Doug Moe, left, chats with Leckrone about their new book on the 50-year evolution of UW bands. Andy Manis
The Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA) hosted a special Wisconsin Idea Spotlight event in December featuring former UW–Madison director of bands Mike Leckrone and Madison author Doug Moe ’79, celebrating their new book, Moments of Happiness: A Wisconsin Band Story.
The event gave attendees an intimate look into Leckrone’s 50-year career and the evolution of the university’s bands, which the legendary director transformed into the celebrated institutions we know today.
The book’s title stems from Leckrone’s speech to band members before his first Rose Bowl (1994), encouraging them to cherish positive moments to help them through challenging times. “ ‘There are going to be some bad times, but think about the moments of happiness.’ And it’s just kind of stuck with me ever since,” he reflected. This philosophy, along with lessons learned from his father about pushing beyond perceived limitations, shaped Leckrone’s transformative leadership of the program.
That first Rose Bowl is among Leckrone’s most cherished memories. “It wasn’t just a moment. It was everything that was going on at that time. The whole state came together,” he remembered.
Leckrone explained that he credits his grandfather for part of his philosophy of life. “My grandfather used to say, ‘If you think you can’t, you can’t.’ And I firmly believe that, so I used that philosophy to push the kids.”
Throughout his tenure, Leckrone developed lasting traditions, including the band’s motto, “Eat a rock,” which emerged from an impromptu pep talk about toughness. Even during the football program’s challenging years, the band maintained its reputation for excellence and became a main attraction at games.
Now retired, Leckrone told the audience that what he misses most is daily interactions with band members, whom he still views as “kids” even decades after their graduation. “I still can see that kid in them, even if they come back and they’ve been out of the band for maybe 20 years,” he said.
Published in the Spring 2025 issue
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