AlmquistJohnson

Dr. Charles L. Johnson and his wife, Jane Marlene Rann Johnson will be joining over 40 class members in the 1956 class of Murray State University to celebrate 50-year reunion activities May 11-13.

This reunion trip isn’t the couple’s first trip back to their alma mater. Charles, a 1956 social studies graduate, and Marlene, a 1957 piano graduate, recently returned to campus this spring to establish the Dr. Charles and Marlene Johnson Outstanding Music Faculty Award at MSU.

Establishing this award to advance the service of MSU to its students and the region, the Johnsons were able to witness the award presentation to the first recipient during “Music Awards Day.”

Dr. Bradley Almquist , director of MSU choral activities, was the first recipient of this annual $1,000 gift presented to a full-time MSU music faculty member with at least six years of service. “I feel very humbled to be the first recipient of this most generous award,” he said, “The gift by the Johnsons will provide significant opportunities for my own professional development in the next year and that of successive recipients.”

During Almquist’s MSU tenure he has conducted choirs for various state-wide and nation-wide events including the Kentucky Choral Directors Association, the Kentucky Music Educators Association, the Music Educators National Conference and American Choral Directors Association Convention, representing the southern division of the U.S. His choirs have toured England , Scotland , and Wales , Germany , Hungary , Austria , and the Czech Republic and Ireland .

“It is especially noteworthy because the award carries with it a monetary prize to be used for professional development or the professor’s specific instructional needs,” Dr. Pamela Wurgler, chair, MSU music department, said. “Additionally, the money will be coming back into education.”

Candidates for this award will be nominated by the chairs of MSU’s department of music and the Faculty Evaluation Committee. A committee of music faculty will select the recipient. The award may be used by the recipient for numerous initiatives including professional faculty development, research materials, conferences and travel.

Charles was a 41-year employee in public education of which 28 years were as superintendent of large city districts in Michigan and the Chicago metro areas.

Also a retired educator, Marlene taught vocal music to elementary and high school students in Troy , Mich. , and was also employed as a guidance counselor in various Naperville and Carrier Mills, Ill. , schools.

While the couple attended Murray State , each participated in Campus Lights. Charles was a member of Phi Mu Alpha and Marlene was a Vivace Club member.

Charles said their decision to establish this award was a token of their appreciation for the MSU education and the great experiences they had. “We wanted to give something back to MSU,” he said. “Teachers at all levels work very hard, often spending personal dollars for teaching materials and we just felt it was time to recognize them for their dedication.”

A history major who had several classes under the late Dr. Forrest Pogue and Dr. C.S. Lowry, Charles said he has always considered Murray State to be a most prestigious school. “At the time I attended Murray , I think it had already earned the high acclaimed reputation that it touts today as Kentucky ’s public ivy (College) university,” he said.

Charles said during his career he decided it was important to honor others while they are alive. “When one deserves praise, give it to them while they can still enjoy it,” he said. “Too often we wait until it is too late.”

Marlene, who transferred to Murray from Southern Illinois University after marrying Charles, is also appreciative of the education she received at Murray State . “We had a wonderful experience at Murray ,” she said. “I am so delighted to see MSU has both women’s music sororities now."