Robert D. Wiker
Bob Wiker is an accomplished musician with many instruments. His mentor was Pete Fountain of the Lawrence Welk Show. He strove to play like him. As a youth Mr. Wiker played clarinet with the Warren Central High School Marching Band, Orchestra, and Concert Band. Mr. Wiker studied clarinet under Achille Rossi, Clarinetist with the Indianapolis Symphonic Orchestra.
Having received a music scholarship, Mr. Wiker marched with a baritone/euphonium in the Indiana State University Marching Band and played clarinet in the Concert Band. Mr. Wiker left Indiana State to serve his country in the United States Navy Band. During his training Mr. Wiker received the equivalent of Bachelors in Music through the United States Naval School of Music. While in the Navy, Mr. Wiker played the tenor saxophone traveling with the Commander Second Fleet Unit Band to South America, Europe, and portions of the United States.
Mr. Wiker is an honored Boy Scout and Venturing Scout leader having served the youth in Indianapolis for 40 years. He is the recipient of the Distinguished Commissioner Service Award, District Award of Merit, Scoutmaster Training Award, Scoutmaster Key Award, Firecrafter Award, Order of the Arrow, and the Silver Beaver Award, the highest award that can be bestowed upon a volunteer by a Boy Scout Council area. Mr. Wiker served as Assistant Conductor for 15 years and Conductor from 2012 to 2016 of the Crossroads of America Scout Band, formerly known as the Boy Scout Band.
Mr. Wiker owned and operated Wiker’s Tax Service for 32 years. Mr. Wiker has been playing clarinet with the Indianapolis Symphonic Band since 1999 and served as a mentor with the Philip’s Guild, a mentoring program with the Indianapolis Public School System. After retiring from Greatbatch Medical as a small parts distributor, Mr. Wiker joined the New Horizons Band in 2014 and has periodically played with the New Horizons Swing Band.