Arkansas Tech University Hall of Distinction member H.L. Shepherd died on Sunday, April 26. He was 93.
Shepherd earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Arkansas Tech in 1955. He taught music and directed bands in the school districts at Prescott for two years, Morrilton for one year and Russellville for 28 years.
He was named 1978 Arkansas bandmaster of the year and was inducted into the Arkansas Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 1988.
Shepherd was a past president of the ATU Alumni Association. He received his alma mater’s highest honor in 2004 when he was inducted into the ATU Hall of Distinction.
He was the inaugural recipient of the Jon Barbarotto Award from the Omicron chapter of Phi Beta Mu, the international bandmasters fraternity.
Shepherd was presented with the honor during the organization’s August 2019 conference.
The Jon Barbarotto Award recognizes a selected individual for a “lifetime of service to music and furthering his or her community in support of others.” It is named for one of the charter members of the Phi Beta Mu Omicron chapter.
The memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 30, at First Baptist Church in Russellville.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be given to the ATU Department of Music with checks made payable to the ATU Foundation, P.O. Box 1105, Russellville, Ark., 72811.
The complete obituary is available at www.shinnfuneral.com/obituary/hosa-shepherd.
