Don Buhler was born August 30, 1956 in Medicine Lodge, KS, but was raised in El
Dorado, KS. Throughout his high school years, he enjoyed Journalism, Forensics,
and of course Band. He graduated from El Dorado High School in 1974. After high
school he attended Butler County Community College for 2 years. He then
attended Wichita State University for 2 more years. He attributes his exposure to
great music and his career choice of being a band director to his high school band
director and college band directors at Wichita State. His parents recognized that
he had musical talent and they made sure that he had access to a quality
education in music. In 2021 he was inducted in to the first class of the Pratt USD
382 Hall of Fame. In 2002, he was selected as the KMEA Outstanding Teacher. In
1988, Mr. Buhler was selected as the Emporia State University Master Teacher for
Kansas. His favorite band memory is premiering "Rumble on the High Plains" for
the first time in 2005 written by Michael Sweeney and commissioned by the PHS
band. Mr. Buhler taught band for 38 years in Pratt, Salina and Stafford, Kansas.
After retiring from teaching, Mr. Buhler spent time as a road representative for
Senseney Music and working as a volunteer for Americorps.