The East Fairmont High School “Busy Bee Band & Honeybees” is the marching band name for the high school in Fairmont, West Virginia and is considered to be one of the best high school bands in the State of West Virginia.  The unique name of the group was adopted in the summer of 1969, two years after Earl W. McConnell, Sr. had been employed as Band Director of East Fairmont High School. His wife, Millie McConnell, who taught English at EFHS, was the Choreographer of the majorettes, which were newly titled as “Honeybees,” along with the “Queen Bee”  title taking place of Drum Major or Field Commander.

 

Seven years later, on July 1, 1976, Earl W. McConnell, Jr., after being Band Director at Grafton High School from 1973-1976, was employed as Assistant Band Director at  EFHS.  Mr. McConnell, Sr. then proposed the title of “Co-Directors” for the band which was the first “Father/Son” directorship in Marion County and possibly even in the state of West Virginia.

 

Twelve years later, Mr. McConnell, Sr., retired his position of 21 years at EFHS and the baton was passed to his son on July 1, 1988.  Eight months later, January 20, 1989, Mr. McConnell Sr. would receive his greatest reward as he watched “his” Busy Bee Band & Honeybees march past the most famous address in America, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue - - “The White House”, for the prestigious Presidential Inaugural Parade for George H.W. Bush, 41st U.S. President. The Busy Bee Band & Honeybees were the sole representatives of the State of West Virginia, and their performance was televised world wide, reaching hundreds if millions of people. 

 

Eleven years later, in 2001, following their appearance in the 2000 “Tournament of Roses Parade” in Pasadena, California, the BBB&H returned for their second Presidential Inaugural Parade, marching down Pennsylvania Avenue past the White House again for another Bush, that being George W., the 43rd U.S. President of the United States.

 

On June 30, 2010, Mr. McConnell Jr. stepped down as Director following a 34-year run, which also ended a 43-year span longevity with the name “McConnell” as Director of the Busy Bee Band & Honeybees.  In 2019, Mr. McConnell, Jr. was named Director Emeritus of the Busy Bee Band.

 

On July 1, 2010, Marion County Schools turned over the reigns of the group to Mr. T.J. Bean, an alumnus of the band, who has continued to move the Busy Bee Band & Honeybees forward in his 14th year as Band Director.  During his tenure, the band has made multiple trips to Disney World, the Bahamas, Washington DC and New York City among several regional and local parades and band festivals and was Honor Band at the World Association of Marching Show Bands World Championship in 2023.