Dad's obituary. Nice to have a sister who's a writer...
James Richard Cox was born Nov 27, 1928 in Wilburton Ok to Monnie Mae (Colvard) Cox and Allen Marshall Cox. He died on May 22, 2012 in Tulsa at the age of 83. He attended high school in McAlister Ok, and while still a student there, began his career in music. He participated in many professional music events in the area, performing on his primary instrument, the tenor saxophone. . He was granted a music scholarship at the University of Tulsa, where he enrolled when he was just 16.
He graduated at the age of 19 from TU with a degree in Music Education and later, Educational Administration. While at TU, he participated in many stage shows and dance bands, until the 45th infantry was mobilized for the Korean War. His unit was moved to Camp Polk, Louisiana, before their deployment to Korea. He was a Gunnery Sergeant in the 160th field artillery until, at the age of 19, he became the youngest Sergeant Major of the 45th when he was promoted to that position with the 45th Infantry Division Band. The band performed in USO shows for the troops in the Far East command, including many performances throughout the islands of Japan.
Upon his return from Korea, he entered the University of Tulsa summer music program, working on his master’s degree. That same summer, bandleader Jerry Wald invited him to New Orleans to begin touring with his orchestra. While in New York City with the band, Richard successfully auditioned for the Claude Thornhill Symphonic Orchestra, and began performing in concerts up and down the East Coast. He toured for over 2 years with the orchestra, playing in many venues such as the Steel Pier in Atlantic City and also toured in the Maritime Provinces in Canada. Richard was recently the subject of a feature story in the January 2012 edition of the British publication Jazz Journal , highlighting his tenure as a traveling musician with the Thornhill band.
In 1953 he left the road behind and returned to Tulsa to begin his teaching career, first as a music instructor at Clinton Junior High. That same year, he met Corrie Belle Unthank, a radio vocalist singing on the KVOO morning program “Eggs At Eight.” They married on Dec 23, 1955 in Greenville, SC. They had three children, Suzanne, David, and Stephen. Richard and Corrie often performed together around town, especially in area churches, with Corrie singing and playing beautiful piano, and Richard on the tenor saxophone. In 1955 he became the first orchestra and instrumental music director of Edison High School, where he spent many years teaching orchestra and marching band, and founded the original Screaming Eagles Jazz Band, a group which won many accolades at contests and festivals. He was promoted to counselor, assistant principal, and later principal of Edison High school, although during those years as an administrator, he was still known to slip into the band room to lead a session with the Screaming Eagles.
He was involved in many educational associations, including terms as President of both the National and State Assistant Principals Associations, was a life member of the National Education Association and the Oklahoma High School Principals Association. He was a 25 year member of the Kiwanis Club of Tulsa, and Chairman of their Scholarship Committee. He remained at Edison for 26 years, while still performing as a professional musician for local & national touring shows in the Tulsa Area. He played many of those dates alongside his brother, alto sax player Allen Ben Cox, including stints with the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus, The Ice Capades, and Disney on Ice. He was a life member of American Federation of Musicians Local 94, and at various times was a member of the Tulsa Philharmonic, the Oklahoma Synphonia, and the Bartlesville Symphony. In 1988 he was appointed principal at Will Rogers High School, and eleven years later moved to the Education Service Center as an Assistant to the area Assistant Superintendents, where he retired in 1999.
Music education and performance was always Richard’s first love. For many years he was the choir and orchestra director at Evangelistic Temple, including directing the music for a weekly television program on Channel 8 led by Dr. Dan Beller. He was known for producing seasonal concerts for the church, and also wrote many original religious musical compositions. He was also well-known in the community as the musical director for the annual Red Gloves Review, producer and bandleader for the Starlight Jazz Concerts, and for 13 years directed the orchestra and musical program for the Miss Oklahoma Pageant. After retirement from the Tulsa Public School system, he enjoyed visiting young students eager to learn about music, and also taught jazz clinics at the high school level. He had many friends and colleagues in both the music and education community in Tulsa, and rarely ventured out without being approached by friendly students he taught throughout the years. Over the years he also toured with Art Mooney and Henry Mancini, and performed with a host of musical greats, including Doc Severinsen, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme, Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Frank Sinatra Jr., Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor, Buddy Rich, Natalie Cole, Andrea Crouch, Rodney Dangerfield, Sandy Duncan, the Ink Spots, Anne Murray, Pete Fountain, Ray Charles, Sam Harris, Maureen McGovern, and many others. He continued to enjoy performing at music events in the Tulsa area until late 2011.
Richard Is donating his extensive library of valuable orchestra arrangements to the University of Tulsa Jazz Orchestra, in hopes that other will enjoy them, as he has, for years to come.
Richard was talented, gentle, kind, driven, a good listener, dedicated to family, optimistic, and added a healthy dose of humor to everything he did.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Corrie, children Suzanne (Robert) Gordon, David (Robin) Cox, and Stephen Cox, grandchildren Lily Grace Gordon and Corrie Leigh Cox, brother Allen Ben (Patsi) Cox, and seven nieces and nephews.
