In Memorium James “Ralph” Whitworth, music teacher, choral director and voice teacher at Northeastern State University for 34 years, died October 1, 2020. Ralph contributed immensely to the artistic and cultural development of Tahlequah. Most memorable were the Christmas Candlelight Concerts, midnight caroling and European concert tours by the Northeastern singers (financed by baking and selling Swedish tea rings that Ralph and Beth made with students), and the Boar’s Head Feasts that allowed so many to experience the Renaissance celebration of song, dance and community and the sacred performances at Christmas with choir, artistic sets and orchestra. Ralph was welcomed into the Oklahoma Music Educator’s Hall of Fame in 1994 and chosen as a “Centurion” at the 100th anniversary of Northeastern’s founding.
Kenneth “Ken” G. Grass graduated from Northeastern State College in 1969, with a double major in instrumental and vocal music. After graduation, Paris York asked Ken to consider coming to Broken Arrow to take over the jazz band and band director position, where he and the BA staff took the marching band to several state and regional marching championships. He arranged almost all of the marching music for BA and later TU. The BA Jazz Band won many competitions and was selected to play for the National School Board Convention in Miami, Florida. In 1991, Ken was approached to consider going to the University of Tulsa as assistant professor to the marching band, basketball pep bands, symphonic wind director and teach woodwind pedagogy, saxophone and supervise interns and first year teachers. Eventually more courses and titles were added including full professor. He was so proud to be called “Prof”. He joined his father, mother and many loved ones in Heaven on November 6th, 2020.
Jane Bailey was born in Corinth, Mississippi on March 13, 1937 to Forrest and Hazel L (Preston) Bailey. She departed this life on April 10, 2021 at the age of 87 years and 28 days. Jane began playing on the radio at the age of seven for a Christian show. She learned how to play the organ and began playing and sharing her talent in church. Jane attended Tulsa University where she earned her Bachelors Degree and Indiana University where she would earn he Master’s Degree in Music. Jane taught music at Indiana University before coming to Oklahoma where she taught music for over 30 years at Northeastern State. She taught form and analysis, and counter point and also taught piano. Robert “Eugene” Sparks passed from this life on Thursday, April 22nd, 2021 surrounded by friends and family. Eugene had a lifelong career at NSU as the night supervisor for the Sanitation Technicians. He spent a good deal of his career taking care of the Fine Arts building. Eugene loved his job, and he was the kindest person to speak words of encouragement. When the work was done, it was time to do some serious fishing and hunting. He would hunt for animals like quail, deer, rabbits, ducks and always loved a day spent fishing. Fishing for Eugene was a competitors sport, and the inability to reel in the big one would make his sense of humor fade fast. He enjoyed working on small engines like lawnmowers and the occasional odd car engines. This country boy loved the view of sunrise from his own front porch. He was normally in the company of his dog and getting ready to go out and do a little gardening, he raised the most beautiful gardens. Eugene was blessed with a great sense of humor and the ability to tell a story for every occasion.
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