Major Willis Howell, USA Southern Territory was a delegate in session 204 of the Internal College for Officers. He visited the UK in 1996 as a member of the trombone ensemble, ‘Spiritual to the Bone’. Willis was their ace bass trombonist. 
The Band invited Major Howell, now President/Principal of the Salvation Army Evangeline Booth College in Atlanta, to a rehearsal in the first week of February to play with the band and lead the band devotions.
Some excellent bass trombone playing was followed by an inspirational devotional period that proved to be the highlight of the rehearsal.
Some excellent bass trombone playing was followed by an inspirational devotional period that proved to be the highlight of the rehearsal.
It was an evening that the Band will long remember. The second photo shows 'Spiritual to the Bone', the electrifying jazz ensemble featuring ten trombonists and a rhythm section, on tour in Australia in 1999. Willis is the second on the left sporting a significant moustache.
