LHAB Charitable Fund History
Formed in 1964, LHAB initially operated as an unincorporated association. The scholarship “fund,” which began with H.B. Dunagan literally passing his hat around the group, grew into a substantial annual program, but the need for a more formal organization with a more sustainable financial structure eventually emerged. While LHAB raised money every year for scholarships, all those funds were paid out entirely, leaving no long-term funds in place.
In the early 1980s, a group of members began talking about making a more sustainable, forward-looking plan. In addition to creating a formal structure for LHAB itself, they wanted to create a solid financial foundation to provide permanent funding for scholarships, protection of LHAB’s assets, and tax-deductibility for gifts. Discussions intensified over a 5-6 year period and around 1987-88, a committee was formed to plan for LHAB’s future.
The result of this effort was the formal creation of two separate legal entities: The Longhorn Alumni Band Charitable Fund (LHABCF), a 501(c)(3) corporation organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes; and The Longhorn Alumni Band (LHAB), a 501(c)(7) social membership organization with the purposes of supporting the Longhorn Band through social and civic activities.
The list of alumni who contributed significantly to this is long, but among those instrumental to this were Alan Ford, Moton Crockett, J.P. Kirksey, Bob Avant, George Greene, and especially the late Tom Leonard, who patiently performed much of the important legal work and worked tirelessly to set up the two entities.
Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Secretary of State on October 4, 1988, for the LHAB, and on October 5, 1988, for the LHABCF. Almost immediately, this more stable organization began to attract some scholarship contributions much larger than any before. Among those who made significant contributions were Moton Crockett and Jim Sims. Their gifts, along with contributions from many others, formed the initial corpus in the Longhorn Alumni Band Charitable Fund, a permanent endowment dedicated to scholarships for LHB students.
Initially, the plan was for 50% of donations would go straight to scholarships and 50% disbursed through scholarships, but the larger gifts helped push the fund up to a sustainable threshold more quickly than hoped, allowing the endowment to be permanent within only a few years. The initial Trustees were Moton Crockett, Alan Ford, George Greene, and Art Graf, III. Under their diligent stewardship and managed by a trusted financial manager (and now honorary LHAB member) Jack Keene, these funds grew over the years through donations by LHAB members, contributions earned from LHAB performances, and other sources of income.
Over the years the LHABCF provided a growing number of scholarships while regularly increasing the amounts of each scholarship, established and awarded several larger named, memorial or honorary scholarships, set up a donor recognition program for those who contributed, and strove to establish a fundraising mechanism to help the fund keep up with LHB’s growing need for support.
In the early 2010s, with the blessing of Mr. DiNino and the LHB directors, LHAB leaders began discussing a plan to increase the impact of the endowments by transferring the funds to UT, creating more scholarships, larger scholarship amounts, full compliance with financial aid laws, and a much stronger structure for supporting LHB. In 2017, the Trustees, with approval from those who had helped set up the LHABCF, transitioned funds to UT and established multiple permanent endowments in the name of the Alumni Band. These endowments and the others established by LHAB members now pay hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to LHB students. Along with the newly-created Legacy Fund, these endowments massively amplified LHAB’s support for LHB.
The LHAB Charitable Fund continues today as an IRS-approved tax-deductible charity for LHAB fund-raising as well as a liaison between LHAB and UT, insuring that ongoing fundraising not only coordinates with LHAB and LHB, but that the voices of LHAB members can be reflected in ongoing development efforts. Your continued gifts to the LHABCF help guarantee that future generations of LHB students, and the LHB itself, will have the support they need to make the Longhorn Band the best collegiate marching band in America.
The Longhorn Band Legacy Fund History
LHAB’s (Longhorn Alumni Band) tradition of helping LHB (Longhorn Band) started shortly after LHAB was formed in 1964 when H.B. Dunagan, LHAB President from 1966-1967, began passing his hat around the group to gather donations for scholarships. That tradition continues today as the scholarship program has grown with support from LHAB members and friends and family of LHB from providing 4 scholarships in 1967 to over 140 permanently endowed scholarships for LHB students in 2023. You can see a record of the scholarship recipient names here.
In the 1980s, a group of LHAB leaders saw the need to provide permanent funding for scholarships, protection of LHAB assets, and tax deductibility for gifts. As a result, the Longhorn Alumni Band Charitable Fund (LHABCF), a 501(c)(3) entity, was formed.
In the early 2010s, two visionary members of LHAB, Bill Phillips (Trumpet 1973-1976) and Greg Wilson (Tuba 1975-1979), noticed that operational funding for LHB was being severely impacted as the fortunes of the athletic department waxed and waned, and the consequences of university-wide budget cycles were felt. Bill and Greg initially met with LHAB leadership and also began seeking advice on their own from numerous influential UT supporters. Their search for the best way to help LHB led them on many journeys across Texas over a two- to three-year period to meet with a former UT Regent, multiple UT Distinguished Alumni, Texas Exes leadership, and a highly respected CEO who encouraged them to “Think Big”. Each of these meetings had a common theme – everyone loves the Longhorn Band! During a key meeting with John Massey, who is an Honorary LHAB member, past UT Regent, President of the Texas Exes, and much more, Mr. Massey picked up his telephone and called then-UT President Greg Fenves directly to ask for more support and consistent funding for LHB. This resulted in a UT Development staff member being assigned to work with LHB for the first time beginning in 2015.
Later that year, Bill and Greg became founding donors of the Longhorn Band Legacy Fund with a goal to support the needs of LHB and LHB students. These permanently endowed funds support expenses such as uniforms, instruments, meals for students, and travel in addition to student scholarships. Anyone who wants to support LHB can make contributions of any amount to the Longhorn Band Legacy Fund and impact the future of LHB!
Our support from UT has evolved over the years, with the most recent effort, championed by former UT President and Honorary LHAB Member Jay Hartzell, growing into an award-winning, major campaign for UT Development known as “Back the Band.” We are so very fortunate that LHAB members and leadership learned to “Think Big” and reach out to influential alumni to help LHB so that its future will not be dependent on discretionary budgets. As UT enters the SEC and LHB strives to maintain its goal of being the best collegiate band in the world, the Longhorn Band Legacy Fund provides the financial support needed for LHB to be the best – now and in the future.
Over the past 10 years, the LHB Legacy Fund has grown so that in 2024, it provided operational support for LHB and scholarships to 27 students.
Learn more about The Longhorn Band Legacy Fund and how you can help here.