Four McGavock High School band students maneuver a heavy vibraphone through the back door of the school’s band room to a parking lot. It’s a near-daily ritual during the fall marching season when students carry their instruments to a paved lot a few hundred yards from the school. For the past five years, band students have walked past the band’s tractor trailer, parked and unused; its once-bold McGavock Band decals peeling and faded by the sun.
Like many programs across the U.S., McGavock’s band was hit hard by COVID-19 and continues to face challenges. Marching band requires a significant commitment from students and parents, with long hours of after-school practice during the marching season.
“It’s a big commitment, but it’s worth it,” said sophomore trombonist Miles Pratt, “I enjoy playing my instrument, being with friends, and the energy I feel from the band and the audience when we perform.”
A Legacy of Excellence
Competitive high school marching bands are about far more than football halftime entertainment. They are marching arts programs where musical precision, choreography, and showmanship combine to create something larger than the sum of its parts.
That legacy is evident inside McGavock’s band room, where trophies and banners line the upper walls. Once the most decorated high school band program in Tennessee, McGavock High School won 25 state championships—a testament to decades of discipline, talent, and school spirit.
In music, a crescendo marks the passage from quiet to growing volume and intensity. Today, McGavock’s band is experiencing its own crescendo; a resurgence fueled by the growing confidence of young musicians, a new director of bands, and a committed network of parents and alumni.
A Fading Symbol and a Bridge to the Future
For five years, the band’s tractor trailer sat unused, its flaking graphics a symbol of past glory. That symbolism wasn’t lost on band alumnus Chad Stall, whose son Chase now plays percussion.
Working with fellow band parents, Chad approached leadership at RJ Young, where he works as senior tech services supervisor, to request new wide-format decals for the trailer. With support from Catie Pratt, also a band parent who works at RJ Young, the trailer was scraped clean.
Producing a 12-foot-long, self-adhesive vinyl decal requires planning and precision. After receiving a logo file from the school, RJ Young’s Digital Production Services team managed the sizing, color matching, trailer prep and printing on an in-house 64-inch Canon UVgel printer. The UVgel inks provide instant drying and long-term durability, resisting sunlight, weather, and scratches for up to a decade.
To ensure the graphic would stand up to handling and be easier to install, a laminate layer was added and precisely cut using a Colex digital flatbed cutter, capable of handling everything from delicate vinyl to rigid materials like acrylic sheets and even light aluminum plate.
A New Look and a New Generation
With an inspection complete and fresh graphics installed, the band’s tractor trailer was finally back on the road. Parents who once traveled with the trailer during their own band years now found themselves unloading it for their children.
“Growing up, my parents, who met in the McGavock band, would talk about band trips and winning competitions,” said Chase Stall, while packing up cymbals. “The music, our teachers, and even the trailer’s new look are helping us bring back that winning spirit.
Partners in a Prosperous Future
“We like to live our company values of values of supporting our customers, and promoting the communities we serve,” said Lindsey Jarvis, RJ Young’s major account executive for Metro Nashville schools. “The incredible legacy at McGavock makes it easy to support this talented new generation.”
For more than 70 years, RJ Young has provided print solutions to schools and businesses. As education and workplace needs have evolved, so has the company—now offering a full portfolio of technology solutions, such as interactive displays, managed IT services, AV systems, and AI-enabled security, including access controls and vape detection.
A Colorful Encore
“The trailer's new graphic is more than just a decal,” said Chris Mudd, the McGavock director of bands. “It honors a legacy of excellence and the many hours of hard work by students, teachers, and band parents.” The refreshed tractor trailer graphic is part of a renewed spirit and momentum marking a crescendo for one of Tennessee’s most decorated high school band programs.
"When our communities do well, we do well," said Chip Crunk, CEO of RJ Young. "Community investment is a long-term partnership, contributing to prosperous businesses and better schools."
With a team of more than 700 professionals in 29 locations across the Southeast, RJ Young builds trusted relationships that enable organizations to solve complex problems and position themselves for success. Contact us to learn how we can work together to build your legacy.
Lindsey Jarvis: Lindsey.Jarvis@rjyoung.com
RJ Young's Digital Production Services: DPSCustomerCare@rjyoung.com
