Joseph Phd L. Bellamah

Joseph L. Bellamah, Ph.D., age 87, died on Thursday, September 13, 2001 in San Antonio. Dr. Bellamah was born in Utica, NY, of Lebanese immigrant parents. His father was a former Emir before leaving Lebanon. He earned a B.A., M.A, Mus.D., and Ph.D. degrees. He began his career as a band director. He began his school teaching career at Weslaco High School where his bands consistently won sweepstakes awards and where he met his wife. One year, ten members of Dr. Bellamah's Weslaco High School Band were first chair in the All-State Band. Dr. Bellamah was one of the founders of the "Pigskin Jubilee" which is still held annually. Dr. Bellamah's next position upon leaving Weslaco, was band director at Sul Ross State University where his bands achieved much acclaim. During his tenure at Sul Ross, Dr. Bellamah instituted the Sul Ross Summer Band Camp, where enrollment eventually grew to 1,600 students. The Sul Ross Band was selected by the Governor of Texas to assist in the dedication of the Big Bend National Park. It was during this interim that he became District Governor of Kappa Kappa Psi and established the University of Texas at El Paso's chapter, as well as the one at Texas A & I University. For family reasons, he moved back to San Antonio where he became band director of the Jefferson High School Band for one year. An invitation to become band director at Texas A & I University in Kingsville was accepted in 1961, where he remained for 19 years. In 1965, Lion's Clubs of South Texas selected the A & I Band to represent them at the International Convention in Los Angeles. While there, they competed against 36 professional and college bands in the parade competition and were declared the winning band. Dr. Bellamah established the first Texas C.B.D.N.A Intercollegiate Band after being elected president of the College Band Directors National Association's Texas division. He later was elected Southwestern Division Chairman of seven states and was subsequently elected to the National Board of C.B.D.N.A. For eighteen years, he was Symphonic Band conductor and clinician for the University of Nevada at their Lake Tahoe Summer Music Camp and taught graduate band classes for directors. He recorded two records for Educational References Library with the Texas A & I University Band. The band appeared at the Texas Music Educators State Convention in Dallas and for three years performed U.I.L. contest band selections for area band directors in special clinics. In 1979, the National Band Association recognized him as one of the nation's leading jazz educators. From 1972 to 1987, he made world jazz tours with the country's most outstanding high school jazz bands. Selected from 13 states, these bands made six trips to Europe, including the Montreaux, Switzerland Jazz Festival, twelve tours of Hawaii, and three trips to China. As a trumpet performer, he taught trumpet at the Wurlitzer Conservatory in New York City, played with the orchestras of Red Norvo, Frankie Carle, Meyer Davis, Herb Gordon, and the San Antonio Symphony. He established the A & M - Kingsville Jazz Festival and also began the San Antonio Jazz Festival, which featured name-bands in concert and Texas high school jazz bands in competition. He was a trumpet clinician for the Selmer Company. Dr. Bellamah was honored by Texas A & I University when they named the music building "The Joseph L. Bellamah Music Building." He was a full professor at the time of retirement. Texas A & M bestowed the title of "Professor Emeritus" upon him. He was elected to A.S.CA.P., and was honored with the title of "Bandmaster of the Year" by the Texas Bandmasters Association. Dr. Bellamah's honorary affiliations include: Alpha Chi honorary scholastic; Kappa Delta Pi honorary education; Phi Beta Mu; I.A.J.E.; C.B.D.N.A.; T.B.A; T.M.E.A; and the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. He is listed in "Who's Who in the South and Southwest," "Band Bibliography," "Who's Who in Music," and "The World's Who's Who in Musicians." He is also on the LeBlanc Music Educators Advisory Board. While working on his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan, Dr. Bellamah became editor of the Meyers Band News of Custom Music Company, with a circulation of 60, 000. Dr. Bellamah's proudest accomplishments and greatest pride are his former students who now have distinguished themselves as honor band designates, and winners of the Texas State Marching Competitions. He served as Artist-in-Residence in the San Antonio Independent High School District high schools as jazz consultant. Dr. Bellamah was also an author, arranger and composer. He will be sorely missed by his family, friends and colleagues. Dr. Bellamah was preceded in death by his parents, Abdullah Amin and Mary Bellamah; his brother, Al Bellamah; and sister, Jamal Elhilo. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Ruth Kele Bellamah; daughters, Jeraldine Bushala-Copeland and her husband Don, all of San Antonio, Eileen Taylor of Fairfield, CT, and Dianne Hermansen Lang of Corpus Christi, TX; grandchildren, Deren Bushala of San Antonio, Drew, Christina, Alexa and Gray Taylor of Fairfield, CT, Joy Hermansen of San Antonio, Paige, Ford and Rex Hermansen of Corpus Christi, TX, and niece, Mary Maroon, of Tampa, FL. The family will receive friends on Monday from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. at Porter Loring Mortuary North.

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TUESDAY - 10:00 A.M.

ST. MARK THE EVANGELIST CATHOLIC CHURCH

Interment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Joseph L. Bellamah Memorial Fund, Texas A & M-Kingsville, Office of Development, MSC-173, Kingsville, TX 78363. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in the Guest Book by going to www.porterloring.com and clicking on Remembrance Registry. Arrangements with

PORTER LORING MORTUARY NORTH

2102 NORTH LOOP 1604 EAST

SAN ANTONIO, TX 78232 - 210-495-8221