You'll
Never Walk Alone.
That's
what Julian Helms answered when asked what song had been played more at
the Shrine Bowl games than any other. It's become the theme song
of the pageant.
The
touching Rogers and Hammerstein tune from Carousel comes to life
each year as a professional and recessional for the king and
Queen. Not even the American flag or national anthem earns more
attention from the crowd of 20 thousand or more than the slow walk of
the king and queen as they enter the Shrine Bowl playing field and work
their way toward their thrones at the center.
To
everyone this is the moment of truth, the raison d' etre for the
entire Shrine Bowl experience. Two thousand band musicians join to
play the slow, heartfelt You'll Never Walk Alone.
The
words and music perfectly fit the little children Shriners serve:
When
you walk through a storm,
Hold your head up high,
And don't be afraid of the dark;
At the end of the storm is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark;
Walk on through the wind,
Walk on through the Rain,
Though your dreams be tossed and blown;
Walk On!
Walk On!
With hope in your heart,
And you'll never walk alone;
You'll never walk alone!*
Helms'
Shrine Bowl career goes back further than any other living person.
He was called "Juice" Helms and playing baritone trombone in
the Oasis Temple band when he was in junior high and senior high school,
beginning 1929. Of course he didn't become a Shriner until 1945,
and that same year he joined Lonnie Sides on the committee of Bands and
Pageantry work of the Shrine Bowl.
"There haven't been but four Bands and Pageantry directors in the
fifty years of the Shrine Bowl," Helms points out. "Lonnie
Sides began in 1937, I took over in 1953. Ralph Webb took it for 27 more
years and now Jimmy Robertson is in charge."
Julian continues participating as Co-Chairman to Jimmy, and co-producing
the pre-game, half-time and post-game ceremonies. During the
Shrine Bowl's half century, the four directors led almost 100,000
musicians.