By Edmee CR Hasler, Contributing writer
On April 5, the Salem High School auditorium was filled with the sound of music, laughter, and heartfelt memories as former students, friends, and colleagues gathered to honor the life and legacy of Dennis Marvin Reasor. A legendary band director, Reasor left a mark not just on the Salem music program, but on generations of musicians, educators, and dreamers who passed through his orbit.
Among those paying tribute was Jeff Bryant, superintendent of schools in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. With a career in education spanning 45 years, Bryant’s roots trace directly back to Reasor’s influence. “I was in Dennis’s first band,” he recalled. “He came to Andrew Lewis High in 1969. I was in 8th grade. The year before had been rough—the program had fallen apart after the legendary Alan Farley left. But when Dennis came in, everything changed.”
Bryant remained in Reasor’s band all four years of high school, and their bond only deepened with time. “We stayed very close after that—he even led orchestras that performed at places like the Greenbrier Resort,” said Bryant, who now also serves as Director of Entertainment at the resort. “He inspired discipline and excellence. Honestly, he gave us a blueprint for life.”
Longtime friend and fellow musician Gardner Campbell shared stories that painted an intimate portrait of Reasor—not just as an educator, but as a cherished colleague and friend. “Eventually, we were colleagues,” Campbell said. “I was his second or third string bass player in his jazz orchestra. He had this professional jazz group, and when they’d run out of bass players, he’d call me. That was always a thrill.”
Reasor had a knack for maintaining connections, often calling people out of the blue just to follow up on a passing conversation. “He’d say, ‘Gardner, I’ve been thinking about what we said last time,’ and I’d have no idea what he meant,” Campbell laughed. “But he’d go on, ‘You asked me a question and I didn’t know the answer—but I think I do now.’ That’s who he was. Always thinking, always sharing.”
One of the most touching memories Campbell shared was a voicemail he still carries with him. “He says, ‘I’ll talk to you next—I love you.’ That message is still on my phone. And I love him too. I loved him dearly. He wasn’t perfect, but he was a brother, a father figure, and eventually, a true colleague. We respected each other deeply.”
Campbell often visited Reasor at home, where Dennis would excitedly show off his latest musical projects. “He’d be at the computer, grinning, saying, ‘Gardner, I want you to see what I’m doing here,’ and then he’d play something for me. It was always amazing,” Campbell said. “His creativity never stopped.”
Reasor’s musical talents were vast—trumpet was his main instrument, but he also played piano, bassoon, flute, bass and tenor guitar, and even dabbled with percussion. “Just incredibly intelligent,” Campbell said with admiration.
The evening’s program included performances from former students, including jazz trumpeter Dr. Rick Holland, who played a moving rendition of “Amazing Grace” with his daughter, Lindsay. Testimonials from friends and alumni revealed a man who didn’t just teach music—he taught people how to live with purpose, precision, and passion.
Near the close of the event, attendees were invited to participate in a kind of musical roll call: to stand if Dennis had influenced them to become a band director, pursue music professionally, support the arts, or simply dream bigger. One by one, the room rose again and again—waves of gratitude, joy, and remembrance swelling in the auditorium.
“Because of Dennis, you have dreams,” the speaker said. And once more, nearly everyone stood.
In that moment, the full measure of Dennis Marvin Reasor’s legacy was unmistakable—not just in the notes that once filled the air, but in the lives that continue to resonate with the lessons he gave so generously.
