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Dr. J. G. Martin, HSU Professor of Music Education Emeritus, Passes at Age 77
The HSU community mourns as Dr. J. G. Martin, professor emeritus of music education, passed away on Monday, Sept. 22, at age 77 at his home in Abilene. Dr. Martin served the University for 26 years and was department head of the department of music education and church music when he retired in 1993.
The publisher of several books, including Sharing Music: An Introductory Guide to Music Education, and A Normal Family, Dr. Martin might be best remembered for forming the choral group Singers Ho! The song and dance group toured the nation frequently under his baton, and was invited to entertain U.S. servicemen on three overseas tours including Greenland, Iceland, and Labrador in 1970; Germany, Italy, Belgium, England, and Holland in 1972; and eight weeks of shows in the Far Pacific in the winter of 1974-1975.
The former chairman of the State Keyboard Committee of the College Division of the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), co-chairman of the Abilene North District for the National Guild of Piano Teachers, and member of the TMEA Committee for Fine Arts Education didn't slow down when he reached retirement. He served as president of the Hardin-Simmons University Former Faculty-Staff-Administration Fellowship, and was conductor and co-founder of the community choral organization, The Celebration Singers. Dr. Martin continued to serve as an interim and supply music director for churches in the region for many years.
Dr. Martin received his bachelor's degree in piano from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, a master's in piano at the University of Arizona, and a doctor of musical arts in music education from the University of Texas, Austin.
Together with his wife, Billie, also a former HSU faculty member, he used the travel time afforded by retirement to make several trips to Thailand, where he was invited to teach and conduct at Baptist mission school choirs, and speak during school chapel programs.
Services for Dr. Martin will be at Logsdon Chapel, on the Hardin-Simmons University campus, on Friday, Sep 26th, at 1:30 p.m.
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Posted by: Michael R. & Sue Riggs on December 28, 2008 11:38 AM
Dear Mr. Coffield,
It is with great sorrow that we discovered, this morning, the passing of Dr. J. G. Martin. He was most influential in our lives.
We became acquainted with him over fifty years ago, when we were barely teenage students at Harlandale Junior High School in San Antonio, Texas, where he taught choir in 1958. He was an amazing teacher and he made learning music fun for the entire school. Involving the faculty, the School Band, and the choir, it was with inspiration and direction from him that we were able to perform the Broadway Musicals: Annie Get Your Gun, The King and I, Oklahoma, Lil' Abner, and Carousel.
We have never forgotten him. And he will always be remembered with great respect and fondness.
Sincerely,
Mike & Sue Riggs