Ferguson shaped Mercer Island band program

Gene Ferguson changed music on the Island for all time. Our oldest son first encountered Mr. Ferguson in ninth grade at North Mercer Junior High. He (Gene) turned the music program around in less than two years.

Our youngest son first encountered Gene as a seventh-grader at North Mercer Junior High, two years after his brother.

Although neither was special, our oldest became part of the “Animal Band,” and our youngest also became part of the high school marching band. Prior to Gene Ferguson, there was no high school marching band to speak of because there were no students coming from junior high. Within very few years, Mercer Island High School developed one of the largest marching bands in the district and this has continued today, thanks to Gene Ferguson.

We all owe Gene Ferguson a huge thank you for being amazing, innovative and special. Our whole family will miss him.

Jim and Karin Pangborn

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