Words...are not enough to eulogize a musician.

George N. Parks, Director of the Minute Men Marching Band of the University of Massachusetts and mentor to many thousands of drum majors over the years died of a heart attack at 57 years of age. His band was preparing for their away game show at the University of Michigan today, 18 September 2010.

I am one of those many thousands of drum majors inspired by Mr. Parks - and probably not the first to consider going to the University of Massachusetts because of his incredible talents for inspiring and instructing people in the philosophy behind being a leader. There were always "Starred Thoughts" - nuggets of wisdom and aphorisms to help people grasp the complexities of working with people. I want to think I learned something from him, even if in the year that I was the drum major of the band, our performances and rehearsals were not stellar nor spectacular.

We are all confronted with the passing of time through years, but the passing of eras is almost always marked by the people we met who are no longer with us. If there is an afterlife, we hope that Mr. Parks gets to see the wide inspiration and effect that he had in life on all the people he touched.