Altus High School Band Department

Mrs. Mary Runyan

Mary Runyan is in her 26th year of teaching in Altus, Oklahoma.  Mary is a 1975 graduate of Fox High School and received her Bachelor's of Music Education from the University of Oklahom in 1979.  She received her Master's of Music Education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1988.  She started her teaching career in 1980 teaching band and choir in Velma-Alma, Oklahoma.  In 1984, she moved to Altus where she was the director of Northeast Junior High and was an assistant at Altus High School.  In 1997, she became the head director of "That Altus Band" at Altus High School.

During her tenure at Altus, her bands have received many award.  Her junior high bands consistently received the Junior High Achievement Award for superior ratings in both concert and sight-reading and her high school bands have received many superior ratings in marching, concert and sight-reading and have continued to keep that long standing tradition of great bands in Altus.

Mary is a National Board Certified Teacher and has received the OMEA Exemplary Teaching Award.  In 2001, Mary was invited to give a presentation at the Mid-West Band and Orchestra Convention in Chicago, Illinois.  She is a member of the Oklahoma Music Educator's Association, Oklahoma Bandmaster's Association, Oklahoma Education Association, and the MacDowell Club of Allied Arts.  She is on the faculty of the Oklahoma Ambassador's of Music and tours Europe every two years.  Mary keeps a busy schedule as a band clinician, adjudicator, private flute teacher, and plays in her church orchestra.

Mary is married to Dewey Runyan and has a 20 year-old son, Preston.  She is an avid OU fan and loves traveling to watch OU football games and UCO football games, where Preston is a player.

Altus Junior High School Band Department

 Mr. Jeff Hastings

Jeff Hastings began his tenure as a band director in Altus, Oklahoma in 1992.  Current duties include overseeing the band program at Altus Junior High, which includes directing two concert bands, directing the Altus High School jazz Band,  the drumline instructor for the high school, assisting with the high school marching and concert bands, and teaching beginning percussion at the Intermediate school.  A 1986 graduate of Moore High School, Mr. Hastings holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree and Master of Muisc degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University where he was named to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

Mr. Hastings has been a clinician, conductor, and adjudicator in Oklahoma and Texas.  he has seved as the chairman for the OMEA All-State Honor Band, served on the Board of Directors of the Southwestern oklahoma Band Director's Association and Executive Secretary since 1999, served on the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Bandmaster's Association including serving as President of the organization.

Mr. Hastings' professional affiliations include Music Education National Conference, Oklahoma Music Educator's Association, Oklahoma Bandmaster's Association, Southwerstern Oklahoma Band Director's Assocation, Phi Beta Mus, Oklahoma Education Association, Altus Education Association, and a lifetime member of Kappa Kappa Psi.  Mr. Hastings also serves as a reserve deputy Sheriff for the Jackson County Sheriff's office. 

Altus Intermediate School Band Department

Mr. Blake DeLao

Blake DeLao is in his second year of teaching in Altus.  A 2003 graudate of Altus High School, Mr. DeLao continued his education at the University of Oklahoma where he earned a Bachelor of Music Education with honors in the fall of 2007.

While attending the University of Oklahoma, Mr. DeLao received the outstanding senior in music education, outstanding senior in the college of education, and the prestigious Colbert Hackler award in instrumental music education.

Mr. DeLao's duties include directing the beginning band, the high school concert band, overseeing the color guard, and assisting the high school marching band.

Mr. DeLao's professional affiliations include Southwestern Oklahoma Band Director's ASsociation, Oklahoma Bandmasters Association, Oklahoma Music Educator's Association, Music Education National Conference, and Phi Mu Alpha.

During his free time, Mr. DeLao enjoys attending Sooner football and basketball games, working out, and haning out with his family and friends.