From now on, when the Missouri Southern band plays it will have one less fan in the stands.

Its “number-one fan,” Russell “Russ” Holden, died April 2 after a spending the greater portion of his life with the band.

One of the original members of Southern’s first organized band and its first drum major, Holden supported the band by attending every performance and every practice he could.

“When I came to Missouri Southern, I noticed this gentleman who was showing up at all our practices, it didn’t bother me, but it was certainly not what I was used to,” said Rusty Raymond, director of bands. “Since he’d retired, that’s what he does. He loved coming to rehearsals, and watching the kids grow.”

Holden, who lived in Joplin most of his life, was known for handing out praise when it was deserved and giving a “stern talking-to to the kids that weren’t pulling their weight.”

“He was never afraid to tell it like it was, which is one of the reasons I respected him,” said Liz Bartholet, senior music major. “Russ may have been old, but he knew what he was talking about when it came to music. I am going to miss hearing his comments and seeing his smile.”

In a last tribute to its biggest fan, the band organized a brass group of current and former students to play at his visitation.

“You don’t come across people like Russ very often and I certainly felt very blessed to have him as a supporter,” Raymond said. “He literally is, was, the embodiment of the Missouri Southern band program.”