His name is McNamar and he's the leader of the band

      Tom McNamar sat on a bench on the square in Washington and looked at the southern skies. To the south and the west black clouds were beginning to move into the area. There had been thunderstorm warnings in effect since early afternoon. It was soon apparent that McNamar was an optimist.

      "I think we can squeeze this concert in before the rain hits," McNamar said.

      He was right. The concert was over for a very short while before the storm rolled through.

      McNamar said he was pleased with the group he led each week. As opposed to many schools where players were in a band because it was on their schedules, this was not the case with the Washington Municipal Band.

      "We have a very different type of musician in our band," McNamar said. "They will play in the heat, the cold and the rain." He said his musicians played because they loved to play. Weather conditions didn't seem to matter.

      This is the 14th year McNamar has led a band. After specializing in band instruction at the University of Iowa, he moved to Coralville and became a band instructor at WACO. For years he has been the bandleader for the community band in Washington.

      "Music is such a powerful force, and the people here love to play. Our audience will be here, rain or shine. You give us an audience and we're going to perform."

      McNamar said the Washington Municipal Band usually has 40 to 60 members in the band. "Some weeks are a little larger. Some weeks are a little smaller," McNamar said. He said band members come from Washington, but some will come from as far away as Wellman and Muscatine.

      McNamar said the makeup of the band is also a wide variety.

      "We have high school students and we have people in their 60s and 70s," McNamar said.

      McNamar said it is easy to become a band member.

      "If a person wants to be in the band, they just need to contact a band member. The band member will take their name and phone number and call me and give it to me. We don't really have requirements or an audition or anything like that. Usually if a person wants to play, we're going to let them play."

      McNamar said the youngest players are in the eighth grade or freshmen years.

      "When people get in high school they are a little more mature," McNamar said.

      McNamar said he has no plans to quit his position.

      "When I talk to the band board, they offer me a one-year contract," McNamar said. "I love this town. I love the people and I love the opportunity to play. I'm married and I have a family and the family certainly takes precedence, but I intend to continue to ride this as long as I can."

      McNamar has two children. One is six and 1/2 years old and the other is three and 1/2 months old. His older was present during the interview. She remained silent, but her presence was known as she sat by her father, sometimes hugging him, other times sitting his lap.

      McNamar loves his work. This became obvious throughout the interview as he stopped and spoke with people of all ages. All evening before the concert began, people dressed in black and white, the colors worn by members of the band, approached him.

      "Did you have time to practice this week?" he would ask. "Are you staying out of trouble?" he would caution the younger players. "Be sure to show up for practice as much as you can." McNamar was more than just a bandleader. He was a cheerleader, and a mentor.

      It soon became clear that being a bandleader was not a regular job. Teaching a band to perform was not the same as making widgets. Working in a widget factory is done to put food on the table. Leading a band is done because you love what you do.

      McNamar explained that the band performs on the square on Thursdays throughout the summer. There are few exceptions.

      "We will not be play the week of the fair because everyone will be on the fairgrounds," McNamar said. "We will be back the next week."