ENMU Was Always Music to His Ears

We Remember Dr. George Umberson

By Todd Fuqua

Dr. George Umberson (BME 55) died Oct. 16, 2021, after a music career that took him far beyond his humble beginnings at Hot Springs High School in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, and even beyond his time as a student and choral director at ENMU. His entire life was defined by music, and he never forgot where he came from. He served as the dean of Music at Arizona State University and was the head of the music department at West Texas State (now West Texas A&M). Still, he always revered his alma mater of ENMU, where he had served as director of the choral program.

“Dr. George Umberson, known affectionately by his students as Coach, made an inestimable impact during his years as a student and as director of Choirs in the sixties,” said Dr. Jason Paulk, current director of ENMUchoral activities and professor of music. “Even more importantly, George invested personally in his students, and many went on to have very successful music careers teaching, performing, composing and directing choral programs in major schools throughout the country.”

Dr. Umberson came to Eastern as a student after a semester of study at Abilene Christian University. While at ACU, he met with professor Robert Page, who later moved on to Eastern.

Dr. Umberson with a painting by Roswell, New Mexico, artist Richard Knadle, during the dedication of the Umberson Choral Room at ENMU in 2011.

“I saw him at chapel, and he said he’d been talking with my friends that were at ENMU and that they really wanted me there. I transferred, and that was the best move I ever made,” Umberson said in a 2019 interview. “Robert set me on fire as far as being a conductor. I had a beautiful 3½ years with him.”

Upon graduation, Dr. Umberson taught at Tucumcari and Roswell high schools, then a year at Pepperdine University in Los Angeles before being called back to ENMU in 1960 to lead the choral program.

Dr. Umberson and ENMU Director of Choirs Dr. Jason Paulk at Carnegie Hall in New York City in 2015.

Photo by Kayla Liechty

Dr. Umberson spent 10 years as choral director at ENMU before heading off to Arizona State University, where he helped establish the School of Music. Through all his travels and accomplishments, ENMU has always held a special place in his heart.

Donations in memory of Dr. Umberson may be made to the ENMU Choral Department online at enmu.edu/donate or mailed to the ENMU Foundation, Station 8, 1500 S. Ave. K, Portales, NM 88130.