52-year old still in university marching band

At 52 years old, reading teacher Dawn West is the oldest member of the West Virginia University marching band. Steve Hartman met her on the road.
Subscribe to the "CBS Evening News" Channel HERE: bit.ly/1S7Dhik
Watch Full Episodes of the "CBS Evening News" HERE: cbsn.ws/23XekKA
Watch the latest installment of "On the Road," only on the "CBS Evening News," HERE: cbsn.ws/23XwqMH
Follow "CBS Evening News" on Instagram: bit.ly/1T8icTO
Like "CBS Evening News" on Facebook HERE: on. 1KxYobb
Follow the "CBS Evening News" on Twitter HERE: bit.ly/1O3dTTe
Follow the "CBS Evening News" on Google+ HERE: bit.ly/1Qs0aam
Get your news on the go! Download CBS News mobile apps HERE: cbsn.ws/1Xb1WC8
Get new episodes of shows you love across devices the next day, stream local news live, and watch full seasons of CBS fan favorites anytime, anywhere with CBS All Access. Try it free! bit.ly/1OQA29B
---
The "CBS Evening News" premiered as a half-hour broadcast on Sept. 2, 1963. Check local listings for CBS Evening News broadcast times.

[@amywingo5598]

I was in the WVU Drumline in 1995. I remember Dawn, glad she's still in the marching band. We called her "grandma" back then and she was like 30! Good memories...

[@shianneferrell8268]

Amy Wingo the name Grandma is still going strong and so is she!❤️

[@blind_t2]

Shianne Ferrell I wonder if she was there for their appearance at Macy’s about a year or so back.

[@abby-we5tb]

if you can survive band camp as a marcher at 52, nothing is impossible.

[@frank683]

abby facts

[@diggitydart334]

Hunter Roseborough u suk

[@jjayjae_]

Hunter Roseborough Show style (HBCU) is 3x harder than this.

[@sceu25]

@@jjayjae_ DCI is harder.

[@jjayjae_]

@@sceu25 I'm not going to argue with you on that, but I can say from personal experience that roll step is much less strenuous than high step and it's much harder to maintain nice tone quality as a woodwind while dancing or high stepping than it is when roll stepping. Roll stepping was literally created to alleviate many of the tone quality issues that come with high stepping, so the only reason I could possibly see DCI being harder in any way is the complexity of the shows.

[@jadenbise2976]

She is living her best life... marching band truly is an ecstasy... it’s a high that you don’t want to come down from. All of the blood, sweat and tears make everything about an 8 minute show that will last a lifetime.

[@lyncaho4507]

Very nicely said 👍👏👏👏👏👏

[@Phoenix684]

Band is life! It stays in your blood for life!!!

[@kellysquared2]

Феникс лионь YES!! 🙌🏻

[@williamsturley6631]

Phillip: My granddaughter has opened a whole world of joy for me. She loves music, is very talented, and is a leader in her school's marching band. She has played jazz with the University of Michigan School of Music since she was 14. And lucky for me - she has drawn me into a whole world that makes me happy here at the end of my life. You're right music becomes part of you and its power to create happiness never diminishes.

[@alaynajenkins9585]

She could just be a director fr tho 😂

[@Tay73452]

Some people would rather be in a marching band than leading one

[@jacoblong3541]

TayTay3000isAwesome Yeah im going to college for music education and I’m gonna be in dca till my body gives lol

[@robr2882]

Jacob Long or until you reach the age limit

[@TheJesusSixSixSix]

DCA/CI is pricey got any tips to help pay for it?

[@jacoblong3541]

Ryan Blank A job

[@kungfuken432]

There's kids 30 years younger than her that don't run back to resets

[@charethcutestory6197]

The band dir looks old and young at the same time

[@ewediee]

Kaydee F. “How old are you?” Him: “somewhere between 7 and 60”

[@NameIsNotAvailable]

Ikr he looks like 10 year old with an old man filter

[@jonathanbreckenridge4758]

She has a beautiful heart and is still young looking.

[@MountyDawg20]

Dawn LOVE her! I was there at the beginning. Nobody has ever loved it more!

[@Sky-gd7cw]

Omg I’m so jealous of this woman. I’m graduating from my college in December and I don’t want to leave my band.

[@kaycancelled1475]

I'm low key jealous

[@makaylahatesyou6703]

方法タカガワクサモト why?

[@dalilagodinez7269]

Where do you see yourself in 30 years? Me

[@rattgurl]

"what do you think you'll be doing in 30 years?" me: (i love marching band a hella lot)

[@readinguy24]

I would love to meet her!

