends.  Thank you for all you have done for the Seminole county Green Machine. You will never be forgotten. 

Mac 

I am sorry to hear about you relative passing away.  All of your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I remembered you at Burnham.

OBITUARY

Robert L. Strickland

11 May, 1941 – 8 November, 2018

Striffler-Hamby Mortuary - Phenix City

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