A: I had many professors that were wonderful I have three that made a significant influence on me: Cortlandt (Corky) Koonts—Organ Professor and Church Music Professor. Mrs. Koonts met her husband in the car with my dad when my dad was a student at Erskine when my dad picked Miss Morper (her name then), up from the train station to interview for the music job at Erskine. My dad asked his friend, Cal Koonts, to ride along with him to pick her up, and thus, Mrs. Koonts met Dr. Koonts in my dad’s car. Mrs. Koonts was a strict but fair teacher. She taught me organ and would not accept anything but the best in preparation for organ lessons. Mrs. Koonts was also the organist at Due West ARP Church, and she asked me to be the Children’s Choir director while I was a student at Erskine, and I had the honor of teaching all of my professors’ children in the choir. Mrs. Koonts truly prepared me for teaching music and especially for a career in church music, to this day. I might also say that Dr. and Mrs. Koonts taught an Interim course—Fine Arts in New York City (I went twice with them).  We saw so many concerts, Broadway shows, museums, etc. In short, Dr. and Mrs. Koonts taught me how to travel with a group, which I did for 36 years of teaching high school choir. I would not have traveled without being introduced to it at Erskine with the Koonts.

One of my other favorite professors is Coach Ralph Lundy. I only had Coach Lundy for one course (School and Community Health). Coach Lundy taught me the importance of how athletics and music could support each other. Coach Lundy was always in attendance at our music performances. This was an invaluable lesson for me as I taught 36 years in the field of High School Choral Music and I learned very quickly that I needed to use Coach Lundy’s example of working together with coaches and athletic directors. It proved to be the best lesson.

I could also mention Dr. John Brawley, who was our professor of Music History and Music Theory. Dr. Brawley was strict. He was to the point. He was brilliant and sometimes hard to understand in class. He was always willing to explain and help. The lesson I learned from Dr. Brawley was that during each exam, he brought fresh strawberries and chocolate sauce for each of us to eat while we took our exam. This lesson proved to also be valuable to me as a high school choral teacher, in that at each exam period, I always brought Nutri-Grain bars (or Krispy Kreme doughnuts) and a Capri Sun or some type of juice box.

All of the Erskine professors lived in town and I had so many meals in so many homes. All of my professors taught me the importance of how to take care of your students because they took care of me. Other examples: Lunch on graduation day at Dr. Bill Kuykendall’s home with my entire family, countless Hershey Bar Pies from Shirley Lampton (piano professor), summer school with 8 students in Dr. Thomas’s Chemistry class, night class in Interim with Dr. Lowery for Exploring the Night Sky (class at night, at his home). The list could go on.

A: That my Ashbrook High School Choir took fourteen European Concert Tours and my high school choir (while I conducted them) performed in Carnegie Hall in New York City 11 times.

A: I loved being involved with the Due West ARP Church. I was an associate member when I was a student and I love that church to this day. The people there ministered to me and made such an impact on my life.

A: I had so many unique experiences while a student at Erskine. I played the organ for Dr. Ezell’s Inauguration. I played the organ for our graduation (we graduated in the Galloway Center its first year of existence). I would relive so many of the days, but I think I would relive the days in Robinson Hall just sitting in the hallway or hanging out with some of the finest people I’ve ever known, who are now friends for life. And….I’d relive the Choraleers Tours too.

A: Erskine prepared me for everything I do! Erskine taught me how to work hard. Erskine prepared me for a profession in school music and church music. Erskine taught me how to treat my students by how Erskine professors and faculty treated me. Erskine taught me the importance of relationships and that if people didn’t work together and care of each other, nothing else would matter. Erskine and the Due West ARP Church helped me to grow in my faith. I could go on and on. From Erskine, I started working in schools and churches and at Bonclarken Conference Center. God has been so good to me and it was God’s plan that I went to Erskine College. Knowing all I know now, if I had to make that decision all over again, I would pack up and move right back to Due West.

A: The Erskine community, when I was a student, was Due West, the church, and the students I lived with in the dorm. It was the Erskine Choraleers. The Erskine professors ALL lived in Due West and were woven into the fabric of the community. Those saints who led us (many are gone now and some are still living) were CALLED by God to teach us and influence us. The relationships that were formed at Erskine are just as deep today as they were over 40 years ago.