Board Stiff (pt.4) Biographies of New ΤΒΣ Board of Trustees by Patsy Hejl ΤΒΣ Board of Trustees Chair
Janet Elaine West Miller
O
n February 21, 1948, the Iota Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma was installed at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Janet was a charter member and served as petition editor, vice-president, and president. She received her bachelor’s degree in music in 1950 and her M.S. in Music Education in 1953, both from Baylor University. As a student, she played in the Golden Wave Marching Band, concert band, and symphony orchestra all five years. During her graduate days she was percussion instructor for undergraduates. Janet attended ΤΒΣ National Conventions from 1951 to 1957, in 1961, from 1967 to 1971, and from 1975 to the present. She played in the NIB from 1951 to 1957 and in 1961. She was elected 1st National Vice-President in 1953 and National President in 1955. She was elected to the Board of Trustees in 1957, being the first past president to be asked. In 1995, she was elected trustee for life. She was a Texas music educator for thirty-two years as a junior-senior high school band director and an elementary music specialist. In February of 1963, she married DeWayne A. Miller, Jr. They have two children, Dorothy Karon and DeWayne A. III (Trey). Trey is married to Michelle and has two children, James Thomas (JT) and Nicole Elaine. Another son is due in June.
Wava Banes Turner Henry
W
ava Banes Turner Henry was born in Cleveland, Oklahoma, on March 14, 1920, and grew up in the oil fields of Oklahoma and Texas. She attended schools in California, Oklahoma and Texas and graduated from Wink, Texas, High School in 1936. Her parents felt that she was too young to go to college, so she spent another year in high school playing in the band and participating in sports. In the
4—The PODIUM, PODIUM, Spring Spring 2001 2001 4—The
summer of 1937, Wava entered Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech university). She graduated in the summer of 1940 with a Bachelor’s Degree and a major in Band Music. While attending Texas Tech, Wava succeeded in getting sorority status for Tau Beta Sigma in 1939. Most universities were not allowing women in the band at that time, and there were no women Band Directors around. Finally, she got her first position in Avoca, Texas, in the fall of 1940. Wava’s teaching duties included vocal music in all grades, band in all grades, and coaching basketball and track. The following year she accepted a position in Andrews, Texas. In December 1941, Wava married H. Jack Turner, Jr., who was a charter member of Alpha Omicron Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi. They lived in Lubbock, Texas, and she worked in a music store until Jack went into the Army Air Forces. In 1943, Wava became band director in Sundown, Texas. After the war, Wava and Jack had a business in Lubbock, and Wava attended Texas Tech and received a Master’s Degree. After Jack’s death in 1958, she received her certification in math and counseling. She taught math in the Lubbock school for a year before she moved to Aspen, Colorado, in 1961 to teach in the Aspen Schools. Later, she became counselor and administrator until her retirement in 1981. Wava was involved in developing the Outdoor and Experiential Programs in the Aspen School District as well as serving as District Director of the programs. She was also coordinator of the school ski program for several years. She became active in Tau Beta Sigma when she attended the National Convention in 1971 and has attended every National Convention since then. She is a Charter member of Beta Chapter; a Life member of National; an honorary member of Alpha Chapter; a life member of the Board of Trustees; a Life member of the National Alumni Association; and an honorary member of Alpha Omicron Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi. Beta Chapter has set up a scholarship in her name at Texas Tech. Among her other awards are Beta’s 50th Anniversary for Outstanding Service award and the Kappa Kappa Psi Richard E. Tolley Service award. Wava married Reese Henry in 1981.In 1997 they moved to Midway, Utah, in 1997 to be next door to daughter Sandra and her family. Wava says that she will remain active in Tau Beta Sigma until she joins the Great Sorority in the sky.
