Alumni News, 1960-1969

1961

Mary Benson Vaughn (BM in piano/voice ’61): After graduating from UA, Mary received a master’s degree in music from Radford University and then went on to do post-graduate work at Peabody Conservatory and in New York City. After many years of teaching and working in music and education with theaters, Mary is now primarily involved in her own music and event service, www.eventsmusic.com. Mary welcomes contact from the piano students of Roy McAllister, who retired from UA in 1976. She also writes about her significant mentors and teachers on her website, and she wishes to pay tribute to Roy McAllister.

Jason Farrow (BM in music history ’61): Following graduate studies in music at Indiana and New York Universities, Jason spent time working in Europe and wound up as Sony’s Senior Vice President for Public Affairs based in New York. Having retired in 2001, he and his wife Anne live in a small seaside community in Connecticut, where Jason serves as Flotilla Commander and Operations Officer for the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary in Long Island Sound. Son Ben and twin daughters Catie and Nellie are studying at St Joseph’s University (Philadelphia), Johns Hopkins, and the University of Virginia, respectively.

1962

William Wilson (BS ’59, MA ’62): William writes: “As a lecturer with University of Maryland, European Division, I recall my study with Dr. Hyde and memories of those non-music majors who were in his Music History class. All of my UMUC Survey of Music Literature students in Term I 2001 were US Sailors and our classroom was in Ike’s WWII Headquarters overlooking FDR’s statue in our London American Embassy gardens. No, we did not have a harpsichord like Dr. Hyde or any keyboard for that matter, but he would have loved London’s 2001 musical season!”

1963

Jim Stanton (BS in mathematics, ’63): Jim has a management consulting firm (www.PerceptionMgmt.com). Since graduation, he’s been a member of the Boston Pops and the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra and a founder of the Old Dominion Brass Quintet. He is a freelance trumpet player in the Chicago area.

1964

Louise Merrill (BS – Music Education 1964): Louise enjoyed teaching English at LBW State Junior College in Andalusia, Alabama, before moving to Birmingham in 1982. Presently, she is the executive director of FOCUS On Recovery, a recovery residence that provides resources for women in early recovery from substance abuse. You can email Louise by clicking here.

1965

William (Pete) Buckholtz (BM ’65): Pete is currently minister of music at the First United Methodist Church, Russellville, Arkansas.

1966

Dr. Larry Whatley (BM ’62, MM ’66): Larry retired as Iva Buch Seese Distinguished Service Professor of Music Theory, Emeritus, from Brevard College (NC) after teaching there since 1963. He plans to stay in Brevard.

1967

Bill Benton (BS ’63, MA ’67): After 10 years of service as the band director in Samson, AL and Tuscaloosa schools, Bill joined Phifer Wire Products in Tuscaloosa in 1973. Today he serves as Phifer’s Vice-President of Employee Growth and Development. Send him e-mail at wlbenton@aol.com.

Tom Borden (BS ’64, MA ’67): Tom taught in Montgomery for 15 years but is now a CPA. He plays trumpet occasionally with the Montgomery Symphony and sings tenor in local choral groups.

 Tom Lowe (BA ’67): Tom is presently practicing law in Jackson, Mississippi. He plays in the Mississippi Symphony and and is baritone soloist at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral Choir. He would love to hear from UA contemporaries at tlowe@jam.rr.com.

1968

Paul S. James (BS ’66, MA ’68): As of October 2003, Paul is semi-retired and in his 27th year of church work and still teaching privately. He’s also working on a novel, a mystery set in Mississippi. He’d love to hear from students of the 60s and wishes to have a reunion.

Marline Stabile-O’Farrill (BS ’68): Marline and her husband, Alan, opened the new Everglades High School in Miramar, Florida in 2003. They have been the directors of bands, earning straight superiors in marching, jazz, and concert since opening. The music department also has an outstanding chorus and guitar department. Their older son, John, still plays in church, but with a Master’s in math education, is currently a math teacher at Hiram High. Their younger son, Chris, is a freelance lead trumpet player and arranger, and often first call for recordings both in Miami and all over the world.

1969

Frank Godfrey (BS ’69): Frank has been sales representative for DeMoulin Bros. & Co. — the provider of uniforms for the Million Dollar Band — since 1972. He is married and has 2 children; the oldest graduated from UA in 12/02 with a degree in elementary education.

Floy Strickland Wang (BA ’69): After living in Texas, Western Washington, and Western Germany, Floy and and her husband settled in Chattanooga. She earned a MM in viola performance from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She spent 15 years as orchestra director at the Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga. After her “retirement” from GPS, she is now the UTC viola instructor and the master teacher for the UTC String Project. So much for retirement. They have one son, Thomas, who is an attorney living in Anchorage, Alaska.