The National Band Association is saddened to learn of the passing of NBA Past President Frank B. Wickes. In addition to serving as NBA President (1988-1990), Mr. Wickes was also the 2008 recipient of the National Band Association AWAPA award and was elected to the National Band Association Hall of Fame in 2010.

Mr. Wickes served as Director of Bands at Louisiana State University from 1980-2010. He previously served as Director of Bands at the University of Florida from 1973-1980 and taught for fourteen years in the public schools of Delaware and Virginia.

In addition to his service to the National Band Association, Mr. Wickes also served as President of the American Bandmasters Association (1997-1998) and President of the Southern Division of CBDNA (1988-1990). He was the recipient of numerous honors including the Kappa Kappa Psi Distinguished Service to Music Medal (1996), the Phi Beta Mu National Bandmaster of the Year (1998), the Louisiana Music Educators Hall of Fame (2009), and the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic Medal of Honor (2010).

The National Band Association extends condolences to the Wickes family and to the thousands of musicians influenced by his teaching.