[@robertboyce7919]

I have a 52 year old that is still marking in a Drum Corps (North Star) and she is not the oldest in the corps. She started to march when she is 7 years old, quit to go to college at 18 and now she is back at it again. Oh, and she loves it.

[@michaelquevedo8467]

When band is life

[@aayzhuhh]

I wanna be like that when I grow older. After college I’m not gonna wanna leave it all behind

[@edjarrett3164]

Wow! That’s so impressive and also mentoring the youngsters. It doesn’t get better than that.

[@candace7486]

Brings a tear!

[@treestump6558]

a true band geek

[@bsoloist12]

Everything that was said here is correct! Ms. Dawn West is an amazing person and teacher! I had her all through Elementary school at PCES and learned so much from her! She was one of my favorite teachers and I knew she was in the band cause my dad had season tickets to WVU games through school and she knew where we sat! Every home game I spotted her and she would walk over after pregame and wave. She was always there for the students and her room was decorated in WVU and spongebob attire!

[@brothaNblue]

I'm so jealous.

[@makaylahatesyou6703]

BrothaNBlue2 why?

[@brothaNblue]

+memes are my life Because doing band, WGI, and DCI were some of happiest times of my life. It sucks that I'll never get to participate in them ever again.

[@kellysquared2]

BrothaNBlue2 find an all-age DCA Corps near you!

[@brothaNblue]

+Kelly Kelley There aren't any in CO where I live. Closest one is probably Minnesota Brass

[@katchen2626]

The real band geek

[@blahcrazy3640]

She was so pretty

[@pyenme]

This made me so homesick for the days I was in HS Marching Band - truly a life-shaping experience that still elicits an emotional response. I am 61, and I have fuzzy 1970's video of performances that give me goosebumps - and the cherished memory of marching in the Rose Parade when I was 15. Maybe only those who truly embraced the culture will understand. Hurrah for this lady who is still able to live that dream!

[@kellylindbloom4144]

She's awesome!!!!!

[@highschoolnerd1810]

But can she scream tho?

[@isacheesa4616]

she's living my dream

[@lookingfortalentedpeople]

1:28 TRUMP' S Hair

[@christinab.2864]

Yep

[@KINGJAM2010]

Ashes Wong I'm weak lmao

[@2068anthony]

I love this !!

[@emmaleblanc8825]

Oh my god I wish I could stay in my band that long

[@djcpegues]

That’s so awesome

[@user-gi3ro9rm9k]

If mb was a job, id take it

[@abigails8507]

Q _ Q drum corps

[@tannersparrow5588]

Uhhhh dci drum corps have a limited age range, 19-21

[@classicalytrumpet9190]

@@abigails8507 DCI costs around $5000 per season to be in it. You dont get paid

[@sceu25]

@@tannersparrow5588You can’t march DCI after you’re twenty-two. I’ve seen sixteen year olds march Blue Devils and there was a ten year old in Ink.

[@Tamaraalkhateeb]

I play trumpet. Will I stay in my college marching band forever??

[@AboundingGraceBirth]

I love this! I miss marching band! ❤

[@Oldguyfromwayback]

What a great story. Bully for her.

[@lyncaho4507]

Why grow up? She's making a living *and* living her dream!! Anyone else jealous?😉✌️

[@kathrynh4008]

She is my hero

[@mnsirens]

BAND GOALS

[@ProfSnipes1]

Nice!!! I️ know the feeling !

[@DarkEpicPheonix]

If you can march in a band with golden sousaphones obviously nothings gonna stop you.

[@marsandbeyond3104]

Why is this actually me though???

[@poppybell2209]

Oh my god. She was “grandma” back in 2001 when I was also in the WVU marching band, the “Pride”!!!!

[@sshyiam9687]

The trumpet will live on forever Hail the trumpet!!!

[@tobytcc930]

ONE OF US!!

[@meggrotte4760]

I think if I were her I would just start a after school program school for marching band why not

[@sk8queen]

😊❤

[@ideematterboyorryley6146]

YOU GOOO

[@Peccos]

dang that note at 1:55

[@NormalLunk]

Did she realise she can just take drum corps instead of college band forever?

[@larenr9077]

Dang

[@sonnykilgallon825]

And still looking fine.

[@etheriusmoon1809]

me when I grow up xd

[@Encyclopedist]

Reading Buccaneers had at least one member who was over 50 when they won the DCA championship in 2015.

[@christianmclaughlin8945]

Why doesn’t she do DCA then?

[@natashawilliamson8973]

too old

[@leviboston-kemple9008]

No she's not. You can be pretty much any age to do DCA. She's too old for DCI though

[@katiemorgan8788]

Wish I could stay in high school band

[@Dulchannel7789]

here in the netherlands its quite normal that people of this age make music in a marching band, my band is not related to a school it's a music society and we have young members from 9 years old to members who are about 60+ years of age. but there are also bands who keep young (under 16) seperated with a youth band.

