Moton H. Crockett was born in Los Angeles but relocated to Austin before his first birthday. In Austin, he became an active member of marching bands in the city’s public schools. He accomplished this at both the University Junior High School and Austin High School, achieving the rank of a drum major at Austin High. The Longhorn Band was on his schedule in the fall of 1941. In 1942, Crockett met Martha Sanders while they were studying accounting for their BBA degrees. They married and had one son and one daughter. He then took a break from his studies in 1943 to serve in the U.S. Army Air Corp. After the war, Crockett returned to the Longhorn Band. Colonel George E. Hurt was the director of the band at that time, and after several years Crockett became the drum major. Later he became the assistant director.

On September 10, 1994, Moton was honored by having his first name spelled out from one goal line to the other in Texas Memorial Stadium at halftime when UT played Louisville. He directed more than 900 musicians that day in the combined Alumnus and Longhorn Bands. They played “The Eyes of Texas.”

The Moton H. Crockett, Jr. and Martha Crockett Endowment for Big Bertha was established by the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System on February 11, 2011, to benefit the University of Texas Butler School of Music. Gift funds were provided by Mr. Moton H. Crockett, Jr.