The director of Mississippi State University bands is receiving recognition from a statewide fraternity of bandmasters.
Kent Sills has been named by Phi Beta Mu as the "Outstanding Contributor to Bands for the State of Mississippi" for 1996.
Sills is in his 14th year at the helm of the "Famous Maroon Band." He also has served as manager/director of the Mississippi Lions' All-State Band since 1983. The Kosciusko native is a member of the College Band Directors National Association and the Mississippi Bandmasters Association.
Sills began his career at Lumberton High School in 1956 as director of bands, before assuming the same position at Clarksdale High School in 1961. He came to Mississippi State in 1967, serving as an assistant until being named the sixth director in the history of the MSU band.
"I feel that my longevity in the business is one of the reasons I received the fraternity's award," Sills said. "But the greatest reward in my job has been the number of students I've come into contact with and had a chance to influence."