[@sagesparks1578]

I'm gonna be like her

[@evanblalock9744]

Well the drum corps alternative

[@eugenechristian56]

Nice keep it up!!!👍👍

[@sethdgeorg3900]

I'm from west virginia

[@Srgfowler]

JSU Marching Southerners has an older person like that he is in the same class as me.

[@rebeccawoods8579]

okay im highkey jealous

[@pngiles8984]

Morgantown is one of those places where the rules just don't apply (unless you're the MPA)... regardless, this is still a neat story! Go 'Eers!

[@oldaccount64]

TRUMPET IS BAE. I play trumpet

[@kadegainey5123]

This is cool but I would recommend most people just find an all age drum Corp

[@spamaccount1513]

Why not do dca?

[@Emmett--Draws]

35 years of marching???? Whaatttt???

[@kittensneezes]

Same though

[@Zlnfgz]

When the cause and effect form an unending cycle....

[@kenfaulkner2695]

Someone tell this woman about DCA

[@andreweinmo1657]

For those of you who saw my earlier comment, sorry for being snarky. Had a pretty bad day and was letting off some steam. I didn’t know DCA was an all age group. I thought it followed DCI rules but I guess not.

[@people-shit666]

band is so good and I am in band I play the trombone me and my band friends Locked 1 of our friends in a locker it was funny Our teacher Told us to get him out of the locker

[@Dominos104]

That's what DCA is for...

[@ryanberardi68]

Dominos104 you march? I do

[@Dominos104]

Ryan Berardi I marched Atlanta CV before I aged out and I'm going to audition for them again this season. DCA is such a great activity.

[@jacoblong3541]

Dominos104 I’m trying out for them too

[@rileyrazor]

Yay! CV!

[@ryanberardi68]

Im the tuba section leader at bushwackers!

[@ZanSingsOkay]

Guess I know where I'm going to college

[@aprilcrane6913]

I’m confused on the I love a good parade thing. Is he just ignorant or do they do parades and field shows cause it looks like they do field shows.

[@depressionbynicole-.]

I'm From WV lol and I'm in the high school band (Preston Marching Knights)

[@Mika-hv1sx]

Me at 50:

[@morgangreenlee2091]

What was the song they were singing at the end

[@jessicapayne3564]

Meg Beth probably the Alma mater. IDK for sure tho

[@morgangreenlee2091]

Jessica Payne thank you!!

[@TheAwesomeDebster]

It is indeed the WVU Alma Mater!

[@morgangreenlee2091]

Devon Wright thank you!!!

[@afdsadf147852369]

DCA? Damn.

[@drpeppers59]

At least she plays trumpet

[@chadmcphee6083]

What kind of tuba section just lets them just lay all round?????? No lines?

[@oshura2506]

They're corps style how can you find that fun

[@daniel_k_music]

This is gonna be me

[@Chocolategirl2204]

this is going to be me

[@colecoffee7794]

Id rather DCI or Highschool Marching Band

[@tubadude07]

so wait, is she in school again and just doing MB for fun?

[@jayleanpina7459]

Why don’t they just hire her as the marching band instructor or something??? Lol, i mean idk if that’s a thing but surely there is something.

[@bluesamuraientertainment9863]

If she's been in college for a long time imagine the paychecks lol

[@gerardoburciaga4757]

Warframe Productions YT it's not that much tbh if you are in college and doing marching band it can atleast pay off 1 year term class at most 2

[@leightonandrade8755]

But she still gets sausage lmao

[@haroldgilbert9202]

And she has adult braces, too.

[@earlviney5212]

Should have joined drum and bugle corps its better.

[@TheMudsnake]

As much as I love band, this just seems kind of weird.

[@kams7170]

Grandma? She's only 52. I'm sure the kids in the band have mothers that age

[@becausehelivees4672]

she never married nor had kids.

[@martinnorlin4811]

We've got two 70 year olds, take that

[@dancouldbeonfirebutheschoo2817]

Can't she just do DCI?

[@slepp3843]

DanCouldBeOnFire ButHeSchoosesNotTo she's too old now. DCI is 13-21 yrs

[@dancouldbeonfirebutheschoo2817]

Pop But but she's not too old for highschool?

[@riddlebobby]

She could do the DCA circuit, there's no age out limit

[@alyssahughes4571]

As nice as this she has no kids or anything but marching band well I want her to move on and do other things than just band

[@pharella8815]

300th liker.

[@gabrielebisu1682]

If only dci had a increase with age cap to 28