Robert E. Wertz, III is a native of Denmark, South Carolina, and a 1967 graduate of Denmark-Olar High School. He began his musical training in fifth grade under the baton of Alton McCollum and continued under Bob Gillam and Buist Farmer. He served as Drum Major in the 11th and 12th grades and won the John Philip Sousa Award in his senior year.
Mr. Wertz continued his education at the University of South Carolina, receiving a B.S. in Music Education in 1971 and a Master of Music Education degree in 1972. He served as a graduate assistant under the guidance of Dr. Arthur Fraser. He did his student teaching in 1970 at Airport High School under the direction of William E. Ackerman. While at USC, he was a Sigma Nu Social Fraternity member and was inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda, the national music honor society.
Robert Wertz began his teaching career at Lower Richland High School in Columbia. In his 4th and final year at the school, he was selected as “Teacher of the Year” by the faculty. In 1976 Mr. Wertz began a successful 26-year stint as Director of Bands at Camden High School. In 1980 he won the prestigious ASBDA-Stanbury Award as the “Outstanding Young Band Director in South Carolina,” and that same year, he had a total of 14 students “seated” in the All-State Bands. Mr. Wertz has won various community service awards from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and Camden Jaycees.
At Camden High School, under Mr. Wertz’s direction, the band won the Outstanding Performance Award a total of 21 times, including a stretch of 18 in a row. The marching band at one time held a streak of 68 consecutive Superior ratings in all local, state, and national field show and parade competitions. The Wind Ensemble was a consistent recipient of Superior and Excellent Ratings for 24 years of his tenure. Mr. Wertz has held memberships in the American School Band Directors Association, the National Band Association, the Music Educators National Conference, Phi Beta Mu (State President-1983-85), and the South Carolina Band Directors Association. Mr. Wertz served on 5 of the 6 committees of the SCBDA during his career and was President-Elect (1997-1999), President (1999-2001), and Vice President (2001-2002). Since his retirement in 2002 after 30 years in the profession, he has been employed by Custom Printwear in Lugoff, S.C. He is married to the former Annette George of Columbia, South Carolina, and has two sons, Ryan and Drew.