TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
Ed Grissom playing at the Perot with the Temptations in January 2024.
favorite song, stayed with those he taught sometimes long after they left his classroom. Now, Grissom faces the greatest challenge of his life—Stage IV glioblastoma of the brain, and even now, he leads by example. This time, his lessons aren’t given in a classroom behind a desk or a podium but in how he demonstrates courage and faith in the face of his diagnosis. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common type of malignant brain tumor in adults. It accounts for nearly half of all cancerous brain tumors and affects more than 13,000 Americans each year. Most often, it strikes between the ages of 45 and 70, with the average age of diagnosis being 64. GBM is aggressive, fast-growing, and notoriously difficult to treat. Symptoms often come on quickly and may include headaches, memory problems, nausea, vomiting, seizures, changes in mood, changes in speech, and numbness. While there is no reliable cure, treatments can help ease symptoms and prolong life. For Grissom, the symptoms began with fainting spells, dizziness, and a frightening sense of disorientation, even when he was in familiar places. “My wife and kids convinced me something was not right and took me to Texarkana Emergency Center,
Grissom has performed at local bars and venues for nearly 15 years, playing with numerous bands, including Stateline Avenue, T Town Five, and the Texarkana Jazz Collective.
It is a powerful truth, and we have all experienced it. We turn on the radio or create playlists on our devices just to hear that perfect melody that calms us, lifts our spirits, motivates us to exercise, shifts our perspective, or even takes us back to another time or place. Just as music stirs us, so can a person. For years, Ed Grissom has been that kind of person. As a teacher, he did not just educate—he inspired. He led with wisdom and kindness and a belief in his students. He changed lives, and those changes were not just measured by grades or test scores but by the confidence he instilled in the students he touched. His influence, like a Music can change the world because it can change people. ” —Bono
where I was met with compassion and urgency,” he explained. “I feel certain they saved my life that day.” Born in August 1959 in Malvern, Arkansas, Grissom was raised in a household filled with music. “My older sister inspired me to join the band in the fifth grade,” he said, “and from there, I developed a love for playing the trombone throughout my school years and into my adult years. I
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LIFE & STYLE
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