Albert Bussey
Albert Bussey associate director of the Golden Gator Band, came to Waycross 12 years ago after serving as assistant director with Valdosta High's Marchin' Cats for three years. He served as assistant director for two years with Waycross High's "Pride of Waycross" and in 1993-94; he served as director of the Waycross High Band. During the "Ultimate" year of Waycross High School, the Advanced Symphonic and Marching Bands both received superior ratings and traveled to London, England. Mr. Bussey graduated from Lowndes High School in 1984 where he served as Drum Major his senior year for the "Georgia Bridgeman". He graduated from Valdosta State University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. While at VSU, he served as Drum Major two years, sang in the concert and chamber choir and was a 1st chair trombone player in both the concert and jazz band. Mr. Bussey is a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, has been a guest columnist for Georgia Music News and is currently serving on the VSU president's Lay Council. He serves as pastor of Victory Temple here in Waycross. He is very happily married to the former Crystal Norman of Quitman and they have four children, Albert III, Anthony, Andrew, and Amber.

Jeffrey Nelson
Jeffrey Nelson is in his thirteenth year as an assistant director and arranger of the Golden Gator Band. Mr. Nelson has arranged music for High School bands throughout Georgia and Alabama for over 22 years. He currently serves as tuba instructor of the Golden Gator Band. He was formerly director of the Center Junior High School Band and assistant director and music arranger for the “Pride of Waycross” High School Band for seven years. He served as director of the Lanier County High School Band for nine years. Mr. Nelson holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Troy State University. He has served as choir director of Winona Park United Methodist Church for eleven years and is in his fifth year as the tuba player in the Waycross Brass. Mr. Nelson is married to the former Lynn Kent of Moultrie, and they have two children – Jeffrey and Andrew.

Kathy Harbuck-Cox
Mrs. Cox is a native of Warner Robins. She graduated cum laude from Troy State University in 1982 with a Bachelors degree in Music Education and received her Masters of Science in Education in 1985. She is a member of the Music Educators Association, President of the Women Band Directors International, member of the National Band Association, Tau Beta Sigma Band Sorority and Kappa Delta Pi Educational Society. Mrs. Cox is recording at Trinity United Methodist Church. This marks her 23rd year in Ware County where she is band director at Ware County Middle School. She is married to Gary F. Cox.

Julie Johnson
Julie Johnson graduated from Valdosta State University with a Bachelors degree in music education. She is a lifetime member of Sigma Alpha Iota professional woman’s music fraternity, and a member of GMEA. Ms. Johnson graduated from Lake Region High School in Winter Haven, Florida. Ms. Johnson has 10 years of color guard, and winter guard experience at the high school, college and drum corps levels. Ms. Johnson is currently the auxiliary director and winter guard director at WCHS and the choral director and assistant band director at Ware County middle school. Ms. Johnson currently lives in Douglas, GA with her husband Jeremy and their two children Noah and Hannah.

Michael Leeth  
Michael Leeth received a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Jacksonville State University as well as a Masters degree in Percussion Performance from East Carolina University.  Over the past seven years, Michael has performed with the Gadsden, Rome, Fayetteville, and Long Bay Symphony Orchestras, he was the featured soloist with the JSU Mallet Ensemble at Alabama Day of Percussion, as well as performing with an elite percussion quartet at North Carolina Day of Percussion. Other experience includes numerous ensembles at JSU and ECU including Orchestras, Wind Ensembles, Jazz Bands, the Marching Southerners, Percussion Ensembles, and many other Chamber Ensembles. While at East Carolina, Michael also directed the ECU Percussion Players from 2004-2006. Since 1999, Mr. Leeth has tutored numerous middle school, high school, and college level percussion students, along with teaching drill, music, and marching basics to numerous high / middle school students.  Michael is a member of Music Educators National Conference, and Percussive Arts Society.

Jonathan Bagley
Jonathan Bagley is currently in his third year as an assistant with the Golden Gator Band, and is also the assistant Band Director at Waycross Middle School. Prior to coming to Waycross, Mr. Bagley spent five years working as both a marching instructor and clinician for band programs throughout the state of Georgia. Programs that Mr. Bagley worked with had symphonic bands that went on to play at local and regional conferences as well as marching bands ranked as high as 13^th in the nation. As a performer, Jonathan was a four-time member of the Georgia High School All-state bands and orchestras. He was also a member of the 1999 John Philip Sousa National Honors Band in Washington, D.C. While earning his degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia, Jonathan played on recordings with the University Wind Ensemble that can be found on Summit Records. Mr. Bagley is also serving in his third year as a member of the Waycross Brass. Jonathan is from Jackson, Georgia, and is the grandson of Waycross residents Bill Allen and Mae Allen.

Sarah Perry Tatum
This is Sarah's first year with Ware County High School as an instructor for the Dance Team. She is a former Golden Gator who graduated from Ware County High School in 2004. She is currently attending Valdosta State University. She will be in charge of choreography for the Dance Team.

Mary Alice Aldridge
Mary Alice is a teacher at Ware County High school, and is the Sponsor for the Dance Team this year.