When asked what made me decide to become a teacher, I had only one answer � Andy Loney. Andy ushered me into the magical world of music in the 5th grade, and increasingly helped me discover music�s richness each year through high school. Our 5th grade beginning instrumental class was held each Saturday morning in an historic old one-room church across the street from the high school. We sat in a huge circle around the pot belly wood stove with Andy sitting in the middle tapping the beat on his crutches as we struggled with the Evans Trainer book. By the 2nd year I was in his combination Junior High and High School Orchestra, then the high school band as a 7th grader. I not only watched, but experienced the development of an unusually excellent school music program from the beginning to unbelievable heights by 1939. Working with this master teacher was an exhilarating ride, and one from which well over a thousand students plus the entire community of La Grande benefited greatly.

What characteristics made this man so successful and so loved by his students, the community and those in the music teaching profession? First of all, he was a superb musician � a former professional cornetist and a conductor. He was a lifetime learner, which led to his outstanding choral groups. Although gentle in nature, he demanded � and got � perfection. Shoddiness was not tolerated. Nothing but the best in music was used. Bach, Schubert, Grainger, Copland, Berlioz, von Suppe, Dvorak, among others come to mind. Marches were treated as small artistic gems rather than bombastic throwaways.

After spending 3 years in the service as a pilot in WW2, I returned to teaching. Andy put me to work on his staff at Klamath Falls for several years before I took advantage of the GI Bill of Rights and left to complete my master�s degree. Once again, I learned how Andy had developed a sluggish music department into a top-quality program. Those of us who have had the opportunity to work with him will never forget his kindness, honesty, leadership, devotion to his students, and his ability to make things happen.