Dick Bauman, 61, a band director and a member of the Iowa Jazz Hall of Fame, died of cancer at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake.

Before retiring to Okoboji in 1996, Mr. Bauman spent 20 years as director of instrumental music at Southwestern Community College in Creston. During that time he developed a full two-year curriculum for music majors, brought big-name jazz musicians to the school, created jazz clinics and started the SWCC Jazz Camp.

Dick had played trombone professionally since he was 16 years old and performed with numerous bands, including the Des Moines Big Band. Most recently, he toured with the Si Zenter Orchestra and the Tommy Dorsey Band.

"He was a wonderful player and a wonderful person," said Steve S. Stewart of Des Moines, a close friend and fellow musician. "He was also an outstanding and award-winning educator."

Dick grew up in Lake City, Iowa and later attended and received his music degree from Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, MO. He started his teaching career in King City, MO in 1960, and later taught for five years in Irwin, IA before moving to Creston. In 1966, he became the band director at Burton R. Jones Jr. High School in Creston.

He started the Creston Big Band (now the Southwestern Community College Adult Big Band), and in 1969, he reestablished the Creston Jazz Festival. He had been an active judge of jazz festivals in several states and had served as guest director of concert and jazz ensembles throughout Iowa.

Survivors include his wife, Helen, of Okoboji; a daughter, Kristen Bauman of Seattle; two sons, Robert of Corning and Stuart of Dallas, TX; his mother, Florine Bauman of Lake City; two sisters, Jeanne Batz of West Des Moines and Jolene Wilder of Cedar Rapids; and three grandchildren.