SUMMER 2008 Bearcatroar
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dearfriends Northwest music department believes in, expects excellence orthwest has been a bastion of musical Greg sings annually with the Indianapolis Sym- Nexcellence for many decades. The Univer- phony Orchestra and toured and recorded with sity is known for having one of the top music Sandy Patti and Ray Boltz. His solo and duet departments in Missouri and has received many CDs have been outstanding. He has presented regional and national accolades. workshops and conducted hundreds of festivals The philosophy in the music department throughout the world, and he has written and during my teaching career was always to assist published compositions with major publishers. the students to become the best they can be. The I first met Greg as a sophomore in high faculty has always believed in excellence rather school. His music teacher recommended that I than being satisfied with good. hear him accompany a very Because of this philosophy, Northwest stu- hard composition, which the dents have been prepared to enter the real world. paid accompanist could not Whether in the business world, composing, play. Greg played it and was performing, recording, teaching or conducting, superb. We were very pleased Northwest graduates have soared to the top of that Greg selected Northwest the ladder. for his undergraduate studies. I have had principals and superintendents Now, we all are extremely telephone me begging for another Northwest proud of Greg’s professional graduate to teach in their school. As I judge success as an outstanding music contests throughout the United States, I Northwest graduate. hear accolades that Northwest graduates have Northwest’s Department of created fantastic school music programs. Our Music continues to produce graduates have touched the lives of millions of outstanding students, like Greg Gilpin, who will (Top) Dr. Richard Weymuth, pro- fessor emeritus of music, praises students. enter the world prepared to excel. the valuable education students Music education has not been our only forte. in the music department receive Our graduates, as professional musicians, con- Sincerely, during their time at Northwest. tinue to sell hundreds of thousands of CDs and (Bottom) While he was a student, have written hundreds of compositions published Greg Gilpin (front row, center) by major music companies. was a member of Northwest’s Celebration show choir One of our students who has achieved in all Dr. Richard W. Weymuth conducted by Weymuth. of the above mentioned categories is Greg Gilpin. Professor Emeritus The mission of the Northwest Northwest Foundation Inc. Joyce Kerber ’60, Ron Woolsey ’74, ’78, Laurie Drummond Long ’92, Anna Bradshaw Summa ’01, Alumni Magazine is to foster ’08-’09 Board of Directors Lee’s Summit Grain Valley Development Officer/Donor Database Specialist Relations [email protected] connections between alumni, President Jodie Mackintosh ’77, Ex-Officio Directors [email protected] friends and Northwest Mike Faust ’74, Omaha, Neb. Omaha, Neb. B.D. Owens ’59 Steve Sutton ’71, Jerry Moyer ’76, ’78, Missouri State University. President Emeritus, Mitzi Craft Lutz ’91, Director of Alumni Relations Vice President Titusville, Fla. Advancement [email protected] The offices of University Clearwater, Fla. Advancement and University Dan Runde ’81, Platte City Kenny Petersen ’66, Communications Specialist Brenda Untiedt ’00, Dean L. Hubbard [email protected] Relations strive to inform Omaha, Neb. Alumni Relations Specialist Immediate Past President William C. Price ’60, University President Teresa Macias ’97, ’05, [email protected] readers of the accom- Jim Blackford ’72, Maryville plishments of Northwest’s Cincinnati, Ohio Orrie Covert Development Officer/College Andrea Kearns Wagner ’00, alumni, friends, faculty, Mary Asbell ’69, Jim Redd ’66, Leawood, Kan. Executive Director of Arts and Sciences Development Officer/College Tim Sullivan ’75, [email protected] students and administration Lubbock, Texas Advancement Staff of Education and Human Urbandale, Iowa and to positively position the Holly Murphy-Barstow ’81, Orrie Covert, Peggy Purdy, Services/Corporate and Omaha, Neb. Ron Taylor ’79, Waukee, Iowa Vice President Accounting Specialist Foundation Relations University in the hearts of its [email protected] Rick Carter, Maryville Kay Thomas ’71, [email protected] [email protected] many constituents to increase Blue Springs Mark Doll ’80, Neil Elliott, Lynn Ruhl, public and private support. Dick Thomson, Maryville Council Bluffs, Iowa Development Officer/Athletics Executive Assistant Deb Tripp ’92, ’96, [email protected] Jason Garst ’93, Watson [email protected] William Gram ’52, Rancho Carrollton, Texas Polly Parsons Howard ’00, Lori McLemore Steiner ’85, Palos Verdes, Calif. Jason White ’91, Maryville Development Officer/Booth Finance Officer Ray Hischke ’66, Richard “Dick” Wiles ’71, [email