Steubenville’s Anthony Violi, 100, ready to dot the ‘i’
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STEUBENVILLE -- The letter "i" is extra special in Anthony Violi's alphabet.
Especially come Saturday, when the 100-year-old Steubenville resident gets to dot it in Script Ohio as part of the annual TBDBITL Alumni Reunion game at halftime of the Ohio State University Buckeyes' game against Tulane University at Ohio Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
"It's a big honor. I'm very excited about it," Violi said.
"I have been asked 500 times when am I going to dot the i," Violi said in a recent interview about becoming an i-dotter, an honor typically reserved for sousaphone players, though exceptions have been made.
That it will happen puts the local centenarian in the history books Saturday as one of the few nonmembers of the Ohio State band to dot the i in Script Ohio. He also is the oldest alumnus of the marching band.
On May 4, Violi was invited by the TBDBITL -- The Best Damn Band in the Land -- Alumni Club to dot the i in the west-facing Script Ohio in honor of his 100 birthday and his longtime dedication to the Ohio State Marching Band.
He joins a select group of other honorary i-dotters, including John and Annie Glenn, Woody Hayes, Bob Hope and Jack Nicklaus.
"I'm proud I was selected to do that," said Violi, an Adena native who graduated from Adena High School and aspired to be a band director.
The training for that unfolded at Ohio State.
"I was impressed by the campus -- it was a city in itself," reflected Violi, who pursued his bachelor's degree in music and played trumpet in the marching band..
The lifelong musician and educator joined the band a year after it performed Script Ohio for the first time.
Since 1966 when the first TBDBITL reunion game was held, Violi has been a staple of it and has marched for nearly every one.
A month after earning his degree in June 1942, Violi transitioned from a band uniform to a military one, serving in the European Theater in the Army's 95th Infantry Division. He was in several battles, including Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe and the Battle of the Bulge.
He returned home to begin his career as a music teacher, a profession he said he enjoyed.
That included at Steubenville High School, where he was the band director for 17 years. It represented the state of Ohio for the inaugurations of President John F. Kennedy and President Lyndon B. Johnson in Washington, D.C.
"My band played for the president of the United States," said a proud Violi, who also received invitations for the band to perform in the Orange Bowl Parade and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
Violi also taught music at Catholic Central and Holy Rosary for many years, beginning in 1981.
On the performing side, he remains active as a participant in the Tri-State Community Band.
Beyond i-dotting, he also will be honored in another way Saturday.
Violi was informed in August the the board of governors of the TBDBITL Alumni Club had selected him to receive the Elvin Donaldson (Most Inspirational Alumni Bandperson) Award, which will be presented at the Skull Session on Saturday.
The award is given to someone for a body of work for the alumni band, according to a letter Violi received from Denny Beis, TBDBITL awards chairman.
"Surely you more than qualify for this honor," wrote Beis. "In your 100 'years young,' your life's work has taught us a most important lesson: It's not what is in the bank account, how big the house is or what kind of car is driven, but to be important in the life of a child though teaching music," Beis noted.
"We commend you for your service in World War II and your continued service in still being active in young people's lives by continuing to teach music. You have become the oldest living TBDBITL alum, and we wish to honor you at the reunion," Beis wrote.
"I was shocked, but I have been very active," Violi said of his reaction to the award.
"There is nothing like it in the world, and I am part of it," Violi said of his participation in the alumni band, which has more than 700 members. Violi had the honor of directing the alumni band in 2003 as it played the national anthem before the Ohio State vs. Washington State football game. That was in front of a crowd of 100,000 fans.
Pre-congratulations for i-dotting has come from many corners, including Monday evening when the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times held its 21st-annual Community Stars recognition dinner at Froehlich's Classic Corner. A former Community Star himself, Violi received a standing ovation when singled out at the event.
"I'm very excited about Saturday, very much," said Violi, who will have a fan entourage on hand for his i-dotting. "I have people coming from California to see me," he said, noting several busloads of supporters will be making the trip to Columbus.