Popular band drill designer is dead

Fred R. Gebhardt, who choreographed steps and pageantry for marching bands, dies at home.

By CRAIG BASSE, Times Obituaries Editor
© St. Petersburg Times
published July 16, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- Lou Gehrig's disease put Fred R. "Gebby" Gebhardt in a wheelchair, but as recently as last Thursday, he was designing a show for the marching band at Blake High School in Hillsborough County.

In the Tampa Bay area, he designed drills for bands at Northeast, Seminole and Tarpon Springs high schools in Pinellas County and for King, Plant and Alonso as well as Blake in Hillsborough County.

Mr. Gebhardt, who enjoyed a national reputation for putting together crowd-pleasing football halftime marching band pageantry, died Sunday (July 14, 2002) at home under the care of the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast.

In 1990 he began designing field shows for the Second Time Arounders, a marching and concert band in St. Petersburg composed of former high school and college band members. The group gets together once a year to practice and perform at several Festival of States functions.

"He had a major gift and talent," Bill Findeison, director and co-founder of the Second Time Arounders, said Monday. Like a choreographer, Mr. Gebhardt worked behind the scenes, creating complicated marching maneuvers that seldom brought him public attention, Findeison said.

Band directors busy with the music hired him to write instructions for the shows.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Gebhardt designed for the marching band at Syracuse University and the Naval Academy Drum and Bugle Corps.

Mr. Gebhardt, whose age was not disclosed, was born in New York City and came here in 1977 from Rochester, N.Y. He was a district manager there for Frito-Lay for 14 years. He was a Marine Corps veteran of World War II and the Korean War.

He and his wife were the former owners of the Syracuse (N.Y.) Brigadiers Drum and Bugle Corps. He was also a contest adjudicator, clinician and consultant.

Locally for 10 years, he drove a bus for handicapped children for the Pinellas County School System. He was a Methodist.

Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Leota A. "Lee;" a son, Dan L. Drake, Chicago; two daughters, Christine A. Probst, Rochester, and Gloria M. Jenny, Sherburne, N.Y.; a sister, Lorraine May, East Meadow, Long Island, N.Y.; and four grandchildren.

Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at E. Dale Gunter Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 4100 16th St. N in St. Petersburg. A funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the ALS Association, Florida Chapter, 9887 Fourth St. N, Suite 201, St. Petersburg, FL 33702.

-- Information from Times files was used in this obituary.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright