Jimmerson, who has led the King Band for 22 years and played in the band for more than 65 years, announced earlier this spring that it would be his last at the podium due to personal and health reasons.

“I am forever grateful for the support and encouragement provided to me and to the King Band,” said Jimmerson.

Jimmerson was honored at Iowa Central Community College by the band as well as a crowd of listeners, including his wife, Alice, and three children Brian, Kevin, and Deron. The concert was originally scheduled to be held at Oleson Park Bandshell but was moved at the last minute due to the severe weather warning.

“Maestro Jimmerson exemplified everything the King Band stands for,” said Paul Bloomquist, voice of the King Band as well as board member, during Sunday’s concert. “His dependability, his musical ability, his unwavering attention to details, have made this organization stand the test of time.”

“Karl King was a great advocate of ‘music for the people’ — tuneful, melodic music that appealed to mainstream audiences,” said Andrew Glover, president and CEO of C.L. Barnhouse Co., and guest conductor at Sunday’s concert. “You recognized and embraced that philosophy during your time as conductor, continuing a long and important tradition of good music for common folks.”

Jimmerson closed his final concert with King’s 1944 march, “Auld Lang Syne,” stating that “sometimes people move on to new jobs or to a different circus. Circus people come and go all the time. Circus friends never say goodbye, just ‘see you down the road.'”