Arthur Hentrich

Class of 1912 Arthur Hentrich while still a junior at Ottawa Township High School organized the first band at OTHS in 1910. Arthur was a prominent musician in the community playing cornet solos since the age of five. He continued to perform in a variety of venues and orchestras throughout his life. In 1932, he accepted an invitation from Ottawa Township High School officials to formally institute an OTHS band program. He formally organized the band on October 10, 1932 with a first public appearance of the band on November 16, 1932 at the dedication ceremonies of Ottawa Township High School’s Kingman Memorial Gymnasium. He later formed a grade school band to prepare performers for their high school years. The band performed extensively within Ottawa making numerous public appearances at school functions, civic events, parades, military reviews, and concerts. After eighteen years of leading the OTHS Band, Arthur Hentrich retired to devote his full time to business, operating the family music store which had been in existence since 1899. He passed the reins of the OTHS Band program to Ray Makeever who then led the award winning program for more than three decades.