Reports: Jackson announces retirement

According to the Southern University Marching Band’s Facebook page, its band director has entered the final month of his tenure.

“After a career of 38 years, Southern University’s Director of Bands, Lawrence Jackson, announced his retirement effective July 1, 2014,” according to the page’s post Friday, May 30, shortly after 11 a.m.

Jackson, a Crowley native, returned to his hometown last year to give the International Rice Festival a look at the Southern University Marching Band.

He is a graduate of Southern with a Bachelor of Science in instrumental music education and a master’s in social administration. Jackson continued his studies at Vander Cook College of Music in Chicago.

Before becoming a part of the Southern University’s band program, he was Director of Bands for Clinton High School, where he was also responsible for the Clinton Elementary and Clinton Middle schools’ band programs.

In 1996, Jackson accepted the position of assistant band director at Southern University where he later became Director Bands.