For decades Ralph Falls was director of the Ironton High School Million Dollar Marching Band.

Students remember him as an exemplary leader and dedicated educator who imparted numerous lessons on life as well as music. Falls died March 15 at the age of 78.

At 7:30 p.m. Friday, a group of Fall’s former band students will officially dedicate a hometown flag in Falls’ honor at the corner of Seventh Street and Ellison Avenue behind the bandstand at Tanks Stadium. Brenda Neville was one of the band alumni who pushed for the honor.

“He was one of the most wonderful people, no other teacher could compare,” she said. “He commanded respect in a way no other teacher did. He just had this way about him.

And he was such a leader. I don’t think you could find a band student who didn’t like him.”

Neville said Falls’ widow, Kay and his two sons are expected to attend the ceremony, which coincides with a 1970s class reunion at the school gymnasium that evening.

Neville said the push to get a flag in honor of Falls actually began before his death — but years later than it should have come.

“This is way too late in coming,” Neville said. “It should have been done years ago.”