Larry Hipes, of Alleghany County, announced the Clifton Middle School’s Spring Band Concert, Thursday evening, at Alleghany County High School for the fortieth year. The concert featured the 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade bands.
Over forty years, Hipes has announced the band’s halftime shows at football games and has traveled with them as one of the chaperones. He has only missed six football games, due to his work schedule in law enforcement, and two concerts due to some health issues.
Hipes worked for the Blacksburg Police Department for twenty years before returning to Alleghany County to take care of his mother, who had fallen ill. He worked for the Clifton Forge Police Department until he retired in 2019.
Hipes’s love of music began at an early age. He played trumpet and French horn in high school and was also a member of a jazz band. He helped at the local radio station, WXCF in Clifton Forge, when he was a sophomore in high school. By his senior year, he was working at the radio station five or six nights a week while attending high school full time. Though Hipes spent many years in law enforcement, he never gave up his love for music. He even worked part-time at a radio station during his law enforcement career.
During his senior year, then high school Band Director Kenneth Large took Hipes under his wing and worked with him. “I can’t tell you how great Ken was,” said Hipes. “I really looked up to the man and he inspired me to do a lot of things. I was friends with him until his death a few years ago,” added Hipes.
Hipes has made many friends through announcing. “Some are very special Director friends, who call on me from time to time to travel to other areas to announce for their bands,” said Hipes. “I have seen children of classmates and some grandchildren of classmates come through the band,” added Hipes and “I encourage parents to continue to support the performing arts. I also hope the new developing school system will support the performing arts as well,” continued Hipes.
Being an Announcer is all volunteer. Hipes initially got into it because Mr. Large asked him to. As he continued working with the students, his love of announcing continued to blossom. “Being an Announcer with the band has been the greatest joy in my life next to my wife of five years, Schuyler and daughter, Bella,” said Hipes in conclusion. The Hipes’ reside in Alleghany County, along with two rabbits, two goats, and two dogs.
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