McNeese Graduates Recognized with Distinguished Legacy Award

McNeese State University graduates Bruce Lambert and Patrick Deaville have recently been recognized by the Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA) as the inaugural recipients of the LMEA Distinguished Legacy Award for lifetime achievement.

Lambert and Deaville earned Bachelor of Music degrees from McNeese in 1972. Lambert earned a Master of Music Education in 1978 and Deaville a Master of Education in 1980, both from McNeese.

Established in 2022, the Distinguished Legacy Award is presented to LMEA members with at least 30 years of distinguished service in support of LMEA’s mission and goals. These goals include elevating character, advancing professional interest and promoting music education in Louisiana.

Lambert began his career as a high school band director at Zwolle High School, Kinder High School and Sam Houston High School. His bands earned over 80 sweepstakes trophies at LMEA concert assessments and superior ratings in marching band competitions for decades. Lambert also served as a collegiate band director at McNeese. After teaching, Lambert served as the instrumental music consultant for the Calcasieu Parish School Board.

He is recognized as one of the state’s premier music clinicians and adjudicators, has had an extraordinary impact on fellow band directors, has made tremendous contributions to music education and has earned numerous awards. In 1996 he was inducted into the LMEA Hall of Fame.

After graduation, Deaville was commissioned as a military officer and served until 1974. Following his service, Deaville was band director for 20 years at Lake Arthur High School, Jennings High School, Lake Charles High School, LaGrange High School and S.J. Welsh Middle School. His bands earned 23 sweepstakes trophies at LMEA concert assessments. His marching and concert bands received superior ratings in district, state, regional and national competitions, with his ensembles performing in six states.

During his time as band director at Lake Arthur, band participation grew from just 13 members to over 200 students in a school with a total enrollment of less than 400. While band director at S.J. Welsh, the band grew from approximately 100 students to 350.

In 1993 Deaville began his administrative career, serving as assistant principal at S.J. Welsh and Sam Houston. In 2000, he was promoted to district-level leadership, where he was director of high school curriculum and instruction and as the music supervisor for all Calcasieu Parish schools. In 2003 he was inducted into the LMEA Hall of Fame.

For more information about the music and music education programs at McNeese, click here.