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Milton Johnson
Milton Johnson, professor of music from 1957-1984, died June 29. His impact on the Whitworth Music Department was profound, and many of his students gathered at a memorial service for Johnson, held in August, to pay tribute to their former teacher and friend.
OJ Cotes, of the Whitworth School of Education, also attended the service. "His contributions to both the students at Whitworth and our community were outstanding," Cotes says. "He was also the minister of music at First Presbyterian Church from 1959-87. The lives he touched both through his music and love of God were inspiring."
"Over the years," says Whitworth President Bill Robinson, "I have encountered countless alumni who referenced the legacy of Dr. Johnson's influence. In every sense, his music has lived on in their lives. He continues to bless us all."
"The Whitworth Choir's long-standing reputation for excellence continued . . . under the direction of Milton Johnson," writes Dale Soden, campus historian, in his book A Venture of Mind and Spirit: An Illustrated History of Whitworth College (1990). "Professor Johnson spearheaded the annual Messiah performances, which grew into an all-city affair involving 200 Whitworth singers and as many as 80 local church and school choirs. The event became a Spokane Christmas tradition, playing to full houses first in the Coliseum and later in the Opera House."
Soden also writes of the yearly tours that the choir pursued under Johnson's direction. "One year," he writes, "the choir toured Europe, performing in Edinburgh, Coventry Cathedral, and Amsterdam." The choir then, as now, welcomed non-music majors and, writes Soden, "truly reflected a cross-section of the student body; the campus community as a whole took pride in it."
Messages of love and appreciation for Johnson continue to arrive at Whitworth.
"What a wonderful honor it was to be a student of Dr. Johnson," writes Jim Bailey, M.Ed. '72. "He brought to the rehearsal hall a flair and enthusiasm that we young musicians soaked up like sponges." Bailey traveled to Europe with the Whitworth Choir in 1965, where, he writes, "I played trumpet along with my roommate, Walt Oliver [Class of '67, currently the chairman of Whitworth's board of trustees], on percussion. In the next few years, as Milton introduced more contemporary music (including Jesus Christ, Superstar) to Whitworth audiences, Walt and I provided bass guitar and drums accompaniment." Reminiscing about the 2004 alumni choir reunion, Bailey writes, "What a thrill it was to sing under Dr. Johnson's musical direction one more time. His musical legacies will live on in each of us forever."
Johnson and his wife, Joyce, were married for 62 years. Cards and letters may be sent to her and to the family at 20219 N. Clear Canyon Drive, Surprise, AZ 85374.
Alan W. Peterson
Alan Peterson, who taught physics at Whitworth for a number of years, died June 6. A first-generation American, Peterson was born in Georgia after his parents came to the U.S. from Latvia. He earned his B.A. in astronomy from U.C. Berkeley and his Ph.D. in physics from the University of New Mexico. After completing his education, he was awarded numerous research grants from NASA and the National Science Foundation, was the author of 39 publications, and was involved in airglow experiments and other research at Whitworth, where he sometimes worked alongside his wife, Physics Professor Emeritus Lois Kieffaber. Peterson is survived by his wife and their two children, Sarah May Peterson and Robert August Peterson.
John Pouk
Former trustee John Pouk died in August. Pouk was president and C.E.O. of Pouk and Steinle, Inc., electrical contractors, and was a prominent lay leader at Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church. Prior to entering private business, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, in the South Pacific, China and Korea. He met his wife, Selma, who also served in the Marine Corps, while both were on active duty, and they married in 1945. She preceded him in death, in 2008.
A faithful supporter of Whitworth, Pouk donated to The Whitworth Fund as well as to many other causes. During his time as a trustee, he was a valued member of the Finance Committee.
He is survived by his son, two granddaughters, and other family.
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