Authur G. Harrell was from Anselmo, Nebraska. He
took a bachelor's degree from the University of Northern
Colorado in Greeley and a master's at the University of
Missouri in Kansas City. His first jobs were in rural
schools in Nebraska, at Sumner, Nebraska; Littleton,
Colorado; and Kearny, Nebraska. He taught in Missouri
from 1941 to 1949 and then moved to Wichita, where he
served as director of music education for the Wichita
Public Schools. Harrell organized the Nebraska
Bandmaster's Association in 1928 and helped found the
Nebraska Music Educators Association in 1932. He
was President of the National School Band, Orchestra
and Vocal Association and of the National
Interscholastic Music Activities Commission. He served
as president of the Southwestern Division of MENC from
1963-1965.