3 May 1959 – 21 Jan 2016
With great sadness, the ETSU band family acknowledges the passing of our dear friend and classmate, musician and music educator, Steve Rudig.
Steven Louis Rudig, passed from this life on 21 January 2016 in Rockwall, Texas. He was born on 3 May 1959 in Dallas, Texas to Donald and Marjorie Rudig.
He was an All-State trumpet player at Denison High School and graduated with the Class of 1977.
Steve earned a Bachelor of Music Education from East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas, where he was section leader in the marching band under direction of Mr. James Keene, 
and played trumpet in the Wind Ensemble and various additional ensembles.
He earned a Master of Music Education with a minor in Computer Science from Southern Methodist University. While earning his degree, he served as Director of the SMU Jazz Ensemble, Assistant Director of the SMU Wind Symphony, and Assistant Director of the SMU Mustang Band (1988-1990).
Steve was a member, soloist, and assistant brass instructor with the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps and also served as the high brass coach for the Sacramento Freelancers and as horn line director for the Guardsmen Drum and Bugle Corps of Schaumburg, IL.
As a professional musician and trumpeter, Steve performed regularly with several DFW area music organizations including Doc and the Gang, The Briefcase Blues Band, Bullet Proof Brass, and Buddy’s Big Band. As a member of the Dallas Jazz Orchestra, he was featured on multiple recordings. He performed with and was associate conductor of the Dallas Cowboys Fanfare Trumpets and the Dallas Cowboys Band.
He performed with show business greats The Four Freshmen, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Arty Shaw Band, Joe Lewis, Mel Torme, The Temptations, The Supremes, The Spinners, Barry Manilow, The Beach Boys, The Moody Blues, Bob Hope, Steve Allen, Ben Vereen, B.J. Thomas, Glenn Campbell, Tommy Loy, Don Rickles, Ed McMahon, Phyllis Diller, and many others. He performed the Star Spangled Banner for three presidents: Reagan, G.H.W. Bush, and Clinton.
During his 30-year career in Texas music education, teaching or directing bands at Harlingen, Allen, Coppell, Rockwall, Highland Park, Mt. Pleasant and Garland, he inspired a generation of musicians to aspire to excellence.
He was preceded in death by his parents Donald James Rudig and Marjorie Phelps Putman of Sherman, Texas and his grandparents, Albert James Rudig and Blanche L. Ham of Verona, Missouri and Lee Ben Putman and Marjorie E. Phelps of Ft. Smith, Arkansas.
Steve is survived by the Galen Jeter family as well as the ETSU band family, which includes classmates, fellow trumpeters, fraternity brothers, and friends. Steve’s friends wish to express sincere appreciation to caregivers at the medical facilities where Steve was treated during his illness.
Steve was laid to rest March 25, 2016 at Rest Haven – Rockwall Chapel in the Garden of Prayer, lot 577, space C under the direction of Local Cremation of Dallas, TX. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated for the Music Department at Texas A&M University in Commerce. Please designate “In Memory of Steve Rudig” and send to TAMU-C-Foundation. PO Box 3425, Commerce, TX 75429-3425.