Purdue News

February 26, 2003 Police investigate theft of historic Purdue bandleader's bust Purdue University police today (Wednesday, 2/26) are investigating the theft of a $20,000 bronze bust of Purdue University Band's first director, Paul Spotts Emrick. Paul Spotts Emrick Ron Fosnaugh, Purdue police captain of special services, said the 30-inch-tall, cast-bronze bust, dedicated in April 2000 and located outside the southwest entrance of Elliott Hall of Music, was reported missing at 1:45 p.m. today. It has not been determined when the theft occurred. "The bust appears to have been forcibly removed from its concrete base," Fosnaugh said. Emrick's bust was sculpted by Evansville, Ind., artist Don Ingle, who also has created busts of several Purdue presidents. Emrick, who died July 28, 1965, in Rochester, Ind., led the Purdue marching band from 1905 to 1954. He is remembered as an innovator who had the Purdue marching band form the letter "P" on the football field in 1907 ‹ the first time a band had ever broken military ranks to create a formation of any kind. Among his other accomplishments, he introduced Purdue's 10-foot-tall "World's Largest Drum." It also was during his tenure that the band came to be known as the "All-American" Marching Band. Additional information on Emrick is available on the Purdue University News Service Web site at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/uns/html3month/000421.Bands.bust.html. Anyone with information related to the case should call the Purdue Police Department at (765) 494-8221. CONTACT: Ron Fosnaugh, (765) 494-8221, rjfosnaugh@purdue.edu. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page