The Bishop Dunne Marching Band was once again featured in the Cinco de Mayo Parade on May 3 through downtown Oak Cliff.

Participants of the parade included: Amanda Monsalve, Audrey Blackburn, Ryan Spivey, Hayden Hill, Justin Mills, Christian Mullin, Thomas Lincoln, Leighton Durham, Meredith Curry, Scott Harris, Jeremy Fleming, Rachel Gully, Avery Oliver, Robert Voigt, Rubin Leos, Heath Kuykendall, Antonia Howard, Chance Mulligan, Hank Blackburn, Lee Shaw, Miya Carter and Ekaterina Boucher.

Percussion Instructor Mr. Bobby Fajardo played the bass drum, while retiring Band Director Bill Rhyan played the trumpet. This was Mr. Rhyan’s final parade with the Falcon Band. He is retiring in June after 43 years of teaching, the last decade with Bishop Dunne.

He gives kudos to the band members and their parent volunteers and chaperones: Mr. Monsalve, Mrs. Gully, Mrs. Mulligan, Mrs. MacDonald and Economics teacher Mr. Meza, who drove the band’s bus.

“It was a long day - waiting for the parade to start, then playing in a very warm climate with a full sun.  But the parade went well, and the crowds along the route appreciated Bishop Dunne being represented,” Mr. Rhyan said.

Mr. Rhyan will direct his band one more time at Bishop Dunne’s graduation ceremony at SMU on May 30. A new band director has been hired to take over the reins in the fall, with Mr. Rhyan and his wife of 35 years, Jay, promising to return to see the band perform at halftime during football season.

For more information on the Bishop Dunne band and summer band camp see the website.

Information provided by Judy Porter.