Spartan News
Celebrating the Legacy of Emery L. Fears
Spartan Legion’s former Director of Bands, Emery L. Fears passed away at the age of 97 earlier this year on January 12. However, the former director’s impact remains on campus to this day.
“LeBron James just broke the all-time scoring record in the NBA. There are so many debates on who’s the goat. Is it him? Is it Michael or is it Kobe? Here at Norfolk State all of us involved in the band think of “Chief” as the GOAT,” William H. Beathea, the current Director of The Spartan Legion said.
Emery L. Fears, commonly known as “Chief”, became Director of Bands at Norfolk State University in 1974. He was one of the founders of the Spartan Legion Marching Band.
Fears also is credited with the creation of the war cry “BEHOLD the GREEN and GOLD” which is still chanted today at sporting and academic events by current students and alumni all across the world.
Prior to his time at NSU, Fears was the band director at I.C. Norcom High School from 1952-1972 then band director at Manor High School from 1972 - 1974.
Fears worked diligently as the Director of Bands at NSU for 17 years retiring from his position in 1991.
Some of his most significant accomplishments during his time as a director are the NSU Concert Band Performance at the College Band of Directors National Association (CBDNA) in 1980, and The Gimbels Thanksgiving Day Parade of 1985 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
As well as the HBO performance for Pernell “Sweetpea” Whittaker’s Championship Boxing match in 1986, the Coca Cola Centennial Parade in Atlanta, GA, and the 200th Anniversary of the U.S. Constitution Parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1987.
Fears was also in a very exclusive band directors club, The American Association of Band Directors, he was the third African American to be inducted into this club.
According to Beathea, “You have to be the creme de la crop” to get in, emphasizing the prestige of the organization. Fears was also a member of the American Band Masters Association.
For 18 consecutive years, he achieved a superior ranking from the VBODA, known today as the band and orchestra district assessment.
The NSU Athletics Hall of Famer was and still is well-known around the country for his achievements and had many relationships with those in his respective field.
Stephanie K. Sanders, the Assistant Director of Bands, mentioned the impact “Chief” had on her before she even stepped into her role as the Assistant Band Director for the Spartan Legion.
“I used to read about him in school, I didn’t know he was Black, I didn’t know he was from this school, but we read about him in school and I never knew that years later I would meet this man and interact with him," Sanders said
"He would come up here and watch me teach lessons and come to band practice at times and give his insight, even after he retired from teaching,” Sanders continued.
Beathea also mentioned that Fears had a solid relationship with him, especially when it came to the band’s overall performance.
By A'Lauren Gilchrist
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