Robert Wayne Shauver

Robert “Bob” Wayne Shauver, who directed decades of musical excellence and molded generations of young leaders, died March 19, 2026 in his New Castle home after an extended illness. He was 84.

A memorial service is planned 1 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at Bundy Auditorium.

Born Oct. 17, 1941, in Portland, Ind., he was a son of Marion and Margaret Shauver and grew up in Salamonia, a small town in Jay County. He began his own education in a one-room schoolhouse in Madison Twp. and ended his 40-year teaching career some five decades later, leading a New Castle band in the Indiana State School Music Association finals at the 56,127-seat Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis.

In between those humble beginnings and thrilling endings were noteworthy accomplishments and adventures by the score.

Affectionately known as "Shauv," by the students, his musical magic became quickly apparent shortly after he came to New Castle from Kokomo High School, where he served as assistant band director from 1963-1965. He replaced Howard Brahmstedt, who stepped down in the spring of 1965 to work on his master’s degree at Indiana University.

In the years that followed his arrival, Trojan bands:

• Won the Indiana State Fair Marching Band Contest in both 1974 and 1979;
• Made the Indiana State Marching Band Contest “sweet sixteen” each year from 1972-1980;
• Placed fourth in the state in the Class A Fall Marching Band State Finals in 1979 and advanced to the finals in both 1987 and 1990;
• Went to the Class B Fall Marching Band State Finals in 1986 and each year from 1993-2000; and
• Advanced to concert band wind ensemble state finals competition in 1985, 1988, 1990 and 1994. The finals consisted of only the top ten wind ensembles in the state.

Under his direction, the New Castle Trojan Marching Band members became some of the best ambassadors the city ever had. Shauver made it a goal for the band to travel every three years. And travel they did, performing at:

• The Edison Pageant of Light parade in Ft. Myers, Fla. as an honor band;
• A Walt Disney World parade in Orlando, Fla.;
• The Indianapolis 500 Festival Parade;
• Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City;
• National Cherry Blossom Festival parade in Washington, D.C.; and
• Halftime of Indianapolis Colts NFL games in 1988, 1989 and 1990.

Three unique highlights of the band’s travels brought New Castle national positive publicity. When they marched at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1982, The New York Times published a feature article about how the band was lifting spirits during an economic downturn for the city. Another year, the band appeared on NBC’s legendary Today show via phone due to their Indiana State Fair Band Contest success.

In 1983, Shauver was given the New Castle Chamber of Commerce "Citizen of Year" award. At the time, he was only the second person from the New Castle Community School Corp. to be so honored, joining Rexford Wright, who received the award in 1960.

Then in 1984, the band appeared in the Woody Allen movie Broadway Danny Rose.

Shortly before he retired, Shauver received one of the highest honors an Indiana resident can attain. He was given a Sagamore of the Wabash. More than the award itself, however, was how it was presented. As many as 60 members of the 1974 Indiana State Fair marching band champions surprised Shauver at halftime of a basketball game, playing the school song. The reunion drew people from as far away as Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong as well as all parts of the United States. It brought together band members who had gone on to become doctors, university presidents, steel company superintendents, teachers, moms, dads -- even band directors.

"He taught us all more than just how to play an instrument," Dr. Terri (Poor) Martin said. "We were a family and he was a father figure to us. We all wanted to work hard and do well for him."

Shauver’s ability to lead his bands into honors was no surprise to those who knew him. After all, this was a man who received John Philip Sousa awards both in high school and college; won a Ball State University Outstanding Senior Band Award in 1963; and a BSU School of Music Alumni award in 1982.

The BSU award came with a touch of irony. The late Betty O’Neal Giboney, who wrote for The Courier-Times over a 45-year period, included this about Shauver, a 1963 BSU graduate, in one of her articles.

“Graduating in the top five of his class at Madison Township High School in Jay County, he almost was not allowed to enroll at Ball State,” Giboney wrote. “With a home address of Fort Recovery, Ohio, the school questioned whether he was an Indiana resident and further questioned the accreditation of his high school. Later in 1982, the university named him recipient of the outstanding music alumnus award. He had been president of the Ball State band in his senior year.”

Seeds of Shauver’s musical influence continue to spread across the musical landscape. The list of Shauver students who have gone on to become outstanding band directors themselves includes Jon Sutton (Greenwood), Tom Dean (Castle High School), Jim Butz (Ben Davis), Don Lain (Lawrence North), Bill Pritchett (Muncie Central), Kevin Klee (Fort Wayne Snider), Tom Cox (Goshen), Tabor Stamper (retired), Bill Pierce (retired), Tim Johnston (Scottsburg) and Mark Middleton, who took over at New Castle when Shauver retired. Middleton is currently Instrumental Music Director for the Indiana State School Music Association.

For fun Shauver played his clarinet in community bands, ran two marathons, worked and judged music events in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, bowling with the Kirkpatricks, eating out with the Jolleys, rode his bike over 2,500 miles a year, and enjoyed Indianapolis 500 activities with the Morris family.

Bob is survived by his wife, Liz (Yorkis) Shauver, to whom he had been married 56.5 years; two sons, Erik (Susan) Shauver and Ross (Marissa) Shauver; four grandchildren who affectionately called him “papoo” – Owen, Ava, Levi and Emily; a sister, Janet (Brad) Goad; sister-in-law Kathy Shauver; brothers and sisters-in-law Susie and Tabor Stamper, Diane and Barry Smith, Julie and John LaJeunesse; George and Ingrid Yorkis; many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Preceding Bob in death were his parents; siblings Judy (Frank) Franks; and Linda (Mick) Valentine; Allan Shauver; along with Nancy (Rick) Arnold: as well as his in-laws, Ginny and George Yorkis (George served as the first Trojan Band Booster president in the late 1960s).

Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Robert Shauver Band Award at the Henry County Community Foundation, 700 S. Memorial Drive, P.O. Box 6006, New Castle, IN 47362. You may also contribute online here..