Curtis Ford Ikard, Jr. – Obituary

Curtis Ford Ikard, Jr., 89, of Florence, passed away on February 04, 2018 at his residence.  Visitation will be at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Wednesday, February 07, 2018 from 10-11 a.m. with the funeral mass beginning  at11:00 a.m. with Father Roy Runkle officiating.

He was born on July 18, 1928 in Sheffield, Alabama to Curtis Ikard, Sr., and Ellen Smith Ikard. He was a graduate of Sheffield High School, received a BS degree from Florence State, earned his master degree at the University of Alabama in 1959 and earned his Doctoral at the University of Mississippi. He was the band director of Russellville High School from 1957-1987. While at Russellville, the band performed in many bowl shows and parades. Perhaps the greatest honor for the band was winning the coveted “Greatest Band in Dixie” in New Orleans. The band won many honors at state and national competitions and competed in three different competitions in Washington, D.C. Before coming to Russellville, he was the band director at Colbert County High School, Leighton, AL and Itawamba Junior College in Fulton, Mississippi. He also served as a minister of Music at Edgemont Methodist Church in Florence.

He was a member of the 104th ADA BN 31 Division National Guard.  While in active duty, he received a direct appointment from the President of the United States to the position of 2nd Lieutenant.  As a graduate of adjutant General School and a 2nd Lieutenant, he became the first commanding officer of the 336th Army post unit in the Army Reserve. This unit saw service during the Desert Storm campaign and is still active.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Curtis Ikard, Sr. and Ellen Smith Ikard.

Survivors include his wife, Sylvia Beckman Ikard; sister, Shirley Ikard Cohen; nephews, Randall K. Fuller, Russell C. Fuller, and Jonathan Beckman and many other nieces and nephews.