Gary Billups

Gary Billups was inducted into the Wheelersburg Alumni Hall of Fame on July 28, 2012. He is a member of the Class of 1961. Gary began his musical pursuits by taking piano lessons at age six and his music interest and talents continued to grow through his years at Wheelersburg. He served as drum major of the High  School Band and played saxophone.

 

Gary translated his interest in music to a career in music education. He attended Morehead State University, majoring in music and earned his master's degree in music at Marshall University. After graduating from Morehead, he started his teaching career at Clay High School and retired in 1995 after 30 years. He then taught another twelve years at Lewis County High School in Kentucky. Gary continues to teach as a guest lecturer at Shawnee State University and Rio Grande University.

 

His talents have allowed him to perform professionally since the early 1960's. Gary  has played his saxophone with such groups as the Four Freshmen, Four Tops, Four Seasons, Franki Valli, and the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. He has traveled the country performing in concert competition with the Aladdin Temple Shrine Band of Columbus, Ohio.

 

Gary Billups is an active member of the American Federation of Musicians, Western Sun Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite of Cincinnati, Aladdin Temple Shrine of Columbus and hte Portsmouth Shrine Club. He married Joyce Warner Billups, also a 1961 WHS graduate, and they have two children, Brian Billups and Sandra Billups Hodnick.