CITY OF FRESNO
Offices of Mayor Jerry P. Dyer & Council Vice President Tyler Maxwell
_____ _________________________________ ________________________________ LEE BR JERRY P. DYER, Honorable Mayor TYLER MAXWELL, Council Vice President
____ _________________________________ ________________________________ ESMER NELSON ESPARZA, Council President ANNALISA PEREA, Councilmember District 1
_____ _________________________________ ________________________________ PAUL C MIKE KARBASSI, Councilmember District 2 MIGUEL ARIAS, Councilmember District 3
_____ _________________________________ ________________________________ GARRY BRANDON VANG, Councilmember District 5 NICK RICHARDSON, Councilmember District 6
WHEREAS, for 100 years, the Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band has been the soundtrack of the Red Wave – and Fresno State’s heart and soul; and
WHEREAS, the first band at Fresno Normal School – which would eventually become California State University, Fresno – started in 1926 with a total of 36 members under the direction of Mr. Arthur C. Forsblad. Eight years later, the school officially adopted its fight song – “Fight Varsity”; and
WHEREAS, large budget cuts resulted in the unexpected loss of the Bulldog Marching Band program in 1992, but a “Spirit Band” was organized by Dr. Lawrence Sutherland, Director of Bands, to perform stand tunes at games; and
WHEREAS, newly hired Associate Director of Bands Dr. Gary P. Gilroy restarted the Bulldog Marching Band in 1993 and installed the Bulldog Beat . These actions led in 1999 to the marching band receiving a million -dollar endowment from an anonymous donor; and
WHEREAS, in 2017, the Bulldog Marching Band earned an Ensemble of Excellence award from the College Band Directors National Association, which goes to the nation’s top eight college marching bands; and
WHEREAS, the marching band has performed on the world stage, participating in the 2023 and 2025 Rose Parades in Pasadena as well as the 2023 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland; and
WHEREAS, in addition to performing at football and bowl games, the Bulldog Marching Band hosts the Annual Sierra Cup Classic, an independent high school marching band field show competition at Valley Children’s Stadium, and Band Day, an opportunity for high school bands from across California to join the Bulldog Marching Band and experience Bulldog Football, putting on a halftime performance for the Red Wave; and
WHEREAS, under the current direction of Steve McKeithen, Associate Director of Bands/Director of Athletic Bands, the Bulldog Marching Band will celebrate 100 years of tradition and excellence during the Fall 2026 football season with several events commemorating the legacy of the Best Band in the West.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we, Mayor Jerry Dyer and Members of the Fresno City Council, do hereby proclaim Thursday, September 17, 2026, to be:
“Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band Centennial
Celebration Day”
In the City of Fresno.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands and
affixed the seal of the City of Fresno, California, this 17th day of September 2026.
Honoring The Bulldog Marching Band