protected] Jefferson City College of Business and The Woodlands, Texas Professional Studies [email protected] NORTHWEST ALUMNI MAGAZINE SUMMER 2008 bearcatroar Alumni, friends share stories about a special man The Northwest community was saddened by the March 10 death of Dr. Robert P. Foster, Northwest’s seventh president. In addition to serv- ing as president from 1964 to 1977, Foster held positions at Northwest as registrar, director of admissions and dean of administration. In the spring issue of the Northwest Alumni Magazine, readers were invited to share their favorite stories or remembrances of Dr. Foster. The following are just a few of the many responses from Bearcats who were influenced by this great man. y favorite story was a wonderful administrator whose legacy will Mabout Dr. Foster remain memorable in our hearts. Perhaps Dr. is when he and I had our Foster will be mostly remembered for transform- appendix out at the same ing our campus as one of the most beautiful in time at the old St. Francis the region. May the good Lord grant his soul Hospital in Maryville. eternal rest. It was in January 1969. Chuks U Ndika ’76 I was in a great deal of pain, and Mrs. Margaret n May 1951, I graduated from Horace Mann President Emeritus Dr. Robert Wire, house mother at Roberta Hall, took me High School. In June 1951, Dr. Foster (then P. Foster always had a way with I Northwest students, whether to the hospital during a fierce snow storm. Back Mr. Foster) hired me as his secretary in the it was through his inspirational then, a long hospital stay was required for an Registrar’s Office. Mr. H.R. Dieterich, Horace words, a kind smile, an under- appendectomy, and I missed all my finals. But, I Mann principal, and Dr. E.K. DeVore, Horace standing ear or a shared interest. was certainly surprised to find out Dr. Foster had Mann business teacher, had recommended me his appendix out at the same time. We would visit for the job. In those early years Dr. Foster would some during the day as we began to feel better. I often tell people he “raised me from a pup.” Foster Legacy was an RA in Roberta Hall, and one of the girls After Dr. Foster returned from the University Continues on my floor was from Sweden. She was dating Dr. of Missouri, where he obtained his doctorate Memorials for the Robert Foster’s son at the time (I think she married him). degree, he was made dean of administration. In P. Foster Commemorative They would come in the evenings and bring him 1964, he was chosen as the University president. Scholarship may be sent to a milk shake. Once they realized I was there, too, In each move, he asked me to continue as his The Northwest Foundation, we both received a milk shake. I looked forward secretary. At Dr. Foster’s retirement party in 800 University Dr., Maryville, to the milk shake, but also to getting caught up 1977, he told those attending that “he loved me MO, 64468. (Please indicate on campus news. The entire Foster family treated as much as Mrs. Foster and Willie (my husband) “Foster Scholarship” on me so nicely. In May 1969, during graduation, would allow.” I worked for Dr. Foster for more check’s memo.) Online Dr. Foster announced he and I had spent some than 25 years. He was the kind of man every donations may be made by quality time having our appendix removed. I secretary would love to have for their boss. visiting www.nwmissouri. thought fondly of Dr. Foster before, but I always Monica Giesken Zirfas edu/alumni/giving/ remembered our hospital stay. onlinegiving.htm. (Select Karen Colton Dixon ’69 ust before summer school in 1961, my wife “Non-Departmental Jof six weeks, Judi, and I arrived on campus Scholarships” and “Robert was sad to read that my former president to see if I could be enrolled at Northwest under P. Foster Commemorative I Dr. Robert Foster passed away. He was an President J.W. Jones. We were led to Dr. Foster’s Scholarship.”) educationist par excellence, a fine gentleman, office, and I was immediately impressed by whose love for the institution, the students and his positive approach to my request for admis- the faculty members was extraordinary. Dr. Foster sion, one that could easily have been rejected. was very much at home with the students. He I was 28, had been working for five years after SUMMER 2008 NORTHWEST ALUMNI MAGAZINE bearcatroar Foster (continued) leaving the military service, and my marriage had That was followed by my Ph.D. influenced my decision to finish a college degree. Judi and I attribute much But there was a problem. I had attended Tarkio of our success to Dr. Foster’s College immediately out of high school and my instincts, love of students and transcript was a disaster. As Dr. Foster reviewed human understanding. We will it, he shook his head several times. He asked me never forget his trust in my several questions about my military service, and ability to live up to his expecta- when he learned that I had served in the Korean tions.