JSU’s Dr. Kenneth G. Bodiford Announces Retirement
After Three Decades Leading the Marching Southerners
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Dr. Kenneth G. Bodiford, longtime Director of Bands at Jacksonville State University, has announced he will retire at the conclusion of the current marching season, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
For more than 30 years, Bodiford has been the driving force behind the Marching Southerners, transforming the ensemble from about 120 members in 1994 into one of the largest collegiate marching bands in the country, now exceeding 500 members. Under his leadership, the Southerners have become internationally recognized for their power, precision, and signature family spirit.
“Over three decades, this has been the honor of my life,” Bodiford said. “We’ve shared some incredible shows, but the real magic has always been the family bond we build year after year. Creating a place where every single person feels like they belong—that is what makes the Southerners truly special.”
Bodiford’s connection to Jacksonville State began in 1983, when he arrived as a freshman from Odenville, Ala. After earning his bachelor’s degree in music education in 1988, he continued his studies at East Carolina University before returning home in 1994 to lead the JSU Bands. He later earned his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Alabama in 2012.
During his tenure, the Southerners carried Jax State’s name onto the world stage. Highlights include leading London’s New Year’s Day Parade during Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, performing at Pearl Harbor for the 75th anniversary commemoration in 2016, appearing in Rome and the Vatican for World Peace Day in 2019, and honoring the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France, in 2024.
The Southerners also achieved one of the greatest honors in collegiate marching band history—the Sudler Trophy, presented by the John Philip Sousa Foundation in 2022. JSU became the smallest university ever to receive the award, widely considered the “Heisman” of college marching bands.
Most recently, the Southerners were invited to perform in the 138th Rose Parade® on Jan. 1, 2027, offering a global showcase for the program’s enduring excellence.
President Don C. Killingsworth, Jr. praised Bodiford’s lasting impact on the university.
“On behalf of the entire university, I would like to thank Dr. Bodiford for more than three decades of extraordinary service and for representing Jax State with excellence on every stage,” Killingsworth said. “The Marching Southerners are synonymous with Jacksonville State University, inspiring pride in our alumni and community wherever they go. His influence is seen in band rooms nationwide—in the many directors who learned from him and marched for him here—and in the lives of students he’s mentored.”
Beyond the Southerners, Bodiford has also directed the JSU Chamber Winds, taught advanced conducting, and served in leadership roles with the Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps and the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band. His work as a clinician and adjudicator has earned him national respect in the band world, along with teaching awards such as the McWhorter Outstanding Teacher Award.
Bodiford emphasized that this season should be a celebration rather than a farewell. “My dream has always been to see this program continue to grow stronger each year,” he said. “My biggest hope is that you will give your new director the same respect, loyalty, and support that you have given me. Go into the world and ‘be the light.’”
As the Marching Southerners prepare to mark their 70th anniversary in 2026, Bodiford will be remembered as only the sixth director in program history. His legacy is measured not only in the national and international accolades but also in the generations of students whose lives were shaped by the spirit, music, and family bond of the Southerners.
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