Ted Forrest, the band director at Ponchatoula High School, has been a lifetime resident of Pumpkin Center. In 1963 and 1964, He made the All-State Marching Band on trumpet and the All-State Choir on voice. In 1965, He was chosen to play the trumpet in the All-State Orchestra along with the All-State Marching Band. Mr. Forrest won the honorable “John Philip Sousa Award”, in 1966. He graduated from Ponchatoula High School in 1966. After graduating from high school, Mr. Forrest served in the United States Army; where he was a member of the 62nd United States Army Band from 1969 to 1971. He was the Minister of Music in 1964-1996 at Trinity Baptist Church of Pumpkin Center. Mr. Forrest received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education at Southeastern Louisiana University in 1990. That same year, He became the Band Director at Ponchatoula High and has been the director since. He has been married to his wife, Wanda, for a real long time (over 35 years). Together they had 3 children named Teddy, Charlie, and Jessica. And last, but not least, he has a wonderful dog named Bandit.