From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Sept. 21, 1973:

One hundred and eighty school buses, thousands of musicians, and plenty of heart-stirring music were to converge on Lawrence this month. A large turnout was expected for this year’s Band Day celebration on September 29. Kansas University was to host 91 bands from Kansas and Missouri, with over 6,100 musicians to take the field at halftime at the KU-Minnesota football game. Eleven drum majors and more than 1,000 majorettes, pom-pon girls, and flag twirlers were also scheduled to be present, according to Bob Foster, director of bands. “School buses will be lined up from here to Topeka,” Foster said. “This is unquestionably the largest Band Day in recent years and is the largest in the Midwest.” The traditional Band Day Parade was to begin at 9 a.m. as the assembled bands were to march south on Massachusetts Street to South Park. This year’s celebration was to be the last one in which Russell Wiley, professor of music and Band Day founder, was to participate. Wiley, who was scheduled to retire at the end of the academic year after 40 years at KU, was to conduct the bands in “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” at the conclusion of the halftime ceremonies.