When Lora Baker, Debbie Hickmott and Amy Swanson showed up at the Ludington home of their former Oxford music teacher, Lewis Wilson, on Oct. 18, they came with a surprise.
A college music scholarship bearing his name has been established.
‘It’s awesome,? Wilson told this reporter in a phone interview. ‘I’m very appreciative, (not only of the scholarship, but) that I’ve been able to maintain a lot of contact through the years with students and that’s been priceless.?
‘The truth is, I’ll always have Oxford in my blood,? he added. ‘I was in the school system for 36 years and just had some terrific experiences there.?
Wilson was an integral part of both Oxford Junior High and high school’s band and choir programs from 1969-1995, where he then served as a high school guidance counselor from 1995 to his retirement in 2005.
‘Besides the band and choir I directed between 30 and 40 musicals and plays. They were always in a ‘cafetorium? at the building out on Lakeville Road, what is now the middle school,? Wilson said. ‘When I see this beautiful auditorium they have (at the new high school), I’m very envious. It’s a beautiful facility and hope the students appreciate what they have.?
Baker said it was their hope to originally present the scholarship to Wilson five years ago at a reunion concert that was held in 2010. Over 100 former students were inattendance.
‘We had gathered some funds at that time to start a scholarship, but things being the way they were in Michigan with the economy, we weren’t successful in raising as much as we needed to start a foundation because there is a minimum amount required,? she said. ‘So, it’s just been on the back burner for the last five years. Now, through anonymous donations, we finally have enough to put us over the top.?
The scholarship,which is named The Lewis Wilson Music Scholarship, is being handled through the Four County Community Foundation. Baker said they are currently building a website (wilsonmusicfund.org) where students will be able to apply on-line and where people can donate, as well as learn more information about both the scholarship and Wilson’s valuable contributions to Oxford. The website is expected to be active Dec. 15.
‘As the scholarship grows, the site will continue to grow,? explained Swanson. ‘Eventually, we want to increase the amount of the scholarship, but the first award for $1,000 will go to a graduate for this academic year (Sept. 1, 2015 ? Aug. 31, 2016).?
Applications will begin Jan. 1 and the deadline and closure will be April 1. Following that, there will be an audition, interview and announcement of the winner. More specific details will come from the website and there will be more information in the Oxford High School Counseling office beginning Nov. 15.
‘It’s the beginning of what we wanted to do five years ago,? Baker said, noting that she believes it to be the first music scholarship put out by Oxford.
And to be able to do the scholarship, while Wilson, 73, is still alive, was pretty special to Hickmott. ‘The look on his and his wife’s face(s) on that day told us everything,? she said. ‘To now have him understand how much he has impacted all of us and going forward will impact many others . . . through this scholarship is going to be amazing. New generations of children will know what this man did.?
‘We wanted to honor and not memorialize, which is why we did the scholarship while he was still alive.? Swanson added.
The legacy of Wilson
Every student can usually think of that one teacher in school who left a lasting impression on their life. For Baker, Hickmott and Swanson, Wilson was that teacher.
‘All of us have been singing since we were very young,? explained Hickmott, who graduated in 1979. ‘It wasn’t until Mr. Wilson came into the picture when we were in junior high . . . that he just became the mentor for all our lives and countless thousands of others.?
Because of Wilson’s influence, Hickmott said she still sings in her church choir, which was another way Wilson impacted her life.
‘He (is) a godly man and that was one of the biggest parts for me that made a difference in my life and I think for many others,? she added. ‘He would maybe try and steer the kids who were maybe on a different path and it didn’t matter if they were in music or not, he was just there.?
Baker, who graduated in 1979 and went on to become a teacher, agreed.
‘He was a best friend,? she said. ‘No matter your background or if you were in music or not, he drew all the kids in because he just had a way to motivate and inspire.?
Swanson, who graduated in 1985, has spent a career in entertainment and sung with the famous Women’s International Chorus, ‘Sweet Adelines,? said she had the pleasure of knowing Wilson for as long as she could remember, because she attended the same church as him, Oxford United Methodist.
‘I couldn’t wait to be old enough to sing in his choirs,? she said. ‘When he was in charge of the youth choir at our church, his influence was so broad and he had a love for kids so much that we had kids who went to other churches who would come to sing in the youth choir,? she said. ‘It didn’t matter if you practiced a religion or what type of religion, it was all about the music and reaching kids through music and giving them something to do, giving them a goal and that one thread of sanity that could get you through life’s troubles.?
Not only did Baker, Hickmott and Swanson enjoy Wilson’s tutelage as junior high and high school students, but they also got to sing under him as adults when they were a part of the Classic Chorale, an Oxford women’s singing group, which Wilson led for 15 years beginning in the late 1980s.
‘Again, the relationship grew to a different form (when we became adults),? Hickmott said. ‘I’ve never had anybody in my life that’s impacted me (like he has).?
‘He’s been to our weddings, (family members?) funerals and graduations. He knows our kids and in some cases, our grandkids,? Swanson added. ‘For many of us, we feel about him the way we feel about our own parents, that’s a lot of love and respect for a man. His influence continues to ripple through everything that we do. What we teach our children, what we teach our grandchildren.?
Hickmott said Wilson not only has a love for music, but also has a passion for many things in life including nature.
‘He always took canoe trips and he has a club (consisting) of former students who meet him every year for a reunion canoe trip,? she said.
The ladies are not only thankful for Wilson himself, but his family.
‘We really love Mr. Wilson, but we love his family, too, because they were willing to share him with us,? Swanson said.
Swanson noted the theme of the scholarship is ‘Pass It On,? which is named after the a hymnal, written by Kurt Kaiser, which they sang in youth choir at Oxford United Methodist Church at Baccalaureate.
‘That’s what we’re trying to do is pass on his legacy, his love of music and his inspiration,? Baker said.
Swanson agreed, recalling the lyrics of the Sammy Davis, Jr. song ‘The Rhythm of Life.?
‘It’s true,? she said. ‘Music is a heartbeat for all of us and we got that heartbeat from Mr. Wilson.?