The Arkansas School Band And Orchestra Association (ASBOA) was first organized in 1930 as the Arkansas Band Association. All records from 1930 through 1935 were in the hands of Lee Wallick and lost in a school fire in Monticello. In 1935, the name was changed to ASBOA since some school orchestra programs were being instituted at the time.

Note: Much of this information is taken from a master's thesis from Northwestern University written by Mrs. Betty Peck, a native of Sheridan and the daughter of John Henry Williams, the former band director at Sheridan High School. If the band department at your school has any records from the band movement during the 1930–1935 period, contact the ASBOA office.

During this six-year period, several personalities within ASBOA were so aggressive that meetings continually got out of control. Mr. J.A. Day was persuaded to preside at all meetings as our chief executive officer. He ran the meetings with a firm grip, giving us at least a modicum of decorum. He was very knowledgeable, understanding, amiable, and a fine school administrator. "I was a 'young kid on the block' and was amazed at his leadership," said Raymond Brandon.