On the afternoon of Wednesday, September 13, 2023, Ernest Hebson, former band director at Fort Walton Beach High School, passed away.

Mr. Hebson started the band program at Fort Walton Beach High School when the school was built in 1969 with grades 7-10.

When the school became 7-12, grades 7-9 moved to the newly built Max Bruner JR. High. The symphonic, jazz and marching bands have never received less than a superior rating at FBA district assessments and were consistently rated superior at FBA state events.

Mr. Hebson retired in 1999 and continued to work as an adjudicator of instrumental music assessments and taught several students privately.

• In 2004, was inducted into the Florida Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame.