10/06/2026
Veterans Band Historical Photos
This is a set of six historical photos of the Veterans Band of Corpus Christi. The photos and names were provided by Johnny Earhart. Ram Chavez, a school band director and a former, decorated Army medic in Vietnam, founded the Band on 3 June 1986.
1986, First official Band portrait, In dark uniforms, with drums in front and three Sousaphones in back. Probably at Cullen Junior High School. (L-R)
Front Row: Ram Chavez (late director), Juan Rivera, Larry Villareal, Robert Callejo, Joe, Richard Perez.
Second Row: __, __, Abel Sosa, __, Louis Basaldua, Eddie Garza, Johnny Earhart, Jacob Torres (present director).
Third Row: Frankie de los Santos, Eddie Franco, Joel Torres, Noe Hernandez, Marty Romero, Martin Garcia, __, __, Richard Sanchez.
Fourth Row: Richard Castaneda, Dreyer, __, Frank Montoya, Gilbert Luna, Joe Pedraza, __, Lupe Trevino, __.
During the period 2018 to 2026, Ram Chavez completed 40 years (in 2026) as founder and director of the band, while original members Larry Villareal, Robert Gallego, Johnny Earhart, Jacob Torres, Frankie de los Santos, Joel Torres, and Gilbert Luna were active. We lost Larry Villareal (d. 2023) and Ram (d. 2026) in that period, and Frankie and Robert had to drop out due to medical issues. Robert, a sax player in high school, was wounded very seriously in Vietnam, losing almost all of the use of his right arm. Ram convinced Robert to play bass drum left-handed.
1989, in Washington, D.C. for the inaugural parade of President George H.W. Bush, in black and white uniforms with the Capitol Building in the background. Ram is at the front, right. 1989, marching in the inaugural parade in Washington, D.C. Ram is the Drum Major.
1992, aboard USS Lexington (CV-16) in black and white uniforms. The band has played and still plays a countless number of ceremonies aboard USS Lexington across the decades. Most of these are retirement ceremonies for very senior Navy officers or very senior enlisted. The band has also played for dozens, perhaps hundreds, of retirement ceremonies at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi (NASCC), Naval Air Station Kingsville (NASK), and U.S. Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi.
1994, performing above the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, in black and white uniforms. Performing above the Wall, which was completed in 1982, is a privilege granted very rarely, and the Band was only group allowed to perform at that location at that time.
2001, 15th Anniversary, at the Band House (Lawrence House) in Heritage Park, in black and tan uniforms. Ram is upstairs, in the center of the balcony. Ed Heskett (d. 2023) is eighth from the left on the front porch, Larry Villareal (d. 2023) is second from the left on the front steps, behind the bass drum; Johnny Earhart is behind Larry, on the porch; Robert Gallegos is on the right side on the front steps. Frankie de los Santos is on the far right on the front porch. The Band still resides and rehearses in the Lawrence House/Band House in Heritage Park. Their presence there is related to the fact that the band is, formally, the municipal band of the City of Corpus Christi, and plays for many city events.
