Hall of Fame 2006

Jewel Tilson was born in Unicoi County and attended Washington College Academy. He received his Bachelor’s degree from East Tennessee State University and received a Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois in Champagne-Urbana, Illinois.

After finishing his degree in Choral studies at East Tennessee State University, Jewell said that he was “talked into” teaching band by former Elizabethton High School band director, Mel Kelly.

Mr. Tilson began his teaching career at Elizabethton Junior High School in Elizabethton, Tennessee, teaching band for 2 1/2 years. He then returned to Washington County, Tennessee schools and taught at his high school alma mater at Washington College Academy for 4 years. Returning to Elizabethton High School, Mr. Tilson taught band and chorus for 3 years. Jewel then replaced A.R. Casavant at City High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee for 10 years. Following City High School, Jewel returned to Northeast Tennessee at Dobyns-Bennett, and taught at John Sevier Middle School with Kingsport City Schools for 5 years. Jewel retired from teaching in 1986.

During his teaching career, Jewel’s bands were noted for outstanding concert and marching performances with his bands receiving numerous superior ratings. While he was directing in Chattanooga, the City High School Band won first place at the inaugural Contest of Champions held at Middle Tennessee State University. While in Kingsport, the Dobyns-Bennett High School Band became one of the first high school bands in the state of Tennessee to travel internationally. Under his tutelage, Dobyns-Bennett Band received the Minister of Education Award for Musical Performance at the International Band Festival in Vienna, Austria in 1972. In addition, the Dobyns-Bennett Band traveled to Spain during the 1970’s and enjoyed a European tour in 1980.

Mr. Tilson has served as clinician and judge throughout the South both during his teaching career and since his retirement. Jewel has served as President of the Tennessee Bandmasters Association and holds membership in the East Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association, National Band Association and Music Educators National Conference. Mr. Tilson is also a member of Phi Beta Mu.

Jewel resides now with his wife Koleta in Kingsport, Tennessee.

W J Julian, a native Tennessean, received hi B.S. degree from Tennessee Tech. He immediately joined the U.S. Navy where he served for three years in the Pacific Theater. His ship (LSM 318) was sunk by a Kamikaze plane in the Philippines on December 7, 1944.

After the war, he entered Northwestern University and earned the B.M., M.M., and PhD Degrees. He was Director of Bands at Tennessee Tech for ten years, then he moved to the University of Tennessee where he served as Director of Bands for 33 years.

Dr. Julian is Past President of TMEA, Past President of the National Band Association, Past President of the College Band Directors National Association and Past President of the American Bandmasters Association. In 1992, he was elected a fellow in the Academy of Winds & Percussive Arts, and in 1994 was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame.

He has served as adjudicator, clinician and conductor thorughout the United States, Mexico, Canada, Europe and Japan.

Dr. Julian resides in Knoxville with his wife, Faye, who is Dean of Communications and Information at the University of Tennessee. His daughter, Jennifer is with the YMCA in Raleigh-Durham, NC, and his son, Jeff, is a salesman in Knoxville. He is also the proud owner of Sam, a Golden Retriever.