(Source: Miami Times Editorial Team [email protected])
Dr. Richard Beckford, the pioneering Director of Bands at Florida Memorial University who established the institution’s ROAR Marching Band, has died following complications from a longstanding illness. The university announced his passing Dec. 26, sparking a wave of tributes from the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) band community honoring his legacy of musical precision, show design, and student mentorship.
Beckford had navigated serious health challenges in recent years. In 2024, he underwent a lung transplant, a procedure supported by a GoFundMe fundraising campaign organized by his daughter, Angie. While updates in May 2024 suggested the surgery was successful and he was recovering, university officials confirmed he succumbed to complications…