History of the Eugene Highlanders Pipe Band
Begun in 1953, founding members included Hector Smith, Pipe Major from Medicine Hat, Canada, Andrew Henderson, piper from Rothsay, near Glasgow, Scotland, Hollis (Holly) Hill and Pipe Sergeant Bill Alexander
Gloria Allen, Canadian trained dancer and instructor, joined band 1955. Piper Phil White became band manager. Other early members included Clyde Greene, drummer Ken Hay, Milton Sparks, Edward Hayes, Kenneth Walker, Ivan Spicer, Jessie McCutchinson, Lonnie Earl, Rufus van Deinse, Don Schmieding, and Orville Holmes. Howard Woods joined as a piper and continues today as a tenor drummer.
They began as the Eugene Highlanders Police Bagpipe Band (sponsored by the Eugene Police Department) and in 1957 were appointed the official Governor's Foot Guard (Governor's Guard) by Governor Robert B. Holmes. As such they played to welcome Senator John Kennedy to Eugene in 1958 and at other ceremonial occasions on behalf of several Oregon governors.
Honors include:
- First place 1957 in Portland Rose Parade
- Performed 1958 for the British Columbia Centennial
- First Prize 1981 in Portland Highland Games
- First Prize 1981 in Seattle Highland Games
- Placed 1981 in the North American Championship Games
- First prize 1982 in the Seattle Highland Games
The Highlanders took many trophies for parades and celebrations throughout the state, from Astoria to Tillamook, Salem, Albany, Sheridan, Powers, Bandon, Florence and Walport, Pendleton and Burns, even as far south as Happy Camp and Dunsmuir in California.
They played the Oregon State Fair, the Douglas County Fair, the Eugene County Fair, the Pendleton Roundup, the Harney County Fair and marched in many Rhodendron Festival parades in Florence. The band often led half time for North Eugene Highlanders games.
The Highlanders wore the full military uniform of the Seaforth Highlanders, with red doublets, feather bonnets and Mackenzie kilts in honor of Oregon's Mackenzie river
Hector Smith remained pipe major for well over fifty years until his death in January '08, making him the longest running pipe major in North America and perhaps the world. His wife, Mary Smith, teacher and Dance Sergeant, died in January